Progressive "Touring Link"
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2019
Posts: 272
Likes: 59
From: New York
Has anyone encountered damage to their trans case / oil pan after installing progressive link and hitting a nasty bump / pot hole? Ive had mine on for awhile just pulled my progressive 944s replaced them with my racing bro mono R rear shocks and thow I have a progressive mono tube kit up front I am waiting for dan at traxxion to ship me my new AK20 kit . As I am going over my suspension and making changes where needed I have been thinking about this stabilizer link and the sta-blo bushings I installed . The bushings made a night and day difference then I proactively installed the link and I just cant help but be concerned that every time I hit a nasty bit of pavement or lack there of I run the risk of tearing that case or at the least damaging the fastener and gasket / seal ? I plan to do some serious riding while I can this season and want to make sure I cover all my concerns before they become issues
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 1,307
Likes: 926
From: Squamish, BC
There are numerous posts about 'bagger wobble', especially on pre-09 touring frames. You can reduce the wobble a few different ways, True Track, Touring Link, or Glide Pro has other suggestions. I'm no engineer and forgive my lack of proper terms, but these systems will add a link between the transmission and the frame, instead of them simply hanging from your swing arm's bushings; thus significantly reducing the side-to-side lateral movement that creates the 'bagger wobble'. It works, you feel a bit more vibrations, but the juice is worth the squeeze
Advanced
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 58
Likes: 3
From: PA
There are numerous posts about 'bagger wobble', especially on pre-09 touring frames. You can reduce the wobble a few different ways, True Track, Touring Link, or Glide Pro has other suggestions. I'm no engineer and forgive my lack of proper terms, but these systems will add a link between the transmission and the frame, instead of them simply hanging from your swing arm's bushings; thus significantly reducing the side-to-side lateral movement that creates the 'bagger wobble'. It works, you feel a bit more vibrations, but the juice is worth the squeeze
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 19
From: Naples FL / Pine TWP PA
If you have the problem there will be no doubt in your mind. It's a pucker factor 10 when the bike goes into the death wobble in a curve. My 07 was fine until about 25k miles then it started with this problem. I never fully solved the issue but got it substantially under control with the Bagger Brace and Ohlins shocks. I upgraded to a Rushmore bike in 16 haven't seen anything close to a wobble on the bike. It's planted firmly on the road.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 54
Likes: 9
From: Michigan
I have this Progressive Stabilizer Link on my 09 FLHTCU. I installed it when I had the bike on the lift changing the drive belt which requires a lot of swing arm work to install, The Progressive Link was not difficult to install it works with increased diameter cross under pipe (like Kuryakyn). I don't know if it will work with the increased capacity oil pan.
I bought the Progressive rather than the Tru Track because Tru Track couldn't tell me it it worked with the larger diameter cross under pipe. I see now Tru Track has a rear stabilizer kit that is designed to be used with the "Plus 1" high capacity oil pan. I also see Tru Track now has a kit to add a link to the front of the engine.
I've ridden almost 3,000 miles with the Progressive Stabilizer Link and can't tell by my riding and butt if it does anything. On the other hand, I've also seen no problems with it.
I hesitated to buy it without a target improvement goal, after all, the 2009 was the first year of the improved chassis touring bikes (before getting upgraded again in 2014) and so, presumably, didn't need chassis upgrades as much as earlier bikes did? So maybe it's just a farkle and there's nothing wrong with that either, I suppose. There's never an end to people wanting to sell you the latest potion or widget to fix a problem you didn't know you had.
On that note, anybody seen a good price for the the Tru Track front stabilizer kit? I'm sure it will make my bike handle like it's on rails! :-)
I bought the Progressive rather than the Tru Track because Tru Track couldn't tell me it it worked with the larger diameter cross under pipe. I see now Tru Track has a rear stabilizer kit that is designed to be used with the "Plus 1" high capacity oil pan. I also see Tru Track now has a kit to add a link to the front of the engine.
I've ridden almost 3,000 miles with the Progressive Stabilizer Link and can't tell by my riding and butt if it does anything. On the other hand, I've also seen no problems with it.
I hesitated to buy it without a target improvement goal, after all, the 2009 was the first year of the improved chassis touring bikes (before getting upgraded again in 2014) and so, presumably, didn't need chassis upgrades as much as earlier bikes did? So maybe it's just a farkle and there's nothing wrong with that either, I suppose. There's never an end to people wanting to sell you the latest potion or widget to fix a problem you didn't know you had.
On that note, anybody seen a good price for the the Tru Track front stabilizer kit? I'm sure it will make my bike handle like it's on rails! :-)
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window
Verdad Gallardo
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 4,459
Likes: 2,896
From: Oklahoma
I have an 08 Road King (old frame) so I don't know if this still holds true. At the time, the Progressive link had a steel piece that mounted to the frame, others used aluminum. Not wanting to even chance inducing galvanic corrosion, I went with the steel side piece. Your reason for choosing something else may be just as valid as my reason to go with Progressive. I have replaced the Heim Joint links once, but the mounting to the transmission case has caused no problems.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 5,878
Likes: 3,853
From: Cape Cod
Never understood how folks are getting the wobble, got a 07 Ultra and have NEVER had any kind of wobble at all........and looking at the swingarm innards, there IS a bearing in there, THAT would have to go bad for any kind of movement. Some had said it's the bushings problem in there......I dont see it......the bearing would keep things stable over the bushings........