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Valkyrie Riders Cruiser Club > General > 1500 Tech Board > OEM shocks....any good?
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Author Topic: OEM shocks....any good?  (Read 923 times)
Shotgun
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Posts: 119


Canadian Lakes, Michigan
« on: August 07, 2018, 04:00:35 PM »
Heading on a trip next week and have some shock concerns.  I have a set of Progressive 412's (13", HD) that have been on the bike for about 14 years (98 Standard, 58000 miles).  The bushings are in pretty rough shape.  I called Progressive and they won't have any new ones available until after I get back.  The OEM shocks have been sitting in a box in the garage for the last 14 years.  I had new bushings for those so I installed them and put the shocks on the bike.  I haven't ridden it yet but they seem a LOT softer then the Progressives.  They are set on 4.  They are in excellent condition and don't appear to be leaking.  Do shocks go bad if they aren't used?  Is there that much difference between the OEM's and Progressives?  I'm about 225 lbs.
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hubcapsc
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Posts: 16779


upstate

South Carolina
« Reply #1 on: August 07, 2018, 04:17:58 PM »

Your OEM shocks are at least as good as worn out 412s...

-Mike "likely better..."
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https://sites.google.com/a/g.clemson.edu/confederate-memorial-day-at-clemson/
The emperor has no clothes
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Posts: 29945
« Reply #2 on: August 07, 2018, 04:53:07 PM »
Likely better for sure. If you don't want them, I'd take them off your hands. I'm not sure I could tell the firmness of shocks without riding them.
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Beardo
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Posts: 1247

Regina, Saskatchewan Canada
« Reply #3 on: August 07, 2018, 05:03:49 PM »
Agree. My OEM shocks were only unsatisfactory when fully loaded 2-up. Solo(225ish lbs with gear), they were just fine.
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Challenger
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Posts: 1286
« Reply #4 on: August 07, 2018, 05:15:14 PM »
Just took the one year old progressive 412's off due to slight leak and reinstalled the stock shocks. Put a little over 900 miles on in two weeks and discovered The Progressives are not going back on.  YMMV
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9Ball
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Posts: 2183


South Jersey
« Reply #5 on: August 09, 2018, 12:16:30 PM »
No experience with the 412s, but the 440s were a vast improvement over my standard OEM shocks for handling.  Also, upgrading to the Progressive fork springs made the bike handle fantastic.
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VRCC #6897, Joined May, 2000

1999 Standard
2007 Rocket 3
2005 VTX 1300S
h13man
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Posts: 1750


To everything there is an exception.

Indiana NW Central Flatlands
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2018, 07:17:33 AM »
Quote from: Challenger on August 07, 2018, 05:15:14 PM
Just took the one year old progressive 412's off due to slight leak and reinstalled the stock shocks. Put a little over 900 miles on in two weeks and discovered The Progressives are not going back on.  YMMV

On my VT1100C I didn't get 3 mos. on my 412's before they leaked. They were also too harsh regardless the settings or load. I really like the stock Showa's on the Valk with aftermarket neoprene bushings so much so I'd like to purchase a used low mileage set for the future change.
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