412 or 440?

[Black Sled]

Sorry if this has been beaten to death, but I haven't found the answer after reading a bit. 

1) Are the Progressive 412's a good option?  I notice the 440's are alot more money.  Are they worth the extra cash?

2) Any reason not to get the 13", or is there a better size match to the stockers?  I don't want to change the ride height siginficantly.

Thanks in advance...

[Dave Weaver]

Stock height is 13", some like the lower look or need it with short legs.  440's are heavy duty and used if you do a lot of 2-up riding, are a big boy, or will be running a car tire.  If you run a car tire, you may want to stay with 13" heavy duty to prevent rubbing.  Hope this helps.

[Warlock]

Sorry if this has been beaten to death, but I haven't found the answer after reading a bit. 

1) Are the Progressive 412's a good option?  I notice the 440's are alot more money.  Are they worth the extra cash?

2) Any reason not to get the 13", or is there a better size match to the stockers?  I don't want to change the ride height siginficantly.

Thanks in advance...

I've had both. Spend to extra and get the 440's. I run the 13 inch HD and kinda wish I had gotten the 12" ones.
David

[Hellcat]

I bought a standard a few months ago with 412s on it. I pretty much only ride solo, and I hate them. Maybe they're worn out, I don't know. But it's a jarring ride except at the lowest setting, and then handling is mushy.

I have read that one of the benefits of 440s is that they have a lifetime rebuild guarantee. So if you keep your Valk for tens of thousands of miles, it's likely to pay off handsomely in the long run.

Lots of guys on the board also are all fired up about Works Performance shocks.

[Six Packer]

If you are riding a standard Valk with stock shocks the 412 13" are a better all around shock on the bike.  However, if you are riding two up all the time the 440's are better and you will have to bite the bullet with the price.  I had the 412's on my standard and found them to be OK--no unnecessary bouncing or sloppiness like the stockers.  I did recently go to the Interstate stock shocks and found them to be better than the 412's but, again, the price goes up for the I/S shocks.  I am 6', 250# with a 28" inseam and had no problem with my feet n the ground..  You can sometimes find the I/S shocks used on eBay or sometimes on the classified listings.  Just my $.02.

If you are interested in the 412's, I have a set listed on the VRCC classifieds.   

[Puffs Daddy]

I bought a standard a few months ago with 412s on it. I pretty much only ride solo, and I hate them. Maybe they're worn out, I don't know. But it's a jarring ride except at the lowest setting, and then handling is mushy.

I have read that one of the benefits of 440s is that they have a lifetime rebuild guarantee. So if you keep your Valk for tens of thousands of miles, it's likely to pay off handsomely in the long run.

Lots of guys on the board also are all fired up about Works Performance shocks.

Yup. Fired up and ready to go. 

[Black Sled]

Guys - thanks for all your input.  I'm hoping to have a new set on by spring.

I ride a Tourer and only about 5% of the time does the little woman join me (when I say little, she goes at about a buck twenty).  Based on that I am tempted to go for the less expensive option.

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

If you can find a low milage set of interstate shocks for a good price they might be all you need. I've ran all of the pregressive shocks starting  with the 412hd too soft for two up, 416s air shocks lowered the bike too much, finally got the 440HD 13in and love them. I run two up about 50% of the time and sometimes pull a trailer.

[Black Sled]

If you can find a low milage set of interstate shocks for a good price they might be all you need. I've ran all of the pregressive shocks starting  with the 412hd too soft for two up, 416s air shocks lowered the bike too much, finally got the 440HD 13in and love them. I run two up about 50% of the time and sometimes pull a trailer.

I wasn't aware that Interstate shocks were better.  I'm running the Tourer shocks on preload setting 2 and they are pretty darn stiff.  Are the I-state shocks stiffer yet, or just better quality?

[Six Packer]

The I/S shock is designed to give a softer, better ride all around vs the Tourer or standard shock.
I mentioned to you that I have the I/S shocks and they are altogether better than the standard shock. 
Think about it--the I/S is a heavier bike designed to ride two-up so, therefore, the shock has to be better.  Enough said I guess.

[Tropic traveler]

Had a set of stock size 412s on my Tourer replacing the worn-out mushy feeling stockers at 85,000+ miles. Felt better on #2 setting with just my 250 lb butt riding than worn stockers. I rarely ride 2 up as Kim has her own Valkyrie. Now just over a year later the LH 412 has sprung a leak.  Anyways... borrowed a set of I/S shocks from Rick {Flask} from his totalled I/S while I figure out what to do with the bad 412. Set the I/S shocks on 2 & have ridden a while like that & I have discovered I like them better. Told Rick to tell me how much he wants for his "loaner" shocks 'cause he aint gettin' em back! 
I second the motion on the I/S shock option.
Anybody wanna make an offer on a pair of leaky 412s??

[Puffs Daddy]

Works Performance.

[JetDriver]

The I/S shock is designed to give a softer, better ride all around vs the Tourer or standard shock.
I mentioned to you that I have the I/S shocks and they are altogether better than the standard shock. 
Think about it--the I/S is a heavier bike designed to ride two-up so, therefore, the shock has to be better.  Enough said I guess.

What I'm hearing most is what Six Packer has said- softer, better ride....  I have the Tourer also and am intrigued by the I/S shocks.  "Softer, better" is good, but how about handling when riding aggressively?

[dipstick]

I have the 440 HD's and love them, I am also 300 pounds and run a car tire. Now I just have to do the front forks with the Proggressive springs as well.

[recall]

Hi  . im new to the site, i'm like you 300lb plus and have been trying to get a price for the 13" 440 HD on there site.. but not having a lot of luck at the mo, what price did you pay for your's..........

[Old Geezer Richard]

  Hey Blacksled , I had the same problem with the shocks issue ... I had thought about going with the prog. 440's but I just couldn't justify spending $ 500 plus dollars , so I read that some Valk people had gone with the I/S shocks and were very pleases , so I decided to do the same thing and I ride two up and pull a trailer and a Car Tire too  .......  and my Fat Lady rides greattttt  , gooder than new even with my honey on the back until she starts riding her own bike SOON ... so try it you might like it ..... Thanks Old Geezer Richard        

[NiteRiderF6]

Sorry if this has been beaten to death, but I haven't found the answer after reading a bit. 

1) Are the Progressive 412's a good option?  I notice the 440's are alot more money.  Are they worth the extra cash?

2) Any reason not to get the 13", or is there a better size match to the stockers?  I don't want to change the ride height siginficantly.

Thanks in advance...

I've had both. Spend to extra and get the 440's. I run the 13 inch HD and kinda wish I had gotten the 12" ones.
David

I'm with David.... Those 13" HD's jack  you up pretty high.... Not a good thing if you are a short legged, overweight redneck like me. I wish that I'd gotten the 12"'s too. I like the 440 HD's, but think they are a bit long, perhaps one day they will settle in some and give me a little more sag. Good Luck!

[Mr.BubblesVRCCDS0008]

 I'm 6'3" weight about 265lbs. I run the 440HD 13in and really like like them on my I/S. It does make it lean pretty good on the kickstand thou. I ran the 412s, 416, and the stock I/S before sprnding the money on the 440.s

[Black Sled]

Wow - apparently we have alot of big fellas riding Valkyries!  I guess shock selection is more of a personalization issue than I first thought.

Since I go at about 200 pounds and usually ride solo, I think my approach will be to try some used I/S shocks first.  If that doesn't work out I'll go to 12"  440's (or perhaps Works - need to research that option more).

Thanks for all your posts....