I recently bought a Mustang Wide Tripper Diamond stitch seat and 12.5" progressive 412 (standard) shocks to put on the bike. I also bought the Harbor Freight $90 jack to do my shocks. Some observations:

1. The jack seems/feels a little cheap, but for as often as I'll use it, it does the job. There is something awesome about jacking the bike up, strapping it down, and being able to wheel it around the garage.

2. I can tell a difference in looking at the bike that the back end is higher. When I sit on it, I don't really notice a difference.

3. Handling is maybe a little better and I can tell the lean angle has changed.

4. Ride quality is definitely better. I went down a road near my house that has lots of ripples in the road, that on the stock 48 set up, felt like I was taking kidney shots. While the same ripples can be felt quite a bit, they no longer hurt.

5. To make a bad analogy, I drink liquor when I drink (hate most widely available miller/bud light type beers), and I am probably a bit of a lightweight. One drink takes the edge off. Two gets a good buzz. Three is drunk but sociable and functional (but not for driving, at least right away), and four is drunk, quiet, not all that functional but not falling all over either. To me, the 412's are somewhere between one and two drinks, it definitely takes the edge off (the harsh road bumps, that is), and sometimes they feel good like a nice buzz (smooooth), but not always, and at no point do they ever kind of change the reality of a sportster 48 more than that.

6. The relative inequality of the front forks, and how much they suck has definitely come to light after an hour long ride. I guess my rear end and lower back was always so uncomfortable after an hour that I never noticed the insane amount of harsh vibration coming out of the bars before. Will need to change this ASAP.

7. Should be pointed out that I never even rode with the Mustang seat. JP cycles won't take a seat back that has been mounted. I carefully slid the seat into place to see how it felt and it pushed me too far forward which is not good when you are 6'3". It is going back to JP this week and I'll have to try something different.

8. The bike leans WAY more to the left on the jiffy stand now having the back end that much higher off the ground. To the point that it makes me a little uncomfortable but I can't see if going down unless I park somewhere stupid. But I will have to be a lot more mindful of where I park for that reason.

All in all, I'd say the shocks were worth the $275 I paid for them. would the 444's for twice the price be twice as nice? I don't know, I'd be interested in knowing because if they were I'd probably buy those and upgrade past the 412's. I have a hard time believing that, but not because the 412's are otherworldly, but more because I just can't see a sporty riding like butter the same way some other bikes do.

I'd also be curious to know from others if shocks "break in" over time where I should expect the performance to get better after a while, before they start to eventually wear out and go bad.

Thanks,

bc

 

I bought a new set of 412's for my past Sporty for $220 off eBay. I put 8k miles on them over a 9 month period and seen no improvement. IMO 412's are a good looking shock, but only marginally better than stock. Most of the ride improvement that you're seeing is due the lengthened shock and increased travel.

My suggestion to everybody that's serious about improving their ride quality, is to bite the bullet and quit pissing away good money trying different shocks. Drop about $900+ on a set of Ohlin Piggy Backs and be done with it. I know that's a bunch, but you'll get a quick $600 plus selling them used if you sell your bike.

I put a set on my FXR a few thousand miles ago and I couldn't be happier with them. Truly an outstanding shock. There is no cheap way out that will offer significant improvement.

 

What are the lift points under the jack? There are two cross members under the 48. Do the platforms fit right under those or are they too wide to go directly under those?

Do you mind taking a picture while the bike is on the jack to show the lift points?

 

Did you check the tension on your belt to see if it didnt get too tight?

 

I agree with Rich, there is no substitute for quality when it comes to comfort and improving the riding experience. I have Ohlins on my Glide, although get by with lesser shocks on my Sporty (Hagons).

 

To this point here, I can say yes they do break in. I rode with my stock shocks for 14,000 miles. I could really tell a difference after about 2,000 miles or so. Not as rough. But still way stiff and rough no matter what the preload adjustment was, and lots of bottoming out (I'm about 180-185). I don't know if they eventually wear out, I'd suspect so, but I could not keep them that long to find out.


I bought some used almost new 12" street glide airshocks off eBay about a month ago for $125 shipped, the same Harbor Freight jack, and put them on. Let tell you that's the best mod I've ever made to my bike by far. I run with 0PSI with just me, and about 10PSI 2 up with my girlfriend, and it's apples and oranges compared to before.


I also have the same seat as you, the Wide Tripper diamond solo. That was a huge step up compared to stock also. But, I'm 5'10".

 

I Have the Ohlins Base Shock on my 48 - and finally got the pre-load setting perfect. They (previous posters) are right. AMAZING. Smooth ride but still kinda lets you know it's a sporty and not a road glide - which is the point of owning a Sporty I just came from a major Freeway/highway ride weekend and the shocks are awesome. Cruising at 70mph and the way it goes over uneven freeway humps, bumps and slopes is just great. These are well worth the money. I didn't even get the fancy ones with the external reservoir.

 

The 412s are exceptional compared to stock especially if your a heavier rider like me. I can ride hours on end with a Sundowner seat and progressives.

 

A word on your jiffy stand lean angle. The 48 stock shocks are probably 2" shorter than the Progressives you replaced them with. You should replace your Jiffy Sand with one from a Sportster with 12" shocks, that will put it at the correct resting angle.

Look into the Race Tech God Top emulators and springs for you front forks, or go with the Progressive Monotubes, either will be a vast improvement over the 1948 technology being used in your stock forks.

Ride Often, Have Fun, Repeat.

Scoop