Headers or shocks
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 177
Likes: 44
From: PA
Actually going to be Shocks, Fork cartridge kit then header. Once you replace the garbage shocks you'll quickly realiE the forks are total garbage...the. You'll replace the headers that give almost zero gain other than looks.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 177
Likes: 44
From: PA
and then, with changed geometry they no longer work they way they are supposed to. With this type of mod you need to revalve.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 836
From: KMHT KFMY
The problem with just doing shocks is that the stock shocks and fork internals suck so bad, you can't notice which one is worse... the whole bike handles like crap.
Then you go and fix the shocks, get them sprung for your weight, set the rebound and sag and off you go.... until you hit the first bump and realize the front end is total garbage and the bike now handles worse than it did before.
If you are going to do shocks, do forks too. Otherwise IMHO you are wasting money and making a bad situation worse.
Now on my 03, I have Progressive forks and shocks.... they made a HUGE difference, and I did the shocks first and found the bike handled worse making the forks a high priority for an upgrade.
My 13 was done all at once, I used the Progressive fork kit and BiTubo shocks from DK, and although it was done on the cheap, probably under 900 dollars all in, it made a huge difference. I actually got a set of take off lowers and built the Progressives and swapped them out, keeping the stock forks for spares/cores for a future project.
Then you go and fix the shocks, get them sprung for your weight, set the rebound and sag and off you go.... until you hit the first bump and realize the front end is total garbage and the bike now handles worse than it did before.
If you are going to do shocks, do forks too. Otherwise IMHO you are wasting money and making a bad situation worse.
Now on my 03, I have Progressive forks and shocks.... they made a HUGE difference, and I did the shocks first and found the bike handled worse making the forks a high priority for an upgrade.
My 13 was done all at once, I used the Progressive fork kit and BiTubo shocks from DK, and although it was done on the cheap, probably under 900 dollars all in, it made a huge difference. I actually got a set of take off lowers and built the Progressives and swapped them out, keeping the stock forks for spares/cores for a future project.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2016
Posts: 5,063
Likes: 2,582
From: On my bike!
The problem with just doing shocks is that the stock shocks and fork internals suck so bad, you can't notice which one is worse... the whole bike handles like crap.
Then you go and fix the shocks, get them sprung for your weight, set the rebound and sag and off you go.... until you hit the first bump and realize the front end is total garbage and the bike now handles worse than it did before.
If you are going to do shocks, do forks too. Otherwise IMHO you are wasting money and making a bad situation worse.
Now on my 03, I have Progressive forks and shocks.... they made a HUGE difference, and I did the shocks first and found the bike handled worse making the forks a high priority for an upgrade.
My 13 was done all at once, I used the Progressive fork kit and BiTubo shocks from DK, and although it was done on the cheap, probably under 900 dollars all in, it made a huge difference. I actually got a set of take off lowers and built the Progressives and swapped them out, keeping the stock forks for spares/cores for a future project.
Then you go and fix the shocks, get them sprung for your weight, set the rebound and sag and off you go.... until you hit the first bump and realize the front end is total garbage and the bike now handles worse than it did before.
If you are going to do shocks, do forks too. Otherwise IMHO you are wasting money and making a bad situation worse.
Now on my 03, I have Progressive forks and shocks.... they made a HUGE difference, and I did the shocks first and found the bike handled worse making the forks a high priority for an upgrade.
My 13 was done all at once, I used the Progressive fork kit and BiTubo shocks from DK, and although it was done on the cheap, probably under 900 dollars all in, it made a huge difference. I actually got a set of take off lowers and built the Progressives and swapped them out, keeping the stock forks for spares/cores for a future project.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 504
Likes: 271
From: Anywhere, USA
Ive always heard this but Ive been on my 13 inch RWD shocks with stock front for awhile and honestly Ive go no real issue with it, the shocks made a huge difference and the front has not been an issue. Im sure if I put a fork kit in I would tell the difference but it is certainly not so bad that it needs to be done asap IMO.
Yes, the stock front end still has fork dive but the addition of great (Ohlins 772) rear shocks was worth every penny and gave me instant gratification.
What it did do is make want to do the front end asap but certainly did not make the ride quality worse.
Got my Ohlins Nix 22 cartridge kit sitting in my shed waiting to be installed.
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