Progressive 430 the way to go?

[Beardo]

After the first tour with the better half and a bunch of gear, I've decided to think about upgrading the stock tourer shocks. They're great for solo, but for long loaded down tours, I'd like something a little better.

I have my stockers set at 4. Im not sure if setting them to 5 will make enough difference for me. I'd like something stiffer. They seem pretty soft and bouncy on big bumps, dips, parking lot potholes when really loaded down. After a couple thousand kms loaded down, I got a strange sound out of my rear on the big bumps in parking lots. Probably does it at speed too but I can't hear it then. Sounds like a Canada goose honk. Not a full on HONK but the sound you'd get if you gently squeezed a Canada goose, combined with a pffft of air coming out. I can't replicate it in the garage or solo, just loaded down.

I can get the 12.5 inch Heavy Duty 430's here in Canada shipped for $654. 444's are $815.  I also see a 13.5" 416 air shock for $654. Everything is more expensive here, I'm sure you guys can get them cheaper, but that's what they are here.

To those who have them, can you set the 430 HD 12.5" ones at one setting and ride in relative comfort solo (I like a firm ride anyway) and be good for 2 up as well? With the bags of the tourer, it's kinda a pain to adjust every time you switch from 1 to 2 up, which for me would be almost every other day. I guess they are easier to adjust than the stock ones, so that's not a huge problem, but I'd love to set and forget.  The stock ones are definitely not designed to have the settings changed often.

Also, my searches on the subject seem to suggest an HD 12.5" should be about the same height as the stock 13's. Is that correct? 

Those of you with them, I'd appreciate your experiences. I switched out my previous bike's shocks to air shocks for 2-up, they were ok. So would a 416 be ok too? Seems the 430's are more popular here.

Or look for a set of stock Interstate shocks on eBay?

[Chrisj CMA]

Go with progressive if you are OK with the eventual blow out, oil leak, send back for warranty repair.  Or just upgrade to Valkyrie Interstate shocks and no worries.

[Beardo]

Go with progressive if you are OK with the eventual blow out, oil leak, send back for warranty repair.  Or just upgrade to Valkyrie Interstate shocks and no worries.

Yeah, I had read about quite a few people having to have them fixed on warranty.

I do like the idea of the interstate ones too, they are quite a bit cheaper.

Thanks for your feedback.

[Bronxboy]

I went with the progressive 430's and love them. I also put progressive springs up front. Between the 2 they made a world of difference in ride and handling.

I had the 430's set on the softest setting with 2 up and hit a pretty good dip in the road and she bottomed out just a bit. So when I got home I gave them 1 turn up and when I went down that same road 2 up again she was fine.

The shocks have a full 12 turns for stiffening the ride, so if 1 turn up worked for me, I am sure they will handle any load u put on them. Having them up front stopped the sloppy diving of the front end on hard braking, plus it really helps in the twisties.

Oh yeah, I paid $500 for the 430's

[Chrisj CMA]

You can find lightly used IS shocks for $100 or so

[Beardo]

You can find lightly used IS shocks for $100 or so

Really????

I found some on eBay for about $250 USD($350 CAD).

If anyone has some for $100, I'll take em!  PM me!

[The emperor has no clothes]

You can find lightly used IS shocks for $100 or so

Really????

I found some on eBay for about $250 USD($350 CAD).

If anyone has some for $100, I'll take em!  PM me!

Put an ad in our classifieds. Keep checking Pinwall also. I've seen them come up with low mileage ones once in a while.

[Beardo]

You can find lightly used IS shocks for $100 or so

Really????

I found some on eBay for about $250 USD($350 CAD).

If anyone has some for $100, I'll take em!  PM me!

Put an ad in our classifieds. Keep checking Pinwall also. I've seen them come up with low mileage ones once in a while.

Good idea. I will.

The ones I saw on eBay were from Pinwall.

[The emperor has no clothes]

You can find lightly used IS shocks for $100 or so

Really????

I found some on eBay for about $250 USD($350 CAD).

If anyone has some for $100, I'll take em!  PM me!

Put an ad in our classifieds. Keep checking Pinwall also. I've seen them come up with low mileage ones once in a while.

Good idea. I will.

The ones I saw on eBay were from Pinwall.

I think you should be able to get some in the $100 range.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Beardo, these look to have 4500 miles on them.
http://pinwallcycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=588039&osCsid=f7f7da66371fbd0e72dc095277c9924e

[Beardo]

Beardo, these look to have 4500 miles on them.
http://pinwallcycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=588039&osCsid=f7f7da66371fbd0e72dc095277c9924e

Thanks for taking the time to look meathead. 

Those are the ones I saw on eBay. They're $189 plus $60 shipping (USD), so $250 or closer to $350 Canadian.

I'll keep my eyes open on here, someone might have some that show up.

I really won't need them til next summer when we take our next big trip. The ones we have are fine for me solo and they've been fine around here 2 up until now. Just want to upgrade them before the next longer trip.  Wife was ok for the last year with them, but 6 days on the road in a row with quite a few bottom-outs...the wife's back did get a bit sore. I told her I'd look for some new shocks and we'll also probably get our seats redone too.

Thanks again.

[The emperor has no clothes]

Beardo, these look to have 4500 miles on them.
http://pinwallcycle.com/product_info.php?products_id=588039&osCsid=f7f7da66371fbd0e72dc095277c9924e

Thanks for taking the time to look meathead. 

Those are the ones I saw on eBay. They're $189 plus $60 shipping (USD), so $250 or closer to $350 Canadian.

I'll keep my eyes open on here, someone might have some that show up.

I really won't need them til next summer when we take our next big trip. The ones we have are fine for me solo and they've been fine around here 2 up until now. Just want to upgrade them before the next longer trip.  Wife was ok for the last year with them, but 6 days on the road in a row with quite a few bottom-outs...the wife's back did get a bit sore. I told her I'd look for some new shocks and we'll also probably get our seats redone too.

Thanks again.

Yeah I didn't think of the high shipping and exchange rates.  Good luck in your search. I'll keep my eyes open. 

[Chrisj CMA]

You can find lightly used IS shocks for $100 or so

Really????

I found some on eBay for about $250 USD($350 CAD).

If anyone has some for $100, I'll take em!  PM me!

Evil bay or Pinwall are going to be higher that a private seller, at least on this .  I bought mine for $75 a few years ago

[Beardo]

You can find lightly used IS shocks for $100 or so

Really????

I found some on eBay for about $250 USD($350 CAD).

If anyone has some for $100, I'll take em!  PM me!

Evil bay or Pinwall are going to be higher that a private seller, at least on this .  I bought mine for $75 a few years ago

Good to know. Hopefully someone here will have some. Thanks.

[jim@98valkyrie.com]

I know that there are many on here who swear by the Progressive's, but I went down a different path. I have Works shocks on my '98 Tourer. Great shock, and the preload is adjustable as well as the damping rate can be changed when you go to 2 up. My wife made a lot of very positive comments as soon as I changed the stock shocks out and went with these. I've had them on for six years now without any issues. I did also change out the front springs at the same time.
I don't work for the company or have any additional financial interest, blah, blah blah. Just a satisfied customer.

[The emperor has no clothes]

I know that there are many on here who swear by the Progressive's, but I went down a different path. I have Works shocks on my '98 Tourer. Great shock, and the preload is adjustable as well as the damping rate can be changed when you go to 2 up. My wife made a lot of very positive comments as soon as I changed the stock shocks out and went with these. I've had them on for six years now without any issues. I did also change out the front springs at the same time.
I don't work for the company or have any additional financial interest, blah, blah blah. Just a satisfied customer.

I am not a fan of Progressives either. I know back in the days of MX Ohlins and WP's were considered the best. If I need to upgrade I think it will be Works for me. 

[Scottrtho]

These guys have a great reputation for their custom shocks. They have all the factory specs... just tell them your weight and loads and they can suggest spring and valving.

http://www.hagonshocksusa.com/HagApps4.htm

[Beardo]

Got a set of Interstate shocks from a fellow member, put on some new red eye bushings, put them on and...they were exactly what I was looking for. Wife and I went for a ride last night and we could tell as soon as he got on they were better, bike didn't squat as much. Rode off the driveway curb, hit some bumps that previously bottomed out the tourer shocks, they performed great.  Have them set at 3, and they are ok there for solo riding too.

 I'm sure the progressives are good too, but anyone that wants to upgrade the shocks, this is a great alternative for much less money. I got several replies to my ad in the classifieds too, so there appear to be some out there. 

Thanks for the advice, guys. You saved me about $500.