Installing Progressive Monotube - 1 spacer or two?
Been there for sure, just remember removing a clip requires a complete tear down. Including removing the 6mm screw.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 17,145
Likes: 6,166
From: SE Michigan
Should be here Friday and taking the bike to my indy for install. I have read varying opinions about the number of spacers. Seems like instructions call for two but many saying this is too stiff.
I weigh in at 180 and wife is probably close (I don't ask). Most riding however is solo.
Input from you guys who have them?
I weigh in at 180 and wife is probably close (I don't ask). Most riding however is solo.
Input from you guys who have them?
I had two rode it for a week and decided I felt too many bumps, cracks, pebbles.... Took one out. Still handles superbly and the ride is much nicer. Redoing the suspension is one of the best mods I have done.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 1,410
Likes: 30
From: Waterville MN
I am close to 300 pounds, and I installed mine with one clip. I have put a few thousand miles on the bike hoping it would soften up a bit, but to me it is still a bit too stiff. I am not sure if no spacers would have made it too soft or not, but I am ready to try it over the winter to find out.
Make sure you read up on "no" clips. That's going to lower the front end quite a bit.
Tourer
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 376
Likes: 255
From: Oklahoma
I went with 1 spacer on mine. It did seem kind of stiff at first, but after about 2000 miles the ride has gotten better. I'm about 185#, and ride mostly solo.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 7,997
Likes: 6,897
From: NC
I would like Progressive to offer at least two spring choices. Spacers decrease the amount of travel. do the monotubes have that much more travel than the forks do? There should be different springs for a 180 pound rider and a 250 pound rider.
Think of the spacers as a pre-load. Yes, if Progressive was into custom suspensions for the masses, they would accommodate you with different springs, spring rates, etc.... I am not riding competitively, so I don't see where spending an additional grand or more would be worth while. These monotubes are so far superior to the OEM's, I find myself spending my energy asking myself, "why did HD put the OEM crap on to start with?" The OEM bike was so far inferior to other manufacturers but now is a nice ride with my "improvements". Sorry for being long winded, but so much of the dialogue on this forum is over crap that should never have been on the bike to start with.....