Progressive 412 shocks for Sportster

[Jack Allen]

I'm looking for some ride info from anyone that has moved to the Progressive Suspension 412 shocks and lowered their Sporty 1" on the rear. I love my '05 XL Roadster Sportster, and don't want to give him up, but the ride just beats me up too much. I need as soft of a ride as I can get (don't need it for racing at all) and it gets loaned out to guest riders touring as well when I'm riding my Deluxe or Road King. Any suggestions to make the ride much better? I have Drag Specialties progressive spring shocks on him right now. They were an entry level made for them by Progressive Suspension after visiting with Progressive. Just not soft enough yet for the tired back and neck.

Thanks!!!

[scol]

I have 2008 low rider sporty same problem ride is kicking me to hell and back, will the 412s help? Do you think it will void warrenty?

[2120]

Same problem with my nighty....beats me to death!

[Nathang]

I know this thread is 2 months old, did you guys ever come up with any improvement to this harsh ride situation?

Just curious, I saw Daniii's comment on another thread on using lowering blocks on his wife's sportster, they moved that lower shock mounting point back a couple of inches. Just thinking of the physics, (or is it the geometry?) seems that the further you angle the same shock and spring assy away/back from straight up and down mounting, the softer the ride should get.

Logic is, if they're straight up and down, no angle off vertical, and you hit a 2" bump, the spring has to get compressed a full 2" and the shock has to allow a full 2" movement in and out, or the force gets transferred to the rider.

If the shocks were mounted at a 45 degree angle, the same 2" movement in the swingarm would only cause a 1" compression of the shock and spring assy. I believe that should feel like cutting the spring and shock resistance in half.

Unless I'm missing something.

[zetaseven]

I have stock shocks on mine, i have the lowering blocks on it and reduced the air in my tire to about 32lbs. Rides nice.I also lowered the front end 2" with the progressive lowering kit. I put 20wt fork oil in the tubes so it is a little stiff in the front.But if you have a stock front end maybe you could play with the air pressure.

[scol]

All I've dun so far is to adjust the spring tension, it did help I don't bottom out any more. I'll decide what to do about mods in the spring once I decide if I'm going to keep the sporty or trade in. It's a money thing right now.

[Nathang]

Question still is, did anybody who installed lowering blocks,
which changes the angle that the stock shocks mount,
did anyone notice if the ride got softer?

I believe it should, and significantly.

[zetaseven]

I thought i answered the question,i said it rides nice. Yes it is a softer ride. the lowering blocks seem to soften the ride and i also lowered my tire pressure.I guess the angle of the shock does effect the ride.Also i don't know what the roadster is set up for, but it may be set up stiff. It may have a heavy oil in the front forks, you might could go to a lighter oil to soften it up.

[Nathang]

Sorry, I didn't mean to sound demanding, I didn't understand that as a response,
thought you were just saying your Sporty rode nice.
I was just wondering if my suspicion about the geometry change affecting ride was correct.

I've gotten in Progressive front springs for the V-Rod,
I'll go to town his AM and get shock oil and give that change a shot.

[zetaseven]

You know a lot more about geometry than me ,so answer me a question Please Nathan. When i lowered my bike 2" in front and 1" in rear what should i get. Did this change the geometry? and if so how? do i need to lower the rear an addional 1" ? It seems to ride fine.