OK; it's time to destroy the myth........
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 654
Likes: 11
OK; it's time to destroy the myth........
Good day, Riders.
Boy did I fool myself. Here I thought I was improving suspension by putting a few pounds of air in the OEM shocks. What a joke!
I recently installed Progressive 440HD on my 2006 FLHTCUSE and man what a difference.
I've been riding HD touring bikes for years now and never really like how the rear end of the bike felt especially when riding 2 up and fully loaded. I thought by adding air; I was making a difference to the ride. NOT!
Now; with the 440HD's installed, I am thrilled with how my scoot performs in cornering; crossing railroad tracks and on rough roads.
Do yourselves a favour; try replacing the OEM suspension - You'll be GLAD you did.
Boy did I fool myself. Here I thought I was improving suspension by putting a few pounds of air in the OEM shocks. What a joke!
I recently installed Progressive 440HD on my 2006 FLHTCUSE and man what a difference.
I've been riding HD touring bikes for years now and never really like how the rear end of the bike felt especially when riding 2 up and fully loaded. I thought by adding air; I was making a difference to the ride. NOT!
Now; with the 440HD's installed, I am thrilled with how my scoot performs in cornering; crossing railroad tracks and on rough roads.
Do yourselves a favour; try replacing the OEM suspension - You'll be GLAD you did.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 2,488
Likes: 30
From: Maryland near DC
how much weight are you carrying including yourself ....I have a feeling I am on the opposite side of the spectrum...I am 150lbs and my wife is around 135...and when I ride alone I find the ride a little hard with the stock springs...
Unofficial HDF Chaplain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21,160
Likes: 18,083
From: san diego
Good day, Riders.
Boy did I fool myself. Here I thought I was improving suspension by putting a few pounds of air in the OEM shocks. What a joke!
I recently installed Progressive 440HD on my 2006 FLHTCUSE and man what a difference.
I've been riding HD touring bikes for years now and never really like how the rear end of the bike felt especially when riding 2 up and fully loaded. I thought by adding air; I was making a difference to the ride. NOT!
Now; with the 440HD's installed, I am thrilled with how my scoot performs in cornering; crossing railroad tracks and on rough roads.
Do yourselves a favour; try replacing the OEM suspension - You'll be GLAD you did.
Boy did I fool myself. Here I thought I was improving suspension by putting a few pounds of air in the OEM shocks. What a joke!
I recently installed Progressive 440HD on my 2006 FLHTCUSE and man what a difference.
I've been riding HD touring bikes for years now and never really like how the rear end of the bike felt especially when riding 2 up and fully loaded. I thought by adding air; I was making a difference to the ride. NOT!
Now; with the 440HD's installed, I am thrilled with how my scoot performs in cornering; crossing railroad tracks and on rough roads.
Do yourselves a favour; try replacing the OEM suspension - You'll be GLAD you did.
do yourself an even bigger favor, install the monotube fronts, no more brake dive, no more fork oil service, and a huge difference in ride quality/handling characteristics.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,778
Likes: 69
From: Badlands of ND
Adding air just compensates for the extra weight on the rear suspension. That way the bike sits level and still has all of its suspension travel. It should not really inmprove the ride other than keeping you from bottoming out as easy. Too much air will make the suspension to hard and make it ride rough though.
Supporter
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 13,870
Likes: 4,083
From: Taylortucky, MI
was thinking about going that route myself, until I read this (link) have not found anything resolving the issue?
http://www.*****************/forums/wh...uspension.html
Unofficial HDF Chaplain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 21,160
Likes: 18,083
From: san diego
brake dive is all but gone, ride quality is fantastic, feels more secure, stable in all conditions. bike feels tighter, plus once you make the change you will no longer have to service front shock oil, a hassle at best, a big expense at worse. its really a no brainer. I highly recommend them to everyone that I work on their bikes
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 369
Likes: 8
From: North Okanagan, BC
What length 440HD did you use and how much weight do you carry (hope you don't mind me asking about the weight thing)
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2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: hamilton ontario
i replaced my rear shocks with a set from a kawasaki nomad. 13" eye to eye. they have a coil spring plus a 4 position spring tensioner along with the air and oil. 10lbs in each and the bike is smooth as silk...did have to push the bushings out of the oem"s and stuff them into the kawi shocks.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,318
Likes: 26
I wish I could say I am as happy with my 440hd as you are! I just cant seem to get them set right. They either bottom out or spring to quick and top out. It seems I always have a clunk sound in the rear. I have the 13" on my RK and have tried softest setting and up to 7 turns(harder) with no help?? Im 275 lbs so I figured I needed the HD model but maybe not. I shouldnt complain as I bought them used for 200 and have gotten good use out of them. I am however looking to make a change.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
Not to rain on anyone's parade, but I had 12˝" 440's installed with the standard springs for about two years, and they were an improvement on the stock 12" SG shocks, which isn't saying much. A welded rear suspension might be the only thing worse that those stock shocks, however. I didn't need the HD springs since I ride only solo and weight 170#. I wasn't totally happy with the absence of any rebound control and the sensitivity of the preload adjustment on the 440's. There was a fine line between too soft (bottoming) and too hard (butt trauma), and adding a Tour Pak required another preload adjustment.
FWIW, adding Ohlins #2-3 shock fixed all of the above in spades and I haven't looked back. In all fairness these are 13ź" shocks with >4" of travel (stroke), and that undoubtedly factors into the much-improve ride and control characteristics. They also have full rebound (jounce) control which the 440's don't have. A set of 13" 440's would likely have been an improvement over the 12˝" that I had, but I don't think the difference would've been great. The Ohlins from Motorcycle Metal with the HDForums discount cost about the same as the MSRP on the 440's.
FWIW, adding Ohlins #2-3 shock fixed all of the above in spades and I haven't looked back. In all fairness these are 13ź" shocks with >4" of travel (stroke), and that undoubtedly factors into the much-improve ride and control characteristics. They also have full rebound (jounce) control which the 440's don't have. A set of 13" 440's would likely have been an improvement over the 12˝" that I had, but I don't think the difference would've been great. The Ohlins from Motorcycle Metal with the HDForums discount cost about the same as the MSRP on the 440's.
Last edited by iclick; Oct 3, 2011 at 03:24 PM.