Opinons wanted on best aftermarket shocks

[Gator John]

You guys gave me a lot of good info in my previous post on suggestions to improve the ride, so now I'd like to focus on one aspect that sort of got off on a tangent regarding Interstate shocks. Which aftermarket shocks do you think are the best for a 1998 Tourer when comfort is the objective? Does anyone know of any objective comparative test results that are available?  And, lastly, where can you get the best deal, as some of the ones I've seen seem really pricey to me.  Thanks.

[sandy]

As far as "pricey" is concerned, bite the bullit and go for it. The shocks you choose depend on your weight and riding style. Progressive 440 HD's seem to be a popular choice. 12.5" is standard length. I bought Works Performance shocks and love them. Works builds them by asking many questions and custom fabs a pair for you.

[Tundra]

I would have to recommend Progressive-440 Heavy Duty, they can be adjusted to suite ANY load and you won't be dissapointed.
  Now Works shocks owners love and swear buy those shocks too, I don't have any experience with them other than what they say and It's all good.
  I would stay away from the Progressive 412. If your gonna spend the money, do it right. I know several who purchased the 412 and later regretted it.

[Jabba]

I would have to recommend Progressive-440 Heavy Duty, they can be adjusted to suite ANY load and you won't be dissapointed.
  Now Works shocks owners love and swear buy those shocks too, I don't have any experience with them other than what they say and It's all good.
  I would stay away from the Progressive 412. If your gonna spend the money, do it right. I know several who purchased the 412 and later regretted it.

I have works shocks on my IS.  I have Progressive 440 HD's on my standard.  I have the 440's set to as light as I can get them, and I weigh 320 lbs.  The ride on the STD is a little harsh compared to the ride on the Works ones. 

The nice thing about the Works shocks is that they build them for YOU.  So while they give me a nice ride 1-up.  They are 2 stage shocks, and can handle it when my 240 lb SO and gear get on the IS as well.  They can also adjust WHEN they change from 1st to 2nd stage. 

The Works shocks are not much more than the Progressive and I like them A LOT better. Pricey?  Yeah... I have $650 in them.   But the 440's are that much new as well, and are not near the value IMO. 

They were REALLY my ONLY option.  I had the 440's on the IS and they were bottoming out.

Jabba

[ChromeDome]

As far as "pricey" is concerned, bite the bullit and go for it. The shocks you choose depend on your weight and riding style. Progressive 440 HD's seem to be a popular choice. 12.5" is standard length. I bought Works Performance shocks and love them. Works builds them by asking many questions and custom fabs a pair for you.

Gotta a link for Works?

[Jess from VA]

I love the PS 440's.  Don't assume you need Heavy Duty (thou you probably do), do your homework based on your & SO's weights and chose correctly.  At 185 and always solo I put the standard rate 440s on my supervalked IS (no tunk/back seat), and at #4, the ride is superb.  The price is high everywhere but you can get lucky and find the right part number (varies between length and std/HD rates) on Amazon now and then.  Shop around, find the best price and shipping, then call HDL and have them price match; it is better doing business with them than some unknown.  

While there is debate over whether 12.5 or 13 inch progressive suspension shocks are closest to (now tired/used) OE, the fact remains that OE shocks are 13 inches.  I'm 5'9" (29" pants inseam) and run 13" 440s on my two IS's...... I traded away 12.5's because they drug my boards sooner in hard turns.

Remember new 440's with the receipt carry a lifetime warranty; if you are a (remaining) lifetime Valk rider like I am, the new 440's will pay off eventually.  No shock lasts forever, and a rebuild is at least half the price of new.  

You guys with the Works (which I have heard are also very good shocks), doesn't the literature and sales of Works Shocks include "SERVICE INTERVALS" ?????   WTF?

[R J]

I weight 269, SO weighs in at 195, and before I went to Progressive 440 HD std length, the OEM bottomed out with me alone set on 5.

Got the 440's many many moons ago and set them on 2 for a trip out West pulling a trailer.

You asking that question made me go look, to see where they were set.   They are still on 2 and both of us cannot remember a bottoming out since they were installed.

Several people I know have Works and swear by them.

I see no one has supplied you with a link yet.
Do you use Google?     Type in 'Works Perf' search box and this link is the top one.

http://www.worksperformance.com/html/home.html

[Gator John]

I should have posted my weight to help in your recommendations.  I'm 225 and the wife is 115.  At 6'4", I ride with a 4" pad on top of my seat to give me more leg room, so I don't want anything that puts me closer to the ground.

[dipstick]

I love my Proggressive 440 HD's on my 99 Tourer-ized standard

[Tundra]

Not questioning anyones intelligence, but I can't see bottoming out on a properly adjusted 440-HD.
I know of one who said he bottomed out and when I looked at it for him, It was not properly adjusted.
  He was adjusting one notch at a time, similiar to the Honda shock adjustment. They need to be adjusted ONE FULL TURN at a time. I marked it with a marker to see my full turns. The mark easily wipes off with Windex and a paper towel.
  To make matters worse, he did not have both sides equally adjusted This made a world of difference being properly adjusted. ( as with any suspension)
Heres the link   http://www.progressivesuspension.com/literature.html

[Jabba]

I had mine adjusted the whole wa toward hard.  To the stop.  All three lines fully showing.

But, we had 550 lbs of rider on an IS too.

I think the 440's are harsh on my solo STD 1-up.  ANd I have then adjusted the whole way to soft now, and I go 325.  They are not awful... But, they ARE harsher then the Works on the 1st stage, set up for ME.

Jabba