Progressive 422 RAP HD, my review
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 620
From: Pittsburgh suburb
well you left a part of you in the black hills, Bike just marked her territory....LOL, tell ya what - that screw was in there pretty good from factory, I remembered your story & put loc tite on it - now its waiting on the weather here in PA (snow flurries today). Ill prolly add to the review when I got some miles on, cant have to many reviews the way I see it.
I know most will chime in with the other shock - and I thought about it, But after a few charity rides in 2018 & the group of 4-5 who loved to slam their bike at the stop & then raise it to head to the next, well..... they got attention, questions and Ooos and ahhs - but what I noticed was when one had an issue they all could trouble shoot it (clearly from experience). funny at the end of that run one rider who was asked to cycle it for the 20th + time said he better not - apparently constantly cycling that system causes micro compressor issues with overheating it and it wont lift as quick and gets really noisy!
One rider couldn't fully raise his after slamming it - so at this point the novelty wore off & the product didn't look so cool anymore - matter of fact - most rode away saying "Ill keep my springs" , So Im thinking - maybe the ride will suffer some, clearly not as much as with OEM - But unless theres a total catastrophic malfunction Im thinking, reliability - comfort & the right choice was the 422 RAP.
BTW - I prolly read your review 100 times - going back & forth to get RAP or Non RAP - So Thanks again Raven, your review greatly helped & im thinking Ill be even more thankful when hitting up those multi trips this year.....! funny the wife was like why did you buy those & whos Blu Raven? HA...…Gave her the whole story - so now she knows this forum costs me money - LOL
I know most will chime in with the other shock - and I thought about it, But after a few charity rides in 2018 & the group of 4-5 who loved to slam their bike at the stop & then raise it to head to the next, well..... they got attention, questions and Ooos and ahhs - but what I noticed was when one had an issue they all could trouble shoot it (clearly from experience). funny at the end of that run one rider who was asked to cycle it for the 20th + time said he better not - apparently constantly cycling that system causes micro compressor issues with overheating it and it wont lift as quick and gets really noisy!
One rider couldn't fully raise his after slamming it - so at this point the novelty wore off & the product didn't look so cool anymore - matter of fact - most rode away saying "Ill keep my springs" , So Im thinking - maybe the ride will suffer some, clearly not as much as with OEM - But unless theres a total catastrophic malfunction Im thinking, reliability - comfort & the right choice was the 422 RAP.
BTW - I prolly read your review 100 times - going back & forth to get RAP or Non RAP - So Thanks again Raven, your review greatly helped & im thinking Ill be even more thankful when hitting up those multi trips this year.....! funny the wife was like why did you buy those & whos Blu Raven? HA...…Gave her the whole story - so now she knows this forum costs me money - LOL
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 65
Likes: 1
From: Pa
Since I'm no longer debating whether or not to pull the trigger on the 422 RAPs for my 09 Heritage, I thought I would start a thread on my review of them.
On Saturday I found that jcmotors.com had them on sale and as a first time buyer, you get 10% off your first order and free shipping.
With the sale, my total cost was $500.84 delivered.
Now how could I pass that up?
Not only was the price the lowest I've seen, but I got them delivered in three days.
I went with the heavy duty model due to my primary desire is to better the ride while 2-up.
I've always felt the stock ride solo was acceptable.
After I figured out how to read, it took me around an hour to swap my stock shocks out with the 422s.
The instructions were rather straight forward and the swap rather easy.
I can't think of any need to explain how to install these. If someone has problems installing these 422 RAPs then you probably should pay someone to install them for you. That's not to say I didn't scratch my head a few times and I did leave a little knuckle DNA on the garage floor.
With the 422 RAPs you can set your ride height from stock to 2" lower.
I read somewhere online that you get the best range of dampering if you keep the ride at stock height.
Seeing that I already scrape my boards at stock height I don't have a desire to lower it anyway so I set the ride height at stock.
There is a pre-load calculation that you can do, but my Wife is at work and we both need to be on the bike while someone else takes a reading, so I decided to just jump in and play with it.
As for the pre-load, from the least amount to the most I measured about 80 twist of my wrist on the adjustment **** which I figure is about 30 or so complete turns of the adjustment ****.
There's a road nearby that is by far one of the worst roads around so I decided that is the road to test run on.
I started out with 0 turns of the adjustment **** (minimum pre-load) and the ride felt like it was bottoming out.
I then turned the adjustment **** the maximum turns (max. pre-load) and it felt like I was riding on a board, pretty stiff. (of course I'm solo at 240 .lbs.
I then went half way or about 15 complete turns of the **** and that's where I figured the stock suspension is about, however I did notice that the "bumps" didn't feel quite as sharp as with the stock shocks so there is still some dampering.
I then adjusted the preload to about 10 complete turns of the **** or about 30% preload and I have to say the ride is absolutely better than with the stock shocks.
It's not like I'm riding on a cloud, I can still feel the bumps however there is certainly a much noticeable less jarring ride.
I then took the bike on the highway and the ride was a dream.
Again I can still feel the bumps but they are definitely less pronounced.
I've still got some more test riding to do and of course my Wife will be the best judge of the ride, however my initial feelings are that at $500 for me I made the right choice.
I'll be heading to the Black Hills in a couple of weeks for a pre-Sturgis vacation and will update my thread when I return.
On Saturday I found that jcmotors.com had them on sale and as a first time buyer, you get 10% off your first order and free shipping.
With the sale, my total cost was $500.84 delivered.
Now how could I pass that up?
Not only was the price the lowest I've seen, but I got them delivered in three days.
I went with the heavy duty model due to my primary desire is to better the ride while 2-up.
I've always felt the stock ride solo was acceptable.
After I figured out how to read, it took me around an hour to swap my stock shocks out with the 422s.
The instructions were rather straight forward and the swap rather easy.
I can't think of any need to explain how to install these. If someone has problems installing these 422 RAPs then you probably should pay someone to install them for you. That's not to say I didn't scratch my head a few times and I did leave a little knuckle DNA on the garage floor.
With the 422 RAPs you can set your ride height from stock to 2" lower.
I read somewhere online that you get the best range of dampering if you keep the ride at stock height.
Seeing that I already scrape my boards at stock height I don't have a desire to lower it anyway so I set the ride height at stock.
There is a pre-load calculation that you can do, but my Wife is at work and we both need to be on the bike while someone else takes a reading, so I decided to just jump in and play with it.
As for the pre-load, from the least amount to the most I measured about 80 twist of my wrist on the adjustment **** which I figure is about 30 or so complete turns of the adjustment ****.
There's a road nearby that is by far one of the worst roads around so I decided that is the road to test run on.
I started out with 0 turns of the adjustment **** (minimum pre-load) and the ride felt like it was bottoming out.
I then turned the adjustment **** the maximum turns (max. pre-load) and it felt like I was riding on a board, pretty stiff. (of course I'm solo at 240 .lbs.
I then went half way or about 15 complete turns of the **** and that's where I figured the stock suspension is about, however I did notice that the "bumps" didn't feel quite as sharp as with the stock shocks so there is still some dampering.
I then adjusted the preload to about 10 complete turns of the **** or about 30% preload and I have to say the ride is absolutely better than with the stock shocks.
It's not like I'm riding on a cloud, I can still feel the bumps however there is certainly a much noticeable less jarring ride.
I then took the bike on the highway and the ride was a dream.
Again I can still feel the bumps but they are definitely less pronounced.
I've still got some more test riding to do and of course my Wife will be the best judge of the ride, however my initial feelings are that at $500 for me I made the right choice.
I'll be heading to the Black Hills in a couple of weeks for a pre-Sturgis vacation and will update my thread when I return.
Thread Starter
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 912
From: Omaha
I imagine you can figure out a way to mount it differently as long as the line between the adjustment **** and the shock isn't kinked.
Stage I
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Australia
Progressive 422
Hi All.
Having read a lot on these shocks I bought some and had them fitted recently.
Having purchased the Heavy Duty set I would recommend you go the Standard set unless you're going to be 2 up all the time or like me a BFB (Big Fat B.....d ) weighing in at over 120kg. That's 270lb for those that are still using imperial measurements.
I have the pretension all the way out and no load on the RAP and the ride is still firm.
I'm not thrown off the seat, there is give in them, and it is much better than the original. Great value for money.
I would recommend them, just make sure you get the right one.
Please Note, I'm not Speedy Gonzales and tend to cruse around with a squirt here and there. Nothing too adventurous.
It is comfortable to me when pushing a little bit but I would like to soften it up a bit more for highway traffic. Which I can't.
So unless you're a BFB at over 270lb .... or like to have your kidneys bounced around, go the standard set and tension them up a bit.
Having read a lot on these shocks I bought some and had them fitted recently.
Having purchased the Heavy Duty set I would recommend you go the Standard set unless you're going to be 2 up all the time or like me a BFB (Big Fat B.....d ) weighing in at over 120kg. That's 270lb for those that are still using imperial measurements.
I have the pretension all the way out and no load on the RAP and the ride is still firm.
I'm not thrown off the seat, there is give in them, and it is much better than the original. Great value for money.
I would recommend them, just make sure you get the right one.
Please Note, I'm not Speedy Gonzales and tend to cruse around with a squirt here and there. Nothing too adventurous.
It is comfortable to me when pushing a little bit but I would like to soften it up a bit more for highway traffic. Which I can't.
So unless you're a BFB at over 270lb .... or like to have your kidneys bounced around, go the standard set and tension them up a bit.
Thread Starter
|
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 3,973
Likes: 912
From: Omaha
You might try adjusting the non-RAP shock for a little bit lighter load.
If I recall when I did this it created a bit of a "bounce" effect and then I simple adjusted the RAP shock to stiffen the ride.
If I recall when I did this it created a bit of a "bounce" effect and then I simple adjusted the RAP shock to stiffen the ride.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 1,256
Likes: 620
From: Pittsburgh suburb
BTW - thanks Bluraven, the 422 RAPs are very nice & it was your posts & review that had me make the purchase! Love em!!!!!
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