Progressive 944 Shock question for those that have one

[Tattoodraven]

For those that have purchased this shock, since it provides a 1" lower stance (but gives the same amount of travel) how did the rake and trail difference effect the ride most importantly in the cornering, I do a lot of canyon riding and want good handling in the corners, will I need to get the front end lowered with the progressive lowered cartridges or will the big just be too low for me to be happy? Like loosing ground clearance or lean angle...

 

[BluesBelly]

For those that have purchased this shock, since it provides a 1" lower stance (but gives the same amount of travel) how did the rake and trail difference effect the ride most importantly in the cornering, I do a lot of canyon riding and want good handling in the corners, will I need to get the front end lowered with the progressive lowered cartridges or will the big just be too low for me to be happy? Like loosing ground clearance or lean angle...

The 944 shocks are designed for ALL HD touring bikes. The standard HD touring shock is 13" long while our Street Glides use a 12" shock so the 944 will lower by one inch Ultras, Kings, and Road Glides with the stock 13" shocks but our SG's will maintain the standard ride height of 1" lower

 

[Tattoodraven]

Thanks for the reply, but, my question was more about the front end and how this change effects the performance of the front end, the front is pretty soft and already raked enough that the front end is not exactly surefooted or planted in the corners and I want more front end feel and more rake would provide less, so, do I get the front end kit that lowers the front an inch so that i am closer to the original rake/trail numbers and deal with the problems this brings or do I just get standard height and get another rear shock in the long run and get the rear end back up.

I and am on the shorter end and I reach fine with stock height so lowering is nice, but, nothing more than for looks and because the shock was a quick inexpensive fix. My bigger concern is that by going with a lower rear, I will need to also lower the front, to get back some of the front end feel and reduce some of the extra rake... then with less ground clearance will dragging or scraping be a problem while leaned over, there is already very little lean angle and I'm dragging my floorboards all the time now.

I'm trying to get the handling to make me as happy as the rest of the bike, I hate the frame flex that causes the 80-95mph wobble when I'm mid corner, I'm not happy with the light front end that wants to push wide and the jaring bumps that want to buck me off my seat. I am hoping the rear shock fixes the back end and softening some of the big stuff and mid corner bums that come up on some of the roads I ride, then I'm hoping to get the front a bit stiffer and reduce some of the diving and give little better feedback and feel and most importantly I'm hoping the combined improvement fixes the higher speed wobbles, if not, then the next project would be frame stiffness of some kind i guess...


I'm planning to have this bike for a long time, so, I want to fix these thing that where not an issue on most of the other bikes I have had, so I will like this bike long term.



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[CrBear]

I have the 944s, but to be honest, I didn't notice any difference in cornering, just a softer feel from the rear. I didn't touch the front end. I tend to ride mostly in the mountains, recently (Colo, Tenn, Ark, Hill country) and it corners great for me.

 

[1BdBagr]

put Progressive Monotubes in the front forks and get the lowered kit. Lower it an inch. It will firm up the front end and eliminate dive and wallowing in turns. I have them on my 2015 SGS as well as my 2000 Road King.
Tim

 

[trublupsu94]

I have the 944s, but to be honest, I didn't notice any difference in cornering, just a softer feel from the rear. I didn't touch the front end. I tend to ride mostly in the mountains, recently (Colo, Tenn, Ark, Hill country) and it corners great for me.

+1 on this

 

[Tattoodraven]

put Progressive Monotubes in the front forks and get the lowered kit. Lower it an inch. It will firm up the front end and eliminate dive and wallowing in turns. I have them on my 2015 SGS as well as my 2000 Road King.
Tim

Thanks for the feedback, that was what i was wondering...

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[Tattoodraven]

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[Tattoodraven]

She arived today, install two more days, then short test on Wed and Saturday and then the real test on a week long get list adventure...

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[wellsjj]

She arived today, install two more days, then short test on Wed and Saturday and then the real test on a week long get list adventure...

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Wondering did you go with the Ultra turing or the HD ones? with 2 up riding I am in the 380 range, single I am 240lb. I cant seam to find out which one would be better for our weight limit.

 

[1BdBagr]

She arived today, install two more days, then short test on Wed and Saturday and then the real test on a week long get list adventure...

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you will get the biggest bang for your buck with the fork upgrade, rear shocks do make a difference but no where near what you get from upgrading the front. The rear comes into play when you are two-up or packed down.

 

[trublupsu94]

Wondering did you go with the Ultra turing or the HD ones? with 2 up riding I am in the 380 range, single I am 240lb. I cant seam to find out which one would be better for our weight limit.

I had the same issue. I am 240 as well. I bought the standard, not HD. HOwever two up my wife and I are in the 400 lb range. The standard spring was not enough. I called Jorge at Progressive and he was very helpful. Rather than buy new shocks, I bought the springs from him and the progressive tool from J&P. For $100 I now have both springs and the tool to change whenever I want. The HD is definitely better. I use it on the first notch one up and 3rd/4th notch two up. If you are going to guess, go with HD in my opinion. If you find you like softer, just buy the other springs from Jorge and get the tool to do yourself. It was unbelievably easy to do. I did both shocks in about 20 mins total start to finish.

 

[trublupsu94]

you will get the biggest bang for your buck with the fork upgrade, rear shocks do make a difference but no where near what you get from upgrading the front. The rear comes into play when you are two-up or packed down.

You do yours yourself? How hard is it?

 

[Tattoodraven]

I got the HD spring and may go with the standard, but wanted to start stiffer because I do rider her aggressive and have always liked a slightly stiffer suspension. I am around 190-200 (depending on how much beer I drink! lol) and do not ride 2 up very often (wife has her own bike and doesn't care for Harley's much and always gives me crap about having one...) so I have a 2000-3000 mile trip coming up and by the time I'm done I will know if it was the correct spring, I'll let you know how it goes.

1BdBagr - thanks for the heads up, I want the PS cartridge's, just want to line up a powder-coating for the front forks, my wife has a hook up and we are just waiting for the time to get them done, while the front end is apart and is the only reason I didn't do them together. ....Looks like you are pretty local to me, my usual Sunday ride is up the 38 to Big Bear or 79 to Idyllwild for brunch and been doing those roads for 25'ish years and get up there pretty quickly and pushing the front a bit, has been an issue, especially coming downhill, so, I have that on my "to-do" list before I do anything else.

 

[1BdBagr]

I got the HD spring and may go with the standard, but wanted to start stiffer because I do rider her aggressive and have always liked a slightly stiffer suspension. I am around 190-200 (depending on how much beer I drink! lol) and do not ride 2 up very often (wife has her own bike and doesn't care for Harley's much and always gives me crap about having one...) so I have a 2000-3000 mile trip coming up and by the time I'm done I will know if it was the correct spring, I'll let you know how it goes.

1BdBagr - thanks for the heads up, I want the PS cartridge's, just want to line up a powder-coating for the front forks, my wife has a hook up and we are just waiting for the time to get them done, while the front end is apart and is the only reason I didn't do them together. ....Looks like you are pretty local to me, my usual Sunday ride is up the 38 to Big Bear or 79 to Idyllwild for brunch and been doing those roads for 25'ish years and get up there pretty quickly and pushing the front a bit, has been an issue, especially coming downhill, so, I have that on my "to-do" list before I do anything else.

yes, i did them myself (on both of them). I did the exact same thing as you...except that i bought a wrecked 2015 SGS and it needed fork tubes, so while i was at it i sent all my bike's parts to the powdercoater then upon re-installation, got the Monotubes put in. I only wanted to do it once. You are welcome some time to come by and ride either of my bikes if it would help.
Tim

 

[wellsjj]

With these shock are you having to invert the left side shock for clearance issues? or are both shocks mounted upright? As in the spring adjuster at top.
Thanks

 

[trublupsu94]

With these shock are you having to invert the left side shock for clearance issues? or are both shocks mounted upright? As in the spring adjuster at top.
Thanks

Spring adjuster will be on the bottom of both sides. There is not enough clearance to mount them with adjusters on top.

 

[wellsjj]

Thanks for fast reply going to try and mount them tonight, If I can get my bike jack back from a friend that borrowed it over a year ago.

 

[trublupsu94]

Thanks for fast reply going to try and mount them tonight, If I can get my bike jack back from a friend that borrowed it over a year ago.

Just make sure you use a torque wrench and blue lock tite. They get a lot of abuse and having the right torque and security of not loosening is important.

 

[Tattoodraven]

With these shock are you having to invert the left side shock for clearance issues? or are both shocks mounted upright? As in the spring adjuster at top.
Thanks

I do not have sissy bars or other related hardware to require them be installed inverted. I was able to mount both upright, will try to get some pics up. As to the ride, I didn't notice the bike being much lower like i thought, so for me it was good. As to the ride, I did notice a smoother ride back home over the bumpy road, still have a little bit to play with, I'm hoping to be able to fiddle a little tomorrow before I take off for my trip up north.