Progressive 444's

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Jun 8, 2014 | 11:02 PM

#11

DeneFXDWG

Road Warrior

Joined: Mar 2010

Posts: 1,505

Likes: 56

From: Vancouver Island, British Columbia

Stan, why didn't you go with the 944's with the standard duty spring? They don't cost a heck of a lot more? Just asking, thanks!

Jun 8, 2014 | 11:03 PM

#12

SR90

Tourer

Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 469

Likes: 3

From: Arizona

I did not have plans to change out the air shocks but when one starting leaking oil, I installed the 444's, that was a few months ago. I still haven't done the measurements and adjust the preload, just turned them a quarter turn as the instructions state to never have them turned full left or right. They ride great as is and I'm very happy with them. Thinking I should do the monotubes next. That's a beautiful bike you have Stan, nice.

Jun 8, 2014 | 11:06 PM

#13

SR90

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Joined: Apr 2012

Posts: 469

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From: Arizona

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeneFXDWG

Stan, why didn't you go with the 944's with the standard duty spring? They don't cost a heck of a lot more? Just asking, thanks!

I could be mistaken but I think the 944's are 12" shocks, meant for street glides.

Jun 8, 2014 | 11:37 PM

#14

stan60

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Joined: Apr 2007

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From: Oklahoma

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeneFXDWG

Stan, why didn't you go with the 944's with the standard duty spring? They don't cost a heck of a lot more? Just asking, thanks!

Well, if I understand it correctly, the 944's will lower you about an inch or so. I didn't want that. Other than that I believe the 444's are the same as the 944's.

Jun 8, 2014 | 11:39 PM

#15

stan60

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Joined: Apr 2007

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From: Oklahoma

Quote:

Originally Posted by SR90

That's a beautiful bike you have Stan, nice.

Thank you.

Jun 9, 2014 | 12:02 AM

#16

mgmmgm

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Feb 2007

Posts: 2,710

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From: Spokane, WA.

Interested to hear how these 444 work for improved ride etc.

Jun 9, 2014 | 07:03 AM

#17

bikehunter

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Joined: Jun 2009

Posts: 331

Likes: 9

From: Hampshire UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by madhunter60

love mine, whole different ride, consider adding the monotube front fork cartridge, you'll be one happy camper if you do, you'll be surprised how much better the bike handles, and how much of a jolt you are getting from the stock front fork springs.

Too true on that one, got Ohlins shocks and they were terrible with the air forks still fitted.
So I added a Mono tube fork cartridge this Saturday just gone and its a vast improvement, still a little hard at the moment but should soften down hopefully. Bike steers much nicer and was surprised that I was not half as tired after my test ride. Those OE suspension are really bad.

Jul 28, 2014 | 01:36 PM

#18

stan60

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Joined: Apr 2007

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From: Oklahoma

Well, our tour of Colorado took us 2534 miles according to the Zumo 665. The 444's were a huge improvement over the stock air suspension. We were 2 up and fully loaded with leather, rain gear, 2 full face helmets and a couple days worth of clean clothes. I'm sure that by the book, we were probably overloaded which is a normal occurrence for us on a trip like this. I had the sag set at the #3 mark. The highway ride was smooth as could be. The joints in the highway, the dips, etc. were not noticeable. Now if you're from Oklahoma, you know how rough some of the bridge abutments and RR X's can be...they were still rough, but not nearly as harsh as with the stock shocks and you didn't feel like your spine was about to explode when you hit them. One thing that I did notice and something that it took me some time to get used to, while in the curves of the mountain roads, if the road got a little "wavey" in the curve, the bike would want to wallow a little bit, something that I had never experienced prior to the change out. Like the the front end and the back end were not in sync. Never wasn't anything that I felt uncomfortable with, just a different sensation that I had to get used to. It was definitely more pronounced when we were fully loaded.

I'm glad that I made the change to the Progressive 444's. The ride is much improved and performance was as expected. I definitely think that they are worth the money. Are there others out there that will out perform these? Probably so, but they will cost more. Are they worth the extra dollars? ??? I'll have to wait until I wear these out to find out.