Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Performance Mods Suspension

I have a problem with the suspension (Bonneville America 2007. The bike is run in. Spine jolt on UK roads feels like I am riding a bike with no rear suspension and girder forks. How can I improve the suspension?

Progressive makes very good suspension replacements, especially the front springs (which are the single best "for the money" improvement you can make). I'd bet the Ikon packages are just as good but have no experience with them. Prepare yourself for sticker shock when shopping for the rears...

The rear suspension is adjustable. If the ride is too harsh, try adjusting down one position on each rear shock for a softer ride. There are 5 positions on the shocks. Most of the bikes come set up on position #2. I weigh 160 and find any position higher than #2 too firm for me. Even when my wife rides I keep it in that position because she won't ride unless the ride is soft - we both have back problems and hard bumps hurt.

If your complaint is that the ride is too soft, try going up one or two positions.

I am 200+ lbs and have mine set at the firmest setting on the stockers. They seem to work fine for me but then again I spent the 20 or so years on a hardtail with a springer front end.

Hagon is another rear shock choice. Bella Course sells them, you specify the amount of dampening you want and the stiffness of the springs and they make them to order.

High Guys

Thanks for the input.
OK Ikon or Progressive. Looked at web sites usefull.
Has anybody fitted these shocks.

Roll on spring 08 the smells,veiws,feelings,freedom, rock & roll.

I bought the Progressive 412-4253C which is the 12.5" replacement for the stock set, a direct bolt on and (to me) a real improvement, hard bumps are still hard bumps but they really took the "jangle" out of uneven pavement.

I also installed the stock length Progressive fork springs and that is an even better improvement over stock (again IMO). I would recommend changing the front springs first and riding for a bit before I changed the rear, it makes that much difference and it's the most cost effective.

Very true, the front springs make the most difference in ride quality. I swapped mine last week and am so very happy with the results.

The rear I have set to the highest pre-load and it doesn't really bother me, so I can't justify the cost of the rear shocks.

Perhaps more than you wanted to know about Progressive -

Their primo offering for BA/SM is the 440 series.
They may list them only for '02 models, but they're all the same.
Their standard listing comes with brushed chrome finish caps and 115/170 springs.

Last I knew, bright chrome or black chrome caps were available, but someone said they think the black ones were going to be discontinued.

Other spring rates are available, too.
110/155 is a bit softer.
They say it's 1/4" shorter, but it's actually more like 3/8" shorter.
Works fine, though.

If you get the standard configuration and then swap components, it's best to have their spring compressor.
Whether they can be ordered with the desired components is something I don't know.

is it possible to just buy the (lower) springs somewhere, and keep the shocks? like on a car...

I was thinking in lines of buying new springs to the orginal shocks, but I guess that doesn't work then. It would've been easy though. Lowered my car that way.

I agree with you about the bad back and needing a smooth ride. I purchased Progressives front and rear. One of the rear failed right away and I'm waiting for it's replacement to come back but the front springs made a huge difference.

Proper tire inflation is critical also. Although everyone seems to have their own idea, I run 33 front and 35 back and that gives me good handling and good ride.

Triumph wrench at the local dealer said they have a lot of people come in with bent rims, both alloy and spoked. I would think hitting an obstacle that hard would really sting your back but he says they see them every week.

Our own Fast Eddy sells Progressive and offers good service also.

Hey Roy, I found this British site which gives a broad range of shocks with a write up and prices which might be of help to you.

IMHO though, if you have the money to buy absolute quality, the Hagon Nitros are as good if not better than the opposition. Of course it's all subjective as like most of us, we can only comment on the shocks we have bought and used. In my situation though, they have alleviated any concerns I had about potholes etc dislodging the prosthetic lumbar spine disc insert I had put in nearly 3 years ago. Certainly something I consider pretty important

BTW, hagon also sell progressive front springs to compliment their rear shocks.

The roads are not that bad surely. If they are complain to the council....

And I DO have a girdeforkandnorearsuspension bike... is that why my back is twinging as I write this???

I know Neill (Echoance) has put the Hagon Nitros on his Speedie. He might stick his oar in too.

Both my Americas are stock suspension, and have no problems, and the roads in Bristol are shocking!

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The roads are not that bad surely, If they are complain to the council....

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Actually, the standard shocks aren't That bad really. It's just that I wanted the best and most comfortable ride I could get and making do with what is basically a set of cheap and nasty stock arrangements was never a long term proposition for me anyway. Enter stage right, Hagon Nitros. I also wanted them to be rebuildable and would last a long time. Hence the quality and larger component aspects.

I think most would agree that any purchase that have the progessive springs, make what was originally a basic ride to what becomes, just a really nice ride ride and well worth the money. Similarly with the front fork springs too.

Regarding the back roads (not highways) away from the larger populations of Australia, yes they are bad and no, complaining to a council that is 1000k away from where you live is really just a waste of time.

I've got stockers, 412s (lowered 1" and HD springs) and 440s (standard length). The difference in the stock and 412s is noticeable, but the difference between the 412's and the 440's is, well- shocking. It really is staggering.

I also have the Progressive fronts, and the difference is also very impressive.