Oh no, not shocks again..

[Hedgehog]

OK.

Last question on Shocks I promise.

I'm going for Progressive 412s, HD springs. I'm 5'10 and about 200lbs. Only ride 2000 a year mostly 1-up.

I was thinking of getting 12.5 inch length having heard that when replaced with the 13 inchers this can make the bike higher... (?) ???

My question is, will either length affect use of my RIVCO Centre stand?

Its really easy to use at the moment, and I don;t want to lose that...


Cheers

HH

[gordonv]

Anything that lowers or raises the bike will affect your center stand. Lowering will make it harder, but give a light lift, and the revers for raising the bike.

After lowering, drive the rear wheel onto a single/few pieces of wood, to raise the bike. They get it on the center stand and remove the wood. Will come down normally.

[six2go #152]

My experience is that the 12.5 HD Progressives keep the bike at about the same height as the 13" OEM's. Progressive does recommend the HD springs for a solo rider @ 200 lbs or more. I'm 5'8 1/2" and the 12.5 HD work great for me. I had a pair of 412, 13" HD's and the seat height was higher than I liked.

[Thrud]

I had a '98 Tourer at the time I switched from the stock 13-inch shocks to the 12-inch Progressive 440s.  I had a Rivco centerstand too.  The bike was much harder to get up onto the centerstand with the lower suspension.  One inch makes a BIG difference.

Steve

[BonS]

I have 13" 440's on my IS and 12.5" on my standard. Neither of which are HD's. I think the OEM's height are somewhere in between the two. The IS with the 13's is definitely tall. The standard with the 12.5's feels a bit lower than stock and allows my "long" pipes to slope downward just a bit which is a potential problem around curbs and parking lots. I think I'm going to swap them between the two bikes and it'll work out better. YMMV

[Hedgehog]

Thanks for all the advice.

Duly ordered 12.5 inch 412's, chrome finish, HD springs from JC Motors.

Should go well with the progressive fork springs I'm waiting to fit.

DON'T TELL THE WIFE!

[Bugslayer]

I'll be ordering some shocks next week. They'll be 412's (12.5"), but I'm torn on if I should get the HD or standard...?... I have 11.5" (standard) 412's on right now, but they are past worn out. I'm 6'0" & 215 lbs and I pull a Unigo trailer from time to time... 100% solo rider.

[Jess from VA]

Bugs, your size/wt is right on the borderline for going to HD springs. 

At 185lbs and always solo, and lightly loaded (with gear not booze), I have the HD 440s on my fullsize IS, and set to the softest setting.... and they're pretty tight but fine, but I have no lighter setting available.  I put the std rate 440s on my supervalk IS and they are at 4 (of 10 turns) from the softest setting. 

I am thinking the HD would be OK, so long as you aren't after a cushy ride and are good with more of a a performance ride.  They come from the box set to the softest setting, so start there.  But unless you are a wizard on the instal, if you find them too hard, you won't be able to return them with tool marks (at the bushings). Although you can return them for a spring swap (HD to Std) for a price.  I am thinking your uni-trailer is not much of a factor, compared to the bigger heavier trailers.  If you go std rate, you might as well turn them down at least 5 turns to start with.  Let me ask this... when your std rate 11.5 412s were new, where did you set them, and how was the ride?

It might be worth your time too call PS and get a tech rep and have a discussion, I did for my supervalk, and it was worth my time.... after I explained no trunk, back seat or passenger ever and light load, I was surprised to have them recommend a standard rate shock (which I had about decided on anyway)..... when their co literature recommends HD for all interstates.

[Bugslayer]

Bugs, your size/wt is right on the borderline for going to HD springs. 

 Yep, that's what I'm thinking.

What I'm looking for is a smooth ride. I don't want to feel every little bump. (If that's possible.)  It's been so long since I first put my 412's on, I honestly couldn't tell you for sure where I set them at first. I'm thinking I had them set right in the middle.

When they were new, they seemed to work OK. Anything was an improvment over my old stock shocks. But I'm pretty sure their length (11.5") didn't allow me to get the best ride. What length did you go with?  My new shocks will be at least 12.5"..... I might even go with the 13".  Still not sure.

I really wish I could pull off getting some 440's, but there's just no way. Things are pretty tight now days.
I'll give Progressive a call, and see what they think.
Thanks for the help!

[Bugslayer]

Thanks for all the advice.

Duly ordered 12.5 inch 412's, chrome finish, HD springs from JC Motors.

Should go well with the progressive fork springs I'm waiting to fit.

DON'T TELL THE WIFE!

Have you ordered from JC Motors before? I'm curious how their service is.

[Sparky1953]

Hey Hedgehog;

I'm new to the club, although been riding a 2001 Interstate ( without beer box ) for several years now. About 50/50 one up and two up.

I installed the Progressive 12.5 inchers, and they lowered the rear about an inch. Originally tried the OEM height Progressive 13's and they did indeed  raise the rear more than the stock shocks, so I then exchanged them for the 12.5's.

Like you, I am now planning to install new Progressive springs in the front. I would be very interested in hearing how you go about it.

Dave

[Jess from VA]

Bugs, your size/wt is right on the borderline for going to HD springs. 

 Yep, that's what I'm thinking.

What I'm looking for is a smooth ride. I don't want to feel every little bump. (If that's possible.)  It's been so long since I first put my 412's on, I honestly couldn't tell you for sure where I set them at first. I'm thinking I had them set right in the middle.

When they were new, they seemed to work OK. Anything was an improvment over my old stock shocks. But I'm pretty sure their length (11.5") didn't allow me to get the best ride. What length did you go with?  My new shocks will be at least 12.5"..... I might even go with the 13".  Still not sure.

I really wish I could pull off getting some 440's, but there's just no way. Things are pretty tight now days.
I'll give Progressive a call, and see what they think.
Thanks for the help!

I put 13s on both because I enjoy dragging boards on twisty roads,  I have no problem at 5'9" with a 29" inseam, but I've been riding for 41 years.  I can put both feet down (avoiding potholes), but generally only put left foot down with right on the brake.  I really don't think many could tell much difference between 12.5s and 13s, but the longer shocks get more travel and probably a bit better ride, and a bit more comfort in the short reach (bent knees) to the center controls (with nopeg lowering).

[Hedgehog]

Hi Sparky,

How I go about changing the front springs to Progressives is very simple.

1. Order Springs
2. Take bike to local independent workshop
3. Have them fit springs and change the fork oil
4. Pick up bike.

I'm no mechanic, me.


The only thing I have found out that may be of interest is that most folks find that Progressive fork springs alone are enough to make the front good. Adding heavier oil as well seems to make them too hard....

HH

[Bugslayer]

 [/quote]

I put 13s on both because I enjoy dragging boards on twisty roads,  I have no problem at 5'9" with a 29" inseam, but I've been riding for 41 years.  I can put both feet down (avoiding potholes), but generally only put left foot down with right on the brake.  I really don't think many could tell much difference between 12.5s and 13s, but the longer shocks get more travel and probably a bit better ride, and a bit more comfort in the short reach (bent knees) to the center controls (with nopeg lowering).
[/quote]

I got on to Progressives "Online Tech Support" and they recommend I go with the HD's.  I'll probably go with the 13" HD's and hope for the best.... I'll post the results when I get em in and mounted.
Thanks!

(I just noticed some oil drops under my bike. She's never leaked a drop in fourteen years.. Now there's one more thing I have to deal with.)

[Jess from VA]

Keep us posted buddy. 

The oil drip is probably some goop you ran over while riding.  And radiator hoses notoriously leak a drop or two when the temps drop. Check your dragon-drool tube too.

[Bugslayer]

Got em ordered... 13" HD's.... Hoping it'll be an improvment over my worn out 11.5's.

The location of the oil on the floor tells me it may be from the shifter seal. I've never changed one , but from what I've read, it's not too hard. I'll double check the hose clamp and the dragon drool while I'm at it. I also have a set ( front & rear) of SS brake lines that need to be installed. Looks like I need to get a good heater for the garage. 
Thanks.

[Sparky1953]

Whoa, HH, slow down. So, what yer saying is...1st you order the springs, then you take it to a mechanic......

Yeah, Im thinking of that route as well, but would like to try and do the install myself. We'll see how I feel about after Christmas, when bike work is scheduled.

[Jess from VA]

Looks like I need to get a good heater for the garage. 

Yeah, I had a date with winterizing lawnmower, blowers, big chippervac, snowblower, chainsaw, weed whacker, powerwasher, and all the other happy toys in the shed, but too dang nippy today.  That finger I cut off and had sewn back on gets nasty with me in the cold.

[Hedgehog]

You're a braver man than me sparky...

I wouldn't mind if I had someone with me who knew what they were doing, but I'd probably do more harm than good.

Electrics I can do (mostly) but have no experience of mechanicals.. Wish I did..

HH

[Sparky1953]

Braver, HH ?  Maybe just not as smart as you. As Clint would say... " A man's got to know his limits "

I am lucky to have someone with me when I try this work.... my wife. But she usually knows less than I do. ( actually she is a great assistant. She helped me tear apart most of the ass end of the Valkyrie, and also helped me replace fork springs in a Harley Softail.  ( did not do total seal replacement on that tho )

Anyway, we have a good time ( sometimes ) when we try this stuff.