Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech Rear Shock Replacement Choices

Folks:
My wife is getting tired of getting hammered over rail-road tracks and rough roads. I guess at 10k, it is time for new shocks. I'd appreciate opinions on the various options out there. I would like a chrome shock, to compliment my America. We ride two-up a lot, but with minimal luggage. I assume almost any aftermarket shock will yield better handling and really want to improve the ride.

My suggestion'd be another America to compliment the first - put her on it and that'll save your rear shocks AND her delicate posterior. :P

Matt

That won't happen in my lifetime, I better save for shocks.

Got my Progressive Shocks and springs here .
Use the top link to look up the sizes.
I have the 440AIS series.
Stock length is 12½". For lowering you need the shorter ones and a special lowering kit (listed when you use the fiment link)
Warning: They're not cheap!
There are also the Ikons and others, NewSpeedmaster and BellaCorse sell them too.

Thanks Pat. I was prepared for the sticker shock, the Ikons Brent sells are just under $400. Do your Progressive shocks have adjustment for damping and pre-load? I definitely wouldn't want to sacrifice any ride with lowered shocks, despite the cool look!

Al
I plan on going with the stock length set up front and rear from Progressive.
When I feel it is time to replace the originals.
Most likely this winter.

The fronts will take you all of 20 minutes... go for it now!! Big difference.

Ikons saved my marriage ;-)

benny
it is not a matter of time , it is the money.
I just went back to work after 3 months off with a broken leg.
I have other bills to pay for a while before the bikes get more attention.

I hear ya Pete... The good thing about the fronts is they are onl7 80 bucks, FRACTION of the rear costs... Do it when you can. Broken legs suck!! I still have a plate and 6 screws in mine...

Hey all, What kind of mileage is typical for replacement of the fork springs and shocks? I realize there will be many variables just looking for an average. I've got 7800 miles on my 02 America, seems as though they may be going away. Thought about the fork oil but if you change that might as well change the springs too. thanks, ride safe.

I have just over 10k on my '02 and this season I've noticed more pogoing when riding with my wife on board (no jokes, we've both lost weight vs. LY!). At $400/set, I'm going to hold off until the winter for the upgrade.

Sorry for slow response al.
The 440AIS series do not have both adjustmemnts, but I believe that the lower priced 412 series (That Tad and others have and love by the way)do have both. The 440 AIS series is a gas/air assisted shock and only has the infinite preload adjustment, the dampening is supposed to be automatic. Works for my lardbutt just fine.
Give Tad (Bluesbass) as shout, he's up in Quebec now but will be back next week. He can give you a good idea of how well they worked on his big trip.

Wow. So all you basically have to do is remove the caps and pop em out and replace. Thats great. Anyone have a thought on what size/weigt/strenth or whatever they're measured by i should get to stiffen up a 05 speedmaster's forks so that they're just a bit stiffer? Just the next notch up from stock is all i want.

Thanks Pat, I'll give Tad a shout. I'd like to have both adjustment options and if they are a little cheaper even better. Still having a hard time swallowing $400/set. I was at the Carlisle Bike event today. The Progressive guys were there but not setup yet. I forgot to stop by again on the way out, was hoping to eyeball a pair in person.

Johnny, if you do a search for Progressive Springs I think you will find an older thread that gives the actual progressive part number. That's what I used as a reference when ordering mine!
Word of caution... Be sure to put a good amount of pressure when unscrewing the caps, they are spring loaded remember!! And will pop off and maybe hit you if you don't be careful.

Johnny, here's a link to Great Bay the forks you need are at the bottom of the page.

As Mr Burns would say, "excellent!". Thanks all. And thanks for that link John. I'll get them there when i do. I have so much i need to get since i recently got this bike i'm not sure what i want to do first. But that site is bookmarked and at $69 it's a no brainer. (hate brake dive)

Well Johnny I'm glad your happy but just in case...here is a cheaper spot Motorcycle Accessory Warehouse (MAW) and the different shocks and springs that we can use from Progressive are found on their application finder program.. That last link will take you to the finished search for a Triumph Bonneville America '02 (it's the only choice) but they haven't changed any and are the same for Speedmasters.

Even more savings...thanks. However, how do you know what springs to buy? I don't mean the part number at that site. I found that. but i mean how do you know which spring is going to be better than the stock springs? How do i know they won't be the same? after all, isn't it just a case of how much tension they have? And if so, how do you know they aren't just exact replacments for the stock spring and meant for replacement when your springs are worn out instead of improvment over new stock springs? What i'm asking in a nutshell is whether those progressive springs (111145) are better than the stock america/SM springs.

Al,

I'm chiming in to point out the difference between the Progressive shocks and stock. The Progressive shocks are, er, progressive.....
The coils on the stock shocks are uniformly spaced and not very far apart - like the spring in a ballpoint pen. The Progressive springs are much thicker and the space between the coils gets wider as you look from bottom to top - like a bed spring. The hand adjustment on the Progressives seems to preload the spring - same as the adjusment on the bottom of the stock shocks only easier to accomplish. The dampening rate is non-adjustable and is controlled by orifice plates inside the shock.
I would imagine the front fork springs use this same "progressive" method as well, but I haven't had the need to change mine, so I don't know for sure....

You are correct. The front progressive springs are also wound closer together on the bottoms. They are spaced differently and make a big difference. Mine do at least. You just have to be sure to put the tighter end in the bottom when doing the 5 minute swap job.

Ditto Pat, someone posted a pic of the two springs side by each once. BIG difference.

Does anyone have the Hagon Classic Chrome Shrouded shocks from Bella Corse? They are under $200 and I like the look of the shrouded shock. You always get what you pay for, but I'm curious if anyone has tried these on an America.

Well Johnny there you go. I'm not going to repeat what Grump and Dinqua said since they are right. Although the springs on our bikes do the job adequately, when it comes time to change, these are of a better quality and therefore will give you a better, more comfortable ride and will last longer.

Yup, thats all i need. Thanks all, i do appriciate it and will definatly be buying those along with some Hagon rear shocks.