Progressive 412's

[Peteg]

Rather than steal Speedy Coups thread, I decided to start another one. I recently purchased a set of 412's  as I also didn't feel it would be worth it for me to spend a lot on shocks. I'm less than 150 lbs, 71 not long on big bikes and my bike handles so well I didn't even realize my 98 shocks were that bad. My big clue was lots of bottoming with my wife on the back. I also had a lot of low speed 2 up issues, some was poor low speed skills, but a lot was the rear suspension. Pretty much anything I've done to stiffen the rear suspension has made a major improvement for 2 up at low speed. Grommets actually helped with the OEM's. Then I got the 412's standard springs and set the sag at level 1 - big low speed improvement. I set the shocks at level 3 with my wife which was also a big improvement. Then I went to level 3, 1up (forget the sag) and again had noticeable low speed improvement. I wound up at level 5 with my wife and no gear. I can even ride them 1 up at 5 without too rough a ride. Now I have heavy duty springs on order. I assume I'll be able to ride 1 up at level 1 and ride with my wife and full gear on a vacation without having low speed issues, with the heavy duty springs.

I guess if there's a question in this whole thing, has has anyone had success with 412's or should I pretty much assume I'll be looking for new shocks in the near future?

Also on the last thread I agree with Turtle 254. You can buy a shorter shock, it just needs to have less travel so the compressed length is adequate. All that information is in the progressive catalogue including spring rates and lengths. On the question of whether a 12" Harley shock that fits the bike would work my guess is yes, but I'd try to get the specs on travel. As I understand it Harley's tend to have short travel low rear ends (you sit in them not on them).

The following is pretty much speculation on my part, but if you know better help me to understand:
My last question is does the shorter shock in the rear actually make the bike less stable in the parking lot? I thought a lower rear end made the bike more stable, but you sacrifice handling as you reduce your lean angle and the more stable bike is not as quick to initiate. Metric cruisers typically are balanced front to rear with a 32 degree front end and handle better. Harleys have a low rear end countered by a 26 degree front end so they have a shorter turning radius and handle at low speed in the parking with less speed and degrees of lean. All this said I never road a Harley and have very little experience with large cruisers. In any event, they are fun to ride.

[Jims99]

I put a set of progressive, shorter shocks on my tourer. Handles great low speed. I’m not quite 5’6. Bike sits a little lower but never bottom out and still hit the twisties no problem. Just did tail of the dragon no issues. As far as travel on the different shocks, no clue. 

[Challenger]

I've been running 412s on my I/S. on #3 for over six years now. Wife and I with some gear run about 375. No bottoming that we have noticed. But I am running a 205-60R-16 rear tire whitch really makes a difference in comfort. I would not hesitate to get a set of 412s for the Std when time comes. Not gunna go 444s again, nuff said

[Peteg]

Cool, thanks. I guess they will work for me. I was beginning to think I'd be replacing them within 5,000 miles like the shocks  that came with my Triumph street twin. So far it's been a major improvement for me.

[turtle254]

Cool, thanks. I guess they will work for me. I was beginning to think I'd be replacing them within 5,000 miles like the shocks  that came with my Triumph street twin. So far it's been a major improvement for me.

What shock number 412 did you buy?

[Peteg]

So I replaced a Showa MZO-003 which was a 12.5" shock with a 412-4209C which is a standard duty spring 12.5" 412 with a 03-1365C spring, which is a 120/140 lb progressive rate spring. I plan to swap out the spring with an 03-1318C spring, which is a 140/200 lb progressive rate spring which will make the shock a 412-4219C. I decided to continue with the 12.5" shock as I'm 5'4" and I have my seat cut down so I'm flat footed and can backup easily. The way I ride I would never need the extra lean or travel of the 13" shock.

My bike is setup much like the interstate on the backend, as is has hard bags and a tour pack. Probably with my light weight and the hard stuff out back I'm on the low side of target weight for the standard 412's which I believe is 190 lbs. The tech at Progressive said a 190 lb rider at setting 2 should hit the target sag in the catalogue.  She also said if I mostly road 2 up I should get the heavy duty shock.

I think I'm kind of a special case. I mostly ride 1 up, but the bike handles so well it really doesn't care very much if I'm running with too little sag. It stays pretty well planted even if the roads a little rough and if it's really bad I can just slow down. I thinking I'm using the extra stiffness to mask any poor low speed riding skills when the bike is fully loaded. Maybe after riding with the new shocks for a while I'll even go back to the standard springs. Anyway whatever works best they're easy to change.