I agree with you that the Softail ride is pretty good.
After two years I finally spent some time playing with the shocks and came across what I consider as the "sweet spot". Since then I really don't have any complaints with the ride.

That being said though it is a pain in the butt to adjust them for different riding weights and as many will certainly jump on here and tell you apparently the Shotgun Shock gives a much smoother ride.

I'm almost convinced that is true, but also feel at $1250+ it better do more than just give me a little smoother ride, it better as some people say give me a ride as if I'm on a cloud.

A fellow forum member has offered to allow me to test ride his Heritage to see how I like the Shotgun Shock before I pull the trigger on a suspension upgrade. I'm certainly going to take him up on that opportunity even for nothing more than a chance to meet another fellow Heritage owner and to ride a different bike.

If I had to make decision today I would go with Progressive 422 RAPs only because they are remotely adjustable and can be had for not much more than $500.

But if I only rode 1 or 2 up all the time, I wouldn't replace the stock shocks because as I noted, I think the ride is pretty good as it.

 

As Bluraven stated, The ride/handling is very adjustable on the shocks and takes some trial and error adjusting. When I picked up my 2011 Heritage I rode it 2 up for the first months with the shocks set on there lowest/softest setting. It would bottom out too easy, but ride was soft. I adjusted them to the stiffest/highest setting. This raises the bike and stiffens the ride.. I have been riding it with this setting for 12000 miles, 90% of the time 2 up. The ride is excellent and the cornering clearance much improved. I could tell that my previous 2 Harley's were a 2005 RK and a 2007 E/glide and I like the ride better on my Heritage, but I won't.

 

Some argue that the premise of the Softail is the "look" and everything else is a compromise surrounding that look. Including the suspension. If it is a compromise, it's a damn good one because the ride is smooth and the suspension does a fine job. Plus has the benefit of looking great doing it. Suits my needs at least.
Just ask the folks coming from Sportsters going to the Softail family. You mostly hear how plush the softail rides.

 

....could not have said it better...

I will add, I go 290 and the wife is 120 and we've ridden 80% of the 47k miles two up on our Heritage.. IMO our bike rides every bit as good as the Son's Street Glide, which also has 1'' storter travel than a RK or Ultra.

 

I'm 295 and have no issues with the ride of my 01 Fatboy other than not being able to find a seat that doesn't kill my *** after 2 hours. The stock suspension has been great except when hitting a big bump in the road.

 

I tried surfing the HD site for specs, but no luck Is their really less travel or is it speculation? It seems the suspension is packaged to resemble a hard tail but that does not have to mean less travel and or suspension performance. Also with links and bellcranks etc there is opportunity to make it more progressive in nature. Can anyone verify?

 

Ultra Classic
Front suspension travel: 4.6"
Rear suspension travel: 3"

Softail Slim (lowest softail seat height 23.8")
Front suspension travel: 5.12"
Rear suspension travel: 4.29"

I just traded my Ultra for a Slim. Slim rides better. Although it does scrape the boards much sooner.

 

The suspension on my 05 is still stock and I find it a very comfortable riding bike and have felt that way from the beginning. I also understand family loyalty and I know some that like the feel of the ride from a bike from the Dyna or other family better, that's just part of riding and to each their own.

 

Softails have more "wheel, axle" travel in the rear suspension then touring bikes but because of the swing arm ratio of ~3to1, the actual shock travel is a lot less.

 

that's what I'm talking about.... correcting myths