Has anyone used the "premium ride double cartridge fork kit" P/N: 45500106 ? If you have this would you recommend it? Reason I ask is that I am not happy with the performance of the front suspension. I have heavier SE oil in my forks and hope that will work for me. A short ride last fall was promising. If it doesn't work out I would consider the HD option.

 

Get rid of the stock internals and get a Legend Axeo monotube kit. It will greatly reduce the front end dive under braking and make the front end feel planted in curves. The ride will be firmer but not what I'd call harsh.

 

I have read about the Legend kit, thanks, I am inclined to follow your recommendation.

 

The HD stuff is trash. I went with the Ohlins cartridges revalved by Howard at Motorcycle metal. I'm happy with them. Had Progressive Monotubes on my 04 King and liked them too. Pretty much anything is better than HD stuff.

 

I put Pro Action's fork kit in my bike at a much cheaper cost, seems way better than stock.

 

 

I have the progressive monotubes in the front on my 2010 and it was a very noticeable difference from stock. I am running pro actions on the rear and if I were to do it over I would go with their front end kit as inexpensive as it is.

 

That is a pretty radical blanket statement...sounds more like just another rant against MoCo mostly based on personal bias. This kind of rhetoric makes me wonder why folks even bother to get a Harley if they don't like the engine, transmission, frame, suspension, electrical system...etc. I am thinking that some folks just like to complain because they realize that their expensive toy is not perfect. Well, in my 66+ years on this planet, I have learned that absolutely nothing is perfect and Harley Davidson makes an awesome motorcycle.

The OEM suspension is more than adequate for 98% of riders and most aftermarket modifications do little to make any noticeable improvements in the ride for that percentage. However, suspension sometimes has to be customized to fit the other 2% rides. I do believe that there are a lot of riders who will modify just to modify or to put that expensive package without ever realizing any benefit, and probably don't even realize it...the modification cost a lot of money so it has to be better. That is total poop. I rode a 2001 FXD for many years and the narrow front suspension was pretty worn and sloppy when I got it. I rebuilt the tubes with OEM parts, put in 15 wt oil, and added a Progressive spring kit with a little extra preload and was very impressed with the change. I was so pleased that I popped for the expensive Progressive rear shocks and it was a completely different experience. The ride was worse than the stock shocks and an expensive lesson. I ended up putting on new stock shocks for a much improved ride.

I am now finishing up with my 2003 Ultra Annie project and so far, I have had no complaints. I ride solo and the rear OEM air shocks work great. I do not know if the front suspension is stock or not, but it appears to be. It is not diving excessively and tracks true in the curves. She had 55K miles on her when I started the restore and I realize that the suspension may need tweaking as I put more miles on her, but right now, the ride is smooth and true and she handles nicely for a big 'ol girl.

 

The OEM Showa suspension and air shocks are GARBAGE
Some people may tolerate it, some people are not aware there are better options out there.

Ride a bike with aftermarket suspension and chances are you are going to be ripping your stock stuff out and replacing it.

Progressive makes nice stuff, but it is not the best..... but it is still much better than the stuff HD .

Once I am settled into my new house, my 13 is getting the suspension changed out.
Even the guy who wrenches my engines says my 03 is a much better handling bike than my 13... the 03 has Progressive suspension front & rear.

Imagine how nice our bikes would handle if we could set it up for rebound, compression, sag?

Have springs appropriate for our weights? That would be nice too!

Chances are I am going to do the Progressive monotubes on the front, and Legends of some sort on the back

 

FWIW
Did the progressive mono's on the front of my '10 RK and wasn't pleased with them although they are better than stock . Switched to Axeo mono's and am a happy rider