Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Accessories Progressive 412's advice

Getting ready to pull the trigger on some 412's. from jcmotors.($222.59) I know I'm staying with stock height but what about the springs?Standard or heavy duty? From my research I get different opinions.What do you all think? I'm 220 lbs. and ride mostly solo.Thanks all.

I've also been looking into the 412's as well as the Hagon Classic III shocks.
Mainly to upgrade from the standard rear shockers but also I like the mix of black & chrome with the aftermarket shock absorbers.

go with the heavy duty

#1 on the HD springs.

the hd's will give you room to grow & will be way better 2 up. good call on staying stock. i had the shorter one on my speedmaster & it scraped alot

I just received and installed my 412s today. Didn't get the HD I'm about 190 and the second preload is within standards when sitting on the bike (1/2" to 3/4").

I got mine for $209.00 free shipping and no tax from www.CyclepartsDirect.com

I called them when I made my order and they were very helpful. Also had some questions when installing and called Progressive also very helpful.Both have my business!

I have just gone with the 412's. I didn't go with the HD ones. I,m 75 kilo,s and find the lowest preload is perfect. I also fitted the Progressive springs up front. We are currently away on short holiday and have my eldest boy on the back, 30 kilo,s and about 35 kilo,s of gear. The preload is set on the middle and is perfect for us. Vast difference to stock, no wallowing in corners now. very happy.

If you like the 412's, then whatever you do, don't ride a bike with 440's....ask Dave (Roadworthy) how I know this...

true story, I ride on a cloud now

Pulled the trigger on the HD's today.Thanks again for the advice.

Finally had a chance to do some serious riding last week with my new 412s. Have to agree with what others have said they are sweet. Truly the best $200 I have spent on the bike.

Now put Ricor Intiminators in your forks and really feel the difference. You get full fork articulation and no dangerous excessive fork dive on front braking.

Even the progressive front spings (30 minute swap out) will improve that nasty trait of these bikes.

30 minute swap out if you only change half the springs, those short ones that go in the bottom of the forks increase the labor required.

Thanks Ryk

Have been researching the Ricor Intiminators. I guess you can't argue with success or forking out $200 for an add on that works like it should.

Have found a lot of conflicting install advice: spacers, pre loads etc.... Is there a good source for this info? Please if you have installed these let me know what worked and what didn't. Thanks in advace guys.

Cheers!

Follow the directions, use the specified Amsoil weight oil, use your OEM springs, Progressive's and Ricor's do not play well together, cut your existing preload spacers shorter (hack saw and a mill file to square them up) exactly as much as you gain from the valve insertion. And call Ricor and tell them you want a price break and a custom adjustment to the valves for your anticipated rolling weight and riding style. They should be willing to nearly match the lowest price their vendors charge, they did me twice, anyway. BTW, to really get all the old fork oil out, you need to pull the forks and work them by hand (caps off, springs out) while they are upside down, I finish flushed mine clean with Diesel. Be really deliberate with a plan to re install the caps, cross threading them is bad. I had a helper apply thrust with a broomstick handle, turned the the cap backwards until I heard the click, visually confirmed they looked straight and tightened them up. If it seems like too much resistance to tighten, stop and re assess. One or two boogered threads is not the end of the world, if anyone ever needs one I have the proper knife files to rehab the damage. Just PM me.

Thanks for the info. and your experience Ryk. Will be ordering very soon and I'm sure I will have more questions. Appreciate the offer to help further.

Cheers!

+1 on Ryk post...that is how to do it...adjust the sag by adding washers under the cap...forgot how big the washers were the OD is a little less than the ID of the fork,...

Or......buy oem length progressive springs if your rears are oem height, remove the top caps of each fork bike on lift or if not on lift then one side at a time, remove spacer and washers, take coat hanger or something, fish out the oem spring do very slowly and let the oil drip back into the shocks, watch your paint! drop the new springs in, washer then spacer then cap and your done. you do not need to replace the bottom springs. Make sure before you put the caps on you let it sit for a bit, let any air bubbles etc rise to the top. 30 minutes and a beer. I have never been on a bike with the ricors so i can't speak to the difference but the progressive springs from the OEM springs is a very decent improvement. For me i just did not want to take the front apart is all i guess. either way would be better for sure.

I just used the Progressive front springs with stock preload. and a 50/50 mix of 10w and 15w oil set at 166mm. I removed the forks from the bike and flushed with diesel but did not dismantle the forks. Condition of the oil suggests this was the first time it had been changed.
Front is now a different beast. Stays planted to the road and dive under brake's is significantly reduced.

Just ordered 412's and fork springs from USA, under NZ$500 delivered. To buy just the 412's locally was NZ$775.
Mate told me how his Speedmaster was the worst bike, handling wise, he had ever owned. After reading your forums, hopefully mine will take those corners and bumps a lot better.

Thanks for the advice.

Welcome. I don't know if it's the worst but upgrading the suspension was like night and day.

Welcome to the site!

You might want to play with your fork oil viscosity, if your springs aren't all you expected. You guys in NZ sure get screwed with pricing. $668 US? You are a bona fide rape victim and your Govt ought to offer counseling, and maybe a kiss too..

Maybe you should find a proxy purchasing agent who will gift items to you and you could transfer the money discreetly? Kind of like politicians.

As long as the item/items you are importing are under $400.00 nz you don't pay any duty or GST on them. Its why when I got my shocks and springs I got them as two separate orders. Most things can be got cheaper off shore even with postage than buying locally, just need to shop around, some place's in the State's charge extortionate postage.

Who did you order your shocks through Cloudy?

As you know, us Aussies are in a similar boat regarding local pricing. Our cutoff is currently $1000 before GST is applied but rumours are floating around that this could change soon.

I got the rears from Riders discount

http://www.ridersdiscount.com

they had best price and postage at the time I got mine but I got the front springs from JCmotors on ebay

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&vxp=mtr&item=400739823354

Looking at my order though I managed to get free shipping on those springs, looks like they have realized just what it costs to send down under.

Hope this helps.
Cloudy

Thanks mate, that Riders Discount mob offer free international shipping for orders over $400. Worth adding a few items together.

Fitted the 412's today. My light weight (69 kg) didn't do them justice, will have to wait until i load up with luggage or a pillion to see the difference. Forks to do next, info on another thread. Cheers.

With the spring out and the fork compressed fill until 166mm from the top. I slightly over filled each leg and then pumped each fork a few times to get any air out then let them sit for half an hour then repeated. I made up a syringe with a plate and pipe to set the depth and sucked out the excess oil. Extended the fork and inserted the spring.



The distance from the plate to the end of the metal tube is 166mm. Just place on top of the fork and suck out excess oil.
Some manuals state a specific amount of oil, but using this method it doesn't matter if the amount is slightly different the air gap ends up the same.

Cheers Cloudy. Fitted some sintered brake pads today as well. Don't make any difference yet.
I got a K&N air filter today, and discovered there is no O-ring under the cover. Off to town to source one. Bugger.

Discovered the K&N filter doesn't fit, so put blue grease on the 6 plastic lugs in the bottom of the air box, put the filter in then cut out the marked areas with a box cutter. New brake pads are working well now and the new 412 shocks and fork springs mean stock bikes can't keep up on the corners. Even left some 1200 Sportsters behind too. ha ha ha.