Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Help with rear shock selection...

I had originally posted this over at the rat forum (yes I know) but it didn't garner me much help. So I am hoping that you guys may be able to lend a bit of input. Here goes:

I'm looking at replacing the stock shocks on my 09 Speedmaster. I've been looking around but really can't find any info on what to buy. I sent out a few emails to various companies but the replies I received are some what contradictory. So I'm hoping that all the brains and experience here can lend me a hand.

Okay so I am a heavyweight, hovering around 250lbs without any gear. My wife likes to ride with me, but I do the majority of my riding solo (she may come with me 30% of my total ride time). I don't have any saddle bags or luggage and I have no plans of putting any on. Maximum load two-up with gear would probably be somewhere over 400-425lbs.

I personally like the look of the Hagon Classic III shocks (Black/Stainless) but I have been told that they would have to be built in a way that it would make solo rides pretty harsh. I was recommended to go to the Nitro line for the added ability to adjust them since the load will vary a great deal.

Does anyone have any input or experience in this type of situation? Any and all help is appreciated.

Rob, I've had the Progressive 440's for about 3 years now and I don't think there is a better shock out there.
You can check them out here:

Fast Eddy's

He is a member here and is very easy to do business with.

I have the Progressive 412 Heavy Duty shocks from fasteddy. They are considerably less in cost than the 440's. I went heavy duty because I am also over 200 and my wife rides with me quite a bit. They are very smooth with both of us on, maybe a touch stiff when I ride solo. I like the firm ride though, I don't bounce all over the road like with the stock shocks. I would probably have a set of 440's if they came in heavy duty, although from what I hear, they are some of the best anyway. Maybe a compromise would be the 418's they are somewhat of a middle ground. I didn't like how they looked or I would have gone that route for a small increase in price over the 412's.
I'm sure the Hagon fans will chime in with their experiences also.

Thanks guys exactly the kind of info I was looking for. I really dislike the ride with the stock shocks I'm either bottoming out or bouncing around like a on a pogo stick. I'm not dead set on the Hagon's or anything, I just liked the look. I'll shoot fast eddy an email see if he ships to Canada.

Road, what is the difference between the 412 and the 412 HD? Do they build them different or is it just a harder spring.

Oh and I'm probably tipping the scale at like 265 or so with my gear on

Works also makes shocks. They will make a custom set for your bike and riding style.
http://www.worksperformance.com/html/home.html

It's a stiffer spring, you will definitely want the HD if you go with the 412's. When I got mine I was only pushing 230 and have lost about 25 pounds since, but since we ride 2-up a lot....
I just looked at the 418's and they come in HD, but are almost as much as the 440's. I can say that for me, cost was a consideration also.

Cost is always a consideration in my book well wallet in this case.

Rob,

fwiw

My 440s are currently at 6911 Marlin Cir, La Palma, CA for warranty work. Purchased March 7, 2006. Cost to ship was $22.19. Full warranty on the 440s that leak. Not so with the more affordable models. I am not alone in having had to make warranty claims on the 440s. Those that blazed the warranty trail have, in most cases, received brand new ones instead of theirs being rebuilt.

I've heard several stories of 440's that leak, but none(?) of the 412's leaking. Not to say they don't, I just don't recall hearing about it. But multiple times with the 440's.

I had my 440s replaced under warranty last year also due to leaking. All the joose leaked out and they were soft as a baby's behind.
All it cost me was the shipping $$ and new free ones that are the upgraded versions, even got new spacers and washers with em.
Still, I would buy them again.

Here's the basic guide line for choosing Progressive Spring Weight....*

Heavy duty or Standard Duty?

"If you ride with total weight of you, passenger and gear at 440lbs for more than 50% of your riding, or your personal weight is 230+ lbs you need the Heavy duty shocks for your bike.

*....from eddy's Website http://www.fasteddysports.com/?page_id=3&category=20

May I just say, whilst I haven't had the Progressive Shocks to compare to the Hagon Nitros. I do know I couldn't say

Quote:

---

I don't think there is a better shock out there.

---

,

unless I had compared both. I'm not trying to offend anyone here but we only know what we know from our experiences don't we???

Anyway, the biggest negative factor I can see is cost. Yes they do cost more than the progressives but perhaps that has a bit to do with the components quality

Hagon has been quite up front with the build quality of their components but why wouldn't they. Have a look at their website in Aus and see what I mean.

Now besides this, the main features of the Nitros are:

1) their cylinder is larger (25mm v 18mm from memory) which in effect assists in keeping the oil cooler thereby allowing the shocks to remain more stable during heavy workloads. In effect working my effectively.

2) the nitros have a 10 click damper knob which means by increasing the damping ie (towards the + sign) means it allows LESS fluid to flow through the valve orifice in the shock absorber thereby slowing down compression and rebound?

I haven't as yet played around too much with this feature much but intend to.

3) Finally, the preload adjustment which in my opinion is outstanding, allows adjustment of the spring up or down to be more exact for my riding pleasure

In fact I have found just one rotation of the collar can make the difference between really good to great, and there is approx 25 rotations possible. Certainly a handy aspect compared imho.

So, Hagon will ask anyone who wishes to purchase their product what the weight is they generally ride their bike under. For me it between 90kg (my weight) and approx 140 kg (weight with 50kg of luggage).

They have worked out (actually we on here worked out - they had their original specs wrong) that for these weights you would need a 26kg rated spring. So depending on your weight, will depend on what rating spring you get.

One last thing, the spring is made of stainless steel and if you did happen to find your's weren't right due to your weight specs changing or whatever, changing springs is very simple and in my case done free of charge.

There is a bit more to this but that'll do for now. Btw, they don't leak either.



If you want to know more, and if you do decide on these shocks the single most important aspect is making sure the rep (some reps are not as good as others - ejacation wise ) sends you the right springs.

May I suggest you pm me just to make sure cos we did have dramas before they changed their specs after we here informed them they were slightly out.

cheers
staffo

Thanks for all the help and info guys. I got a great deal on some gently used Progressive 412's (thanks Don), so they will do for now. Next time around I think it will opt for the Hagon Nitros, or if these don't work out well enough.

If you got them off Don, I'm thinking you'll be a pretty happy chappy.

While the 440s are a night and day improvement over the stock shocks, I don't believe they offer the heavier springs. When my wife rides pillion, our combined load is around 400 lbs. Despite the tallest pre-load setting, the 440s are overwhelmed at this weight, and ride the bottom most of the time. It's so bad that for the future, I'm going to swap in the stock shocks when she wants to ride along. With my weight alone (240) they seem to have gone mushy over the past couple years. The springs are rusting too. Over all, I don't think I'd buy another set of Progressives. The course instructors at Lee Parks recommended a brand of shocks I hadn't heard of. The manufacturer builds them to fit the rider & bike. I believe they cost around $200 per pair. I'll have to dig to find the name.

+1 Hagon Nitro`s

Well, I just got a quote from Chuck (usmotoman ebay account) for the 11.5 progressive 412's. Gonna lower it an inch, and he's saying $197.97 total. That is the cheapest I've seen anywhere.