About to pull the trigger on Progressive 444

[Kunkies]

Yeah, yeah I know Progressive says the 444's don't fit our Valk's, yet I've read in here after shaving a little material off the eyelets you're good to go.

I'm 5'10", 190lbs and ride two up probably about 20-25% of the time tops, so I'm going standard as opposed to Heavy Duty springs (my wife is 130-40'ish, sshhh don't tell her I posted here  ???).

Before I pull the trigger, any last minute feedback/advice from others who may have updated their rear suspension from stock to something else?

p.s.  I will also purchase Progressive front springs

[greggh]

I am also looking to replace my shocks.

Been looking at the same but with the heavier springs.
Have the front springs and not really impressed.

Be interested in this feed and the replies you get.

Gods speed!

Greggh.

[Valkorado]

Pull my finger -- I mean that trigger! 

I love my 444s.  Just better handling all around.  I went with HD springs, standard 13" length.
The 444s don't only perform great, they look cool with the exposed progressively wound spring.

[Kunkies]

glad I'm not the only one  

I don't know if this helps, yet I copy/pasted this from a customer who purchased 444's for his 2000 Valk' via a vendor on Amazon. . . wish I knew what he used to "shave down" the plastic washer for the closer to a perfect circle the better, check it out:

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Great Ride
By James on June 7, 2014
Verified Purchase
I bought these for my 2000 Valkyrie. Very pleased with the ride and handling. Just a note, that the eyelets / mounting points are a snug fit for a Valkyrie, and I had to shave some of the plastic washer material down for a proper fit.

[Kunkies]

Thanks Valkorado, I needed that   

I'm going to purchase the 12.5", stock is 13" so I'm hoping to VERY slightly lower the back end without compromising too much travel.

[Woton]

Pull my finger -- I mean that trigger! 

I love my 444s.  Just better handling all around.  I went with HD springs, standard 13" length.
The 444s don't only perform great, they look cool with the exposed progressively wound spring.

Am wanting to replace the OEMs with Progressive myself and am looking at the 444s - probably the 13"s as well.  Just wondering why you went with HD springs.  I'm 185 lbs (ugly fat), I always ride solo, and I may pack 75 lbs max into luggage and the Tourer saddlebags when on a road trip.

[Kunkies]

I have decided to NOT go with the "Heavy Duty" springs (or "HD", not to be confused with that other motorcycle manufacturers name), rather the standard loaded springs.

I'm 190lbs., I think the cutoff from progressive was 230-240lbs.  I also only ride 2-up about 20-25% of the time, Progressives cut off for 2-up riding was 50% of the time for HD springs.

It's close, yet I favor a better ride for a "sportier" ride. 

Hope that helps.

[Woton]

It does...and with this info it should be an easy decision for me.

Thank you.

[hubcapsc]

I have 440s... the regular springs were barely enough for me to ride solo.
I like the HD springs. I'm 195...

-Mike

[Kunkies]

hubcapsc thanks for chiming in . . . interesting.

A couple of quick questions:
1.  did you crank pre-load on the standards and still too soft, and
2.  do you have an Interstate or Standard/Tourer?

[hubcapsc]

hubcapsc thanks for chiming in . . . interesting.

A couple of quick questions:
1.  did you crank pre-load on the standards and still too soft, and
2.  do you have an Interstate or Standard/Tourer?

Tourer.

Cranked, the standard spring was OK for me, but unacceptable for when
Carolyn is on back. I remember bottoming on bridge expansion joints and stuff...

With the HD spring, I can adjust it good for either way.

-Mike "I hear works performance shocks are the bomb"

[dragonslayer]

I have a 2k interstate and put on a set of 440's that where supposed to have the HD springs and every time I had my SO on the back seat it bottomed out.Showed the vendor at Biketoberfest and he found they had the wrong springs and later put the HD's on and now no bottoming.Me at 165 and SO at 125.Also I like the little bit stiffer ride.

[Kunkies]

dragonslayer,  that makes perfect sense, I would have been p_ssed  .  The I/S actually comes with a heavier spring than the Standard/Tourer, I'm guessing because of the additional weight.

If I had a I/S the choice of HD is obvious.  Glad you got it corrected!

[Valkorado]

Am wanting to replace the OEMs with Progressive myself and am looking at the 444s - probably the 13"s as well.  Just wondering why you went with HD springs.  I'm 185 lbs (ugly fat), I always ride solo, and I may pack 75 lbs max into luggage and the Tourer saddlebags when on a road trip.

Several reasons.  I'm about your weight but occasionally ride loaded and two up with a non petite gf.  Also I prefer a stiffer ride in the mountain twisties -- better feel for the road.   I ride a taxi tire and like the setup and feel, and never have rubbed the fender well or bottomed with this arrangement.  Finally, I may set the bike up for trailering one day, and would definitely need HD then.  That said, I set mine dead center and the ride has been very comfortable and never jarring.

[wingrider02]

Maybe ya'll can help me out.  Currently running Progressive 416 air shocks on my 01 (came with it) and am considering going to a non air shock, such as the 444.  I wonder if anyone has gone with the 12-12.5" and had any trouble as a result.  I recently bought an Ultimate lowrider seat for the Interstate, and I can't quite touch flat footed....which I attributed to the air shocks being set to 100 psi.  This pressure gives my wife and I the best ride without bottoming out.

I figured if I could put a shock that was an inch lower, I'd touch that much better...but don't want to be rubbing parts off the bike as it goes through the Smokies....

[Kunkies]

Hey Wingrider:

As soon as I receive the 444's and mount them I will let you know.  I purchased 12.5" shocks or 1/2" shorter than stock.

[wingrider02]

Cool! 

[Woton]

My decision-making process on this continues to evolve.  I have decided to replace the OEM front springs with Progressive.  This reportedly lowers the front end of the bike by about 1".  I therefore intend at this point to purchase the 12" standard spring 444s.

Someone stop me if I'm about to do something stupid!

Rode a friend's Valk a few days ago who is running the 11.5" 444s.  He loves them and does not feel he's lowered the bike too much, but he always rides one-up.

[hubcapsc]

My decision-making process on this continues to evolve.  I have decided to replace the OEM front springs with Progressive.  This reportedly lowers the front end of the bike by about 1".  I therefore intend at this point to purchase the 12" standard spring 444s.

Someone stop me if I'm about to do something stupid!

Rode a friend's Valk a few days ago who is running the 11.5" 444s.  He loves them and does not feel he's lowered the bike too much, but he always rides one-up.

Progressive springs are shorter than OEM, but my forks seem anything but "sagged out"
with them. I don't want to dispute anyone, but a lowered front end is not something
I noticed, or would want.

I don't ride as fast as Stanley Steamer or the Wild Bunch, but I ride with them a lot.
My pegs are shiny on the bottom. 13 inch 440s with HD springs, 32 inch inseam, no
trouble flat-footing it. Moving hard parts closer to the road surface seems like a
last resort only if you can't reach the ground.

Are those Ultimate seats (the lowboy or whatever they call it) comfortable, and do
they help with reaching the ground?

-Mike

[wingrider02]

I am only 5'7" with a 30" inseam, and can touch flat foot 2 up.  My air shocks are on the higher side, but I was hoping to touch a bit better with the Ultimate Lowrider, but so far it seems about the same reach as stock.  It does seem comfortable, but I do still get hot spots on my left leg.

[Lyle Laun]

I run HD 13" Progressive 440s on the rear and Progressive Springs in the front fork on one of my bikes. This setup is far better than anything on my other 2 Valks.

[whitestroke]

I weigh 185 and have only had HD 444 and progressive front springs since purchased used.  Rides great with the SO.  I ride solo 85% of the time and it's to stiff for me only. Next time I have the bags off I'm going to try the stock setup. I rather be in a Cadillac then a Ferrari.

[PAVALKER]

I recently changed out OEM shocks with what Progressive calls do on their web site.... The 412's, and the OEM length of 13 which apparently come with HD springs for the Interstate.  I did consider the 430s bit they don't have thos in the selection list for the Interstate.  I might get a set a tad shorter of another Valk to try out.

But, that said.... I am happy with the 412s so far tho. 

[Dorkman]

Anyone come up with the best method to expand the eyelets to mount the 444s?  Carefully drill . . . what size?  Sandpaper around a smaller bolt . . . Dremel bit. . . axe . . . that kind of stuff?

[Kunkies]

Good question, I'm waiting for the answer too.

[jimmytee]

glad I'm not the only one  

I don't know if this helps, yet I copy/pasted this from a customer who purchased 444's for his 2000 Valk' via a vendor on Amazon. . . wish I knew what he used to "shave down" the plastic washer for the closer to a perfect circle the better, check it out:

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Great Ride
By James on June 7, 2014
Verified Purchase
I bought these for my 2000 Valkyrie. Very pleased with the ride and handling. Just a note, that the eyelets / mounting points are a snug fit for a Valkyrie, and I had to shave some of the plastic washer material down for a proper fit.

Heheh, That was my review.

[Marinakorp]

glad I'm not the only one  

I don't know if this helps, yet I copy/pasted this from a customer who purchased 444's for his 2000 Valk' via a vendor on Amazon. . . wish I knew what he used to "shave down" the plastic washer for the closer to a perfect circle the better, check it out:

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Great Ride
By James on June 7, 2014
Verified Purchase
I bought these for my 2000 Valkyrie. Very pleased with the ride and handling. Just a note, that the eyelets / mounting points are a snug fit for a Valkyrie, and I had to shave some of the plastic washer material down for a proper fit.

Heheh, That was my review.

So..... what did you use to shave them down?

[jimmytee]

glad I'm not the only one  

I don't know if this helps, yet I copy/pasted this from a customer who purchased 444's for his 2000 Valk' via a vendor on Amazon. . . wish I knew what he used to "shave down" the plastic washer for the closer to a perfect circle the better, check it out:

Most Helpful Customer Reviews
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Great Ride
By James on June 7, 2014
Verified Purchase
I bought these for my 2000 Valkyrie. Very pleased with the ride and handling. Just a note, that the eyelets / mounting points are a snug fit for a Valkyrie, and I had to shave some of the plastic washer material down for a proper fit.

Heheh, That was my review.

So..... what did you use to shave them down?

I believe I used my bench grinder.  It was very easy. It's just plastic. I simply thinned the material out on both sides of the eyelets.  As they come, they're too wide/thick to fit into the brackets for the shocks. You could use a dremel or file too  I suppose. The grinder was there and handy for me and quick.I removed a little then rechecked  until they fit.

[Kunkies]

Ingenious.

I also can't believe that an obscure Amazon review post (from jmmytee) has found its owner in this forum, well I guess I can.  BECAUSE THIS FORUM IS SO FRIGGIN' AWESOME!!!!!    (ehhh, hemm; sorry)

How much did you take off?  Do you mean the rubber eyelet grommets or plastic something else?  Pictures are worth a 1,000 words, please share.

[jimmytee]

Well to post pics would require me to remove the shocks, which would require me to remove the bags, which, oh never mind. sorry dude. If I had thought to take pics, I would certainly post them for you, but alas, I did not. On each side of the eyelets, there is what looks like a plastic washer. I say looks like, because it does not remove,as far as I could tell. I just simply shaved ,or ground, down the thickness of this material to allow the shock to fit. Imagine, if you will, a place where time had forgotten,,, wait, back on track. Shocks, yeah that's right. Imagine plastic washers. Now imagine thick plastic washers permanently fixed so that the hole in the washers aligned with the eyelet bolt hole mounting points for the shocks . Now imagine that the thickness of these washers,when combined with the thickness of the shock itself, has to fit into a slot. Options??? Can't remove the plastic washers. Thin out the washer material as stated above until those washer,along with the shock now fit into the slot.

I hope this helps you , joking aside. BTW, there really isn't a rubber grommet as far as I can remember. The shocks do come with several sized bushing to accommodate various sized mounting bolts. I don't believe I used any of them. The bolts were a pretty close fit without them.

[twdurdentwd]

Anyone come up with the best method to expand the eyelets to mount the 444s?  Carefully drill . . . what size?  Sandpaper around a smaller bolt . . . Dremel bit. . . axe . . . that kind of stuff?

Silicon and a hammer works

[twdurdentwd]

Also, just put progressive 414 (highest setting) on a tourer with a C/T, I ride two up and works just fine