Good morning folks, I have a 2011 Fatboy Lo (with ABS). I'm no longer riding solo all the time, so I've started giving some thought to better shocks to make a more comfortable ride, and hopefully better handling 2 up.

My google-fu on this site failed to turn up any specific posts about choosing the right shocks for my Fatboy Lo, but the only common thread I've seen are Shotgun Shocks. I'd rather pay for quality, but I am wondering if there is anything else out there that is equally as good, but perhaps less expensive and/or more reliable?
Thanks!

 

You may have answered your own question in the title.
There's Shotgun Shocks, then there's everything else.

 

Shotgun! Enough said!!!

 

Agreed, shotgun shock and then there are the rest. Just so you know it adds so much more to your bike then comfort, which you can do at the flip of a switch as your going down the road. It adds that cool factor without question. 1 thing very few mention or talk about is safety too. It gives the bike flexibility when in an "OH ****" mode.

An example? I had my head up my a$$ one day when out riding and enjoying the scenery. My bike slipped off of the edge of the road and down into the gravel. The Shotgun shock ate up the instability of being in the gravel and allowed me to ease back up onto the road. A stock shock or an air shock of less quality and flexibility and I would have gone down. And don't forget lifetime warranty and the best customer service of anyone I have ever dealt with in my 40+ years of riding. Pull the trigger and you will never regret it, by one of less quality and flexible shocks and you will.

You will find the only people who knock the shock are those who don't have one. I have yet to see a single unhappy Shotgun Shock owner and if there ever was an issue JD answered the phone and fixed it like right now!

Now where are my Pom Poms?

 

I don't know of anything that offers the range of adjustability. There are other airshock systems that only do up and down without independent controls for how stiff the ride it. There are also after market shocks that are just a regular shock. Those would have to be adjusted for a compromise between solo and two up, for one or the other, or adjusted each time depending on the ride you're doing. That would require getting under the bike and manually adjusting the stiffness.

 

I'm a believer ! I put one on this winter, I had my doubts I even ordered then cancelled then re ordered! I researched like crazy but just couldn't see spending that on a shock! We'll only after two rides it's amazing! People that tell you that you don't need to have an adjustable shock that once you find a sweet spot you won't touch it are wrong! Solo,two up, road condition, and yes cool factor all come in to play. I have found myself playing with both switches custom tailoring my ride to the road all the time ! Why settle? Like I said before you can float down the road like an old caddy or firm up for aggressive riding in seconds!

 

OK are we really going down this road again?
It seems like every week this subject comes up and the answer is always the same.
Let's face it; Shockgun Shock is the best shock option available for softails, period.

There's enough positive reviews and information out there on the Shotgun Shock that if you don't mind spending the cash; the answer for the best shock has already been given many times over and over and over again.

However for most people the $1250+ price tag is just too much money to throw down on a shock.
For me that's just under 10% of what I paid for my entire bike!!!!.

I think the stock ride is OK and I'm leaning toward the Progressive 422 RAPs.
No they probably will not be as comfortable as the Shockgun Shocks, but I think they will be an improvement and at around $600, they are less than half the price.
Hell, I'm even having a problem throwing down $600 on a shock.

I think in the end you do get what you pay for, but the question is do you really need what you're paying for?

 

I replaced Progressive 422s with a SS......Night and day difference. Seriously, it's a completely different bike with the SS installed. Rumor has it that there's a new shock nearing release from a premium suspension vendor. I'm looking forward to that, but besting the SS is going to be tough.

To be clear, the Progressive 422s are much better than stock, but they're not in the same ballpark as the SS.

 

There is Shotgun and then there are other options. You get what you pay for. While it is pricey, I have yet to hear someone regretting their purchase.

 

X2
Installed my SS last week.
Amazing product,customer service and ride.