Progressive rear shocks

[m2h]

Just bought myself a set of 13" 412 shocks for the '03. Would you all chip in and tell me why they were good . Pleeeeease! Got to try and get to them in the post before you know who sees em first. Luckily she dont take much notice of the bike and they look similiar to the stock ones [emoji2] Havent got round to fixing my pumpkin weep yet so will do these at the same time

[navigator]

She won't see them behind your new saddlebags. [emoji2]

[Lechy]

When I told my wife I was going to buy new shocks, she said, why, you got plenty of clean ones in your drawer.

[emoji41]

[navigator]

Tell her it's clearly a handling safety issue. [emoji41]

[m2h]

Tell her it's clearly a handling safety issue. [emoji41]

Thanks for the humour guys Now, can anyone who has these fitted tell me how absolutely marvelous they are and how i havent wasted squillions of dollars?? Too frikking late now anyways i suppose - but would like to hear from someone!! [emoji106]

[WintrSol]

I fitted Progressive shocks and fork springs to my VS800, and the handling immediately improved on rough pavement, like old blacktop; it felt better planted, with no tendency to jump around. For me, that was more than worth the price. I would expect the same on the 1400 to be true.

[Forge]

I'm following this thread. Please report back once they are installed and you take your bike out for a good ride. I just ordered the front springs to help with dive, but I am hesitant to spend that much on the rear shocks until I hear more feedback on them.

[m2h]

I fitted Progressive shocks and fork springs to my VS800, and the handling immediately improved on rough pavement, like old blacktop; it felt better planted, with no tendency to jump around. For me, that was more than worth the price. I would expect the same on the 1400 to be true.

Thanks for the reply mate. Ive fitted progressive fork springs already and found a big improvement there. I used 20w oil also as the bushes were a bit worn but it seems to be all ok.

[m2h]

I'm following this thread. Please report back once they are installed and you take your bike out for a good ride. I just ordered the front springs to help with dive, but I am hesitant to spend that much on the rear shocks until I hear more feedback on them.

Hi Forge yep i will do. May take a week or two. Dont know your bike year or milage but check the bushes the inner tube slides in for wear. I used 20w oil instead of 10w when i did my forks worked good.

[navigator]

After about 40K miles, my stock shocks had faded to the point where I would bottom out the rear with even the lightest luggage.
I dialed up the setting to no avail.
I installed stock length Progressives in the rear, run on step 3, and Progressive fork springs in the front with 15 weight oil.
Rides like a dream, supports large tour packs and I now have over 50K on them...90K total.

[subin]

The stock ones are like Pogo stick, which would be good to put someone you don't like on the passenger seat and hit a bump hard to throw the person off the seat

Mine did leak after about a year (less than 2k miles), but they replace them under warranty and have been good since then.

[Forge]

Do they come with new rubber bushings?

[m2h]

After about 40K miles, my stock shocks had faded to the point where I would bottom out the rear with even the lightest luggage.
I dialed up the setting to no avail.
I installed stock length Progressives in the rear, run on step 3, and Progressive fork springs in the front with 15 weight oil.
Rides like a dream, supports large tour packs and I now have over 50K on them...90K total.

Thanks Nav thats what i want to hear Got about 40K on mine so maybe its time to do them anyway

[m2h]

Do they come with new rubber bushings?

If you mean in the eyes of the shocks i should think /hope so If you mean the bushes i mention in the forks post they are
short tubes about 1" long and look like white metal.

[navigator]

Do they come with new rubber bushings?

Yes, they are plug and play. you get a bag of bushings as well to sleeve any stud to the needed diameter.
They also come with a spanner wrench for adjusting them.

[Forge]

Do they come with new rubber bushings?

Yes, they are plug and play. you get a bag of bushings as well to sleeve any stud to the needed diameter.
They also come with a spanner wrench for adjusting them.

Sweet. Perhaps this may be my next investment. I am very curious about how they affect the ride since I had spinal surgery a year ago and stiill have issues.

[m2h]

Do they come with new rubber bushings?

Yes, they are plug and play. you get a bag of bushings as well to sleeve any stud to the needed diameter.
They also come with a spanner wrench for adjusting them.

Sweet. Perhaps this may be my next investment. I am very curious about how they affect the ride since I had spinal surgery a year ago and stiill have issues.

I also have a low back problem so i bought a Protac driver back rest. Had to adjust it a bit by bending the bars but i wouldnt be without it now.

[Herb]

Do they come with new rubber bushings?

Yes, they are plug and play. you get a bag of bushings as well to sleeve any stud to the needed diameter.
They also come with a spanner wrench for adjusting them.

Sweet. Perhaps this may be my next investment. I am very curious about how they affect the ride since I had spinal surgery a year ago and stiill have issues.

I also have a low back problem so i bought a Protac driver back rest. Had to adjust it a bit by bending the bars but i wouldnt be without it now.

My back is a long way from what it was even 30 years ago.

For years now I have been using an adjustable backrest. Best accessory that I have ever used.

[navigator]

When you install them, do one side at a time, much easier than jacking the bike around.

[Forge]

Do they come with new rubber bushings?

Yes, they are plug and play. you get a bag of bushings as well to sleeve any stud to the needed diameter.
They also come with a spanner wrench for adjusting them.

Sweet. Perhaps this may be my next investment. I am very curious about how they affect the ride since I had spinal surgery a year ago and stiill have issues.

I also have a low back problem so i bought a Protac driver back rest. Had to adjust it a bit by bending the bars but i wouldnt be without it now.

Going to look into that. Just when I thought I was almost done spending money on my bike...