I know this topic may belong in the "Suspension" section, but the emphasis there seems to be more on "performance" handling. But what about us touring oriented folks? For the long all-day haul, multi-day trip, I want comfy adjustable shocks for one up riding (I weigh 175) with about 50 lbs of gear.

Last month I made a big investment in Progressive 440 series shocks -- and man, am I disappointed. These things are stiff, even at the lowest preload -- like they were designed for a larger heavier bike -- a big cruiser or something. So now I'm looking again, to see what's on the market that's best for touring.

I've heard of Progressive 418's, retrofitted Road King air shocks and 1200S shocks being good for Sporty's. Anyone try these or something else that has resulted in a comfy ride? Thanks for any advice.

What size 440's did you get? If you got 12" or shorter
the IAS system won't work like it should. Progressive
now recommends 12.5 or longer. They used to say 11.5".
I made the same mistake with my 11.5" on my custom
and I am now looking at longer shocks.

Did you get standard or heavy duty springs?

Also if the spacers are installed wrong they will bind and
it will feel like hard shocks.

I would go with the 418s if you want to spend that much money or the 412s should be a good alternative. I'm running 12 1/2" 412s on my bike but wish I'd gone longer. I first tried 12" 440s but like you I found them way too stiff. I was real disappointed in them. For the money I'm pretty happy with the 412s. I think 13 1/2" 412s should be a good compromise.

i got the 412's in 14.25" length. have them set at highest preload for handling. on lowset setting they are cushy soft. i like them.

Decman, I got the 12.5" length 440's with standard springs. I considered whether the spacers were installed properly. The shocks appear to be straight up and down, w/o any canter in or out from the bottom mount. I may try to vary the spacers to see if I get an improvement in ride.

Since I bought the shocks, I have noticed in the product description of the 440's on a few retailer's websites as mentioning "designed for large cruisers." Also, I noticed that when I recieved the shocks, they were set from the factory at the lowest preload setting. Makes me wonder. I'm going to call Progessive tech support Monday to see if they can shed any light on this disappointing situation.

I'm not expert here, but for serious touring I think air shocks are prefered. That's because you can add more air to accomodate greater loads and let out air to make them softer when riding solo. Some air shocks I think also let you adjust the height of them.

For the money, invest in a set of HD air shocks off eBay. Spend about another $10 for new Shrader valves and longer mounting bolts, and you're set. No need to run airlines, the valves are easily accessible from the top. A good hand pump is all you need, which you can pack in your bag (along with a tire pressure gauge that starts at zero, in increments of 1lb psi).

Thanks, Robert. Sounds like a great deal, but anything H-D OEM makes me wary if they will measure up to my particular needs.

Know that I just dropped over $400 for the 440 series shocks, so that's how important ride quality is to me. To bad I took Progressive's word to heart when they describe their 440 series as "The ultimate in ride quality." That may be true for other (heavier) model bikes, but not for the Sportster. :doh

I'm willing to invest at least that much money in better shocks for touring. Any suggestions in that price range? Anybody?

Thanks, Robert. Sounds like a great deal, but anything H-D OEM makes me wary if they will measure up to my particular needs.

Know that I just dropped over $400 for the 440 series shocks, so that's how important ride quality is to me. To bad I took Progressive's word to heart when they describe their 440 series as "The ultimate in ride quality." That may be true for other (heavier) model bikes, but not for the Sportster. :doh

I'm willing to invest at least that much money in better shocks for touring. Any suggestions in that price range? Anybody?


I have also been on a quest for plush riding shocks for when I take long trips on the Sporty. I first went the 440 route, and found them a little too harsh. They were 13" long. I now have a pair of Works Performance shocks on the bike. 13 3/4" long. They have a better ride, but I've only got around 200 miles on them. One thing to remember, it's a Sporty. We will never find shocks that will give us a truly plush ride. That being said, a longer shock helps from my first impression. More shock travel = better bump absorption. I would go the longest you can, if you have a rubbermount, that would be 13 3/4" with the Harley exhaust.

Photon,

Before you go dropping any more coin be sure you have gone through the right steps to set the shocks properly. Sometimes you have to play around a lot before you get the right sag and the combination of preload and rebound. Another forum member posted recently that he too was dissappointed but after a couple months of tinkering and experimenting and learning he's extremely pleased now.

Another thing to keep in mind, when you went to those 12.5" 440's, you took 3/4" of allowable travel out of your set-up. You're putting any shocks in a more difficult situation for expectations by doing so.

Have a look at this thread: http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=23846

And you can always start a seperate thread asking for help on setting them up. Might worth a shot before you spend more money.

Have a look at this thread: http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=23846

And you can always start a seperate thread asking for help on setting them up. Might worth a shot before you spend more money.

..I agree..........play with the settings first........

..I went with YSS shocks because they gave me full adjustability......

..It takes me a minute to set the shocks up for the riding I'm doing........

..It takes a while to work out the best settings for the different types of riding you do.........but its worth it........:tour ...

Originally I ordered 440 shocks because I wanted the best possible ride. The roads I travel to work got busted up real bad this winter from housing developement truck traffic. First progressive tech recommended HD springs for the occassional two up riding. Feedback from those in this forum ( one exception ) indicated even standard springs were too firm for my weight (170lbs) Returned 440 shocks and ordered 412s because so many here seem pleased with the improvement over stock. Then I read of concerns with pogoing and that would definetly be a problem on roads I described. Returned 412s and ordered 418s with adjustable rebound. Dialed in, they should be the perfect choice. They should arrive tomorrow. At each step I thought I had done enough research. Who'd of thunk ?

I installed some progressive 416 air shocks about 3 or 4 months ago and could'nt be happier. About a little over a year ago i install some progressive 418's on my last bike and to tell the thruth the 416's are smoother. Setting shocks up right has everything to do with getting the ride you want. On the 416's air shocks solo 12psi to 14psi is one plush ride but anything more and it feel like a ridged frame bike. That's what i like about setting the sag, it's easy with air, plus you have a crossover airline that equalizes the air pressure from one shock to the other one. A little $6 buck foot pump at wal-mart works great for airing them up. I also have the progressive front springs installed too. Here's how i would rate them, 416's rear air shocks "10" front springs a "5" and most people rave about those front springs which they are good but nowhere near as good as the 416's. Whatever shocks you use to your time to set them up and get the most out of them.

Folks, in my experience, there isn't all that much difference in the ride quality in terms of stiffness among the various models (412, 418, 440) of twin Progressive shocks for a given length and a given application.

Keep in mind that not all 12.5" 440 shocks are the same, though there are several that will fit your bike:

440-4007 is 12.5" 440 standard duty for XL
440-4001 s 12.5" 440 standard duty for FLH
440-4038 s 12.5" 440 standard duty for FXD
440-4055 s 12.5" 440 standard duty for VRSC

There are 4 more part numbers for 12.5" shocks in heavy duty for the 4 different applications, so that's 8 possible models of 12.5" 440s, not to mention other apllications that might exist that I'm unfamilar with, i.e. for metric bikes. The spring rates (and likely the valving) on all 8 Harley-type shocks are different. Again, just looking at standard-duty:

440-4007 (XL) 75/120 lbs per inch
440-4001 (FLH) 90/130 lbs per inch
440-4038 (FXD) 210/250 lbs per inch
440-4055 (VRSC) 125/170 lbs per inch

The spring rate across the 4 applications for the other series (412, 418) are comparable.

Not saying these are what you got, but it's important to keep in mind that all 12.5" 440s are not created equal. Whenever I hear someone complain that their shocks are too stiff, I wonder if they were sold the wrong shocks.

The reason the rates are all over the place is that the shocks are all canted differently (FXD the most) and the bikes' weights vary (heavier in all cases compared to the XL.) A pair of FXD shocks would be pretty stiff... obviously, the FLH shocks are closest, which I suspect is part of the reason socal1200r is so pleased with his air shocks.

Best regards,

I installed the 412 standard 12+1/2" springs.I weight about 235lbs and they work great for me.The ride is even and smooth no pogo effect nor bouncy ride.

Actually, I'd like to see the companies offer a little more variation in progressive spring rates. I used to run 70/90 progressives (Ken Ross springs) on S&Ws (as I understand, the grandaddy of the Progressive 412) with good luck. I think that the 'standard' Progressive 75/120 spring may be a little too steep of a progression. That's what I noticed in the thread mentioned above: there was a narrow point on my bike...with preload almost all the way backed off...where the suspension worked as it should. Any less and the bike lost some suspension control...any more and it got too stiff. The more I sit here thinking about it, the more I am convinced that Progressive ramps the spring tension up too fast with their spring rates. In my case, a 75/100 would allow me to still increase preload a ways before it got too stiff.

Kim

Folks, in my experience, there isn't all that much difference in the ride quality in terms of stiffness among the various models (412, 418, 440) of twin Progressive shocks for a given length and a given application.

Keep in mind that not all 12.5" 440 shocks are the same, though there are several that will fit your bike:

440-4007 is 12.5" 440 standard duty for XL
440-4001 s 12.5" 440 standard duty for FLH
440-4038 s 12.5" 440 standard duty for FXD
440-4055 s 12.5" 440 standard duty for VRSC

There are 4 more part numbers for 12.5" shocks in heavy duty for the 4 different applications, so that's 8 possible models of 12.5" 440s, not to mention other apllications that might exist that I'm unfamilar with, i.e. for metric bikes. The spring rates (and likely the valving) on all 8 Harley-type shocks are different. Again, just looking at standard-duty:

440-4007 (XL) 75/120 lbs per inch
440-4001 (FLH) 90/130 lbs per inch
440-4038 (FXD) 210/250 lbs per inch
440-4055 (VRSC) 125/170 lbs per inch

The spring rate across the 4 applications for the other series (412, 418) are comparable.

Not saying these are what you got, but it's important to keep in mind that all 12.5" 440s are not created equal. Whenever I hear someone complain that their shocks are too stiff, I wonder if they were sold the wrong shocks.

The reason the rates are all over the place is that the shocks are all canted differently (FXD the most) and the bikes' weights vary (heavier in all cases compared to the XL.) A pair of FXD shocks would be pretty stiff... obviously, the FLH shocks are closest, which I suspect is part of the reason socal1200r is so pleased with his air shocks.

Best regards,

Chris that's some good information for people buying shocks 0n ebay and 2nd hand to consider. The more info the changes just get better and better to find the right fit for your bike.

What shocks would you recomend touring with a pilion?

Have a look at this thread: http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/showthread.php?t=23846

And you can always start a seperate thread asking for help on setting them up. Might worth a shot before you spend more money.
I second this. Did you do the bolts up too tight? Or whoever did them. Might be worth slackening them off and retorquing to spec: 45 - 50 ft-lbs. My 412s were fitted by the dealer and they tightened the bolts really tight. Made the back end really stiff. When I took the shocks off to get under the fender for something and put them back on and torqued to 50 ft-lbs they were much better. I've since changed to 440s. Haven't put many miles on them yet, but so far they seem much better. OK, the rear suspension's still firm, but I've got 11" shocks, it's going to be pretty firm whatever I do.

Welcome to the club.

As I mentioned, I have the Progressive Series 440 shocks. Even though I find them a bit stiff for my 165 lb. weight, they may be ideal for the heavier load of two-up touring -- so says Progressive. It's why I have not replaced them yet. I'm going to load up the bike along with the wife and see how they perform. Already adjusted for the 1" sag rule, so they should be set up OK.

I just installed 13 1/2" 418s on my custom and the ride is the best I've had. Tried 12" 440s too stiff and too much rebound slap. 12 1/2" 412s were better but the 13 1/2" 418s are the best. I weigh 155lbs and ride solo.

I like the harley S shocks...Sometimes you can find them on ebay..Those and the new springs from Progressive up front made my bike feel like a totally different one.

I just installed 13 1/2" 418s on my custom and the ride is the best I've had. 12 1/2" 412s were better but the 13 1/2" 418s are the best. I weigh 155lbs and ride solo.

What preload and rebound settings do you have set on your 418's? Thanks.

The Progressive 418's, hands down the best shock for any Sportster.
You can adjust them to Just right.

I fitted aset of FAR shocks to my sporty, now I'm the opposite of you, 91/2 stone and short of leg, made a great difference to my ride, toured in france last year, no probs, and a friend on his dyna was more tired at the end of the day than I was! http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/1961littledave/Picture170.jpg

If you can find them, a pair of the Fox shocks that Harley sold for a while as there "premium" profile low shock may fit the bill. I scored a pair off e-bay right after christmas and I am very happy with them. They also look really nice with billet aluminum bodies and spring cups, chrome springs and fluting on the upper spring cup...which does double duty as your preload adjustment...no tool needed like the 440. The have the Bar and Shield milled into the back of the top mount and the Fox logo milled in the bottom mount. Very, very well made suspension pieces that are fully rebuildable too. Mine measure 12 1/4 inches and I have yet to bottom them even set pretty soft.

I weigh 180lbs. I can get you the part number if your interested.

Did a quick ebay cruise and found these: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/HARLEY-SPORTSTER-H-D-LOW-PROFILE-CHROME-SHOCKS-NEW_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35569QQitemZ4630164 053QQrdZ1

What preload and rebound settings do you have set on your 418's? Thanks.

Preload is set at 1 and rebound will probably be either 1 or 2. I have to really get out and ride it. There is a real rough section of road by my work so I'm going to find out Tuesday how the bike likes it.