Progressive springs DON"T

[olddog1946]

Today I took my first long ride on the Valk after having the forks rebuilt and Progressive springs installed, and dumping the 10 wt for 5 wt.  The ride sucks!!!!!!
Literally beat me up. Made a 130 mile trip feel like 350..fork travel is only about 1.5" as compared to my neighbors 3+ on his Valk. 
Guess What I'll be doing before my next ride on it..   Hint: It ain't gaining 200 lbs and strapping on a lead fairing,

[salty1]

I'm somewhat surprised that your ride ended up being so stiff, even with 5 wt fork oil.  ???

[Willow]

I'm sorry they didn't work out for you, but there are a lot, a lot of riders who disagree.

Incidentally, I went with the heavier oil and I love them.    

[Red Diamond]

I replaced the oil and dust seals on my Tourer last week, used the Honda SS8 fork oil. I poured in 23 ounces of fluid in each fork. Although the manual calls for 22.7 ounces, I didn't want to be bothered with trying to get the .7 ounces, .3 over won't hurt. There are a lot of riders who prefer the Progressive springs, but mine was a nice firm feel after completion, I like the feel.
My bike has 26.7K miles.

[hubcapsc]

I replaced the oil and dust seals on my Tourer last week, used the Honda SS8 fork oil. I poured in 23 ounces of fluid in each fork. Although the manual calls for 22.7 ounces, I didn't want to be bothered with trying to get the .7 ounces, .3 over won't hurt. There are a lot of riders who prefer the Progressive springs, but mine was a nice firm feel after completion, I like the feel.
My bike has 26.7K miles.

22.7 in one, 25.2 in the other... I thought it was a lot of trouble to get the old oil out, but
not much trouble to measure the new oil...

on progressive springs and firm forks...

-Mike

[olddog1946]

I'm sorry they didn't work out for you, but there are a lot, a lot of riders who disagree.

Incidentally, I went with the heavier oil and I love them.    

I originally had the SS8 oil in there, bad bad bad clunk, since the 5wt the clunk is less than it was but still there. The Progressive sheet said the lighter oil will help with the compression, so I tried it. I do like having less dive under braking but getting beat to death isn't something I enjoy.  Makes me wonder if the OEM springs and 15wt oil might be a better deal??

[OKIERYDER]

I'm sorry they didn't work out for you, but there are a lot, a lot of riders who disagree.

Incidentally, I went with the heavier oil and I love them.    

I originally had the SS8 oil in there, bad bad bad clunk, since the 5wt the clunk is less than it was but still there. The Progressive sheet said the lighter oil will help with the compression, so I tried it. I do like having less dive under braking but getting beat to death isn't something I enjoy.  Makes me wonder if the OEM springs and 15wt oil might be a better deal??

     From my understanding the clunk is the brake calipers moving back and forth, when they come back they clunk.

[olddog1946]

I'm sorry they didn't work out for you, but there are a lot, a lot of riders who disagree.

Incidentally, I went with the heavier oil and I love them.    

I originally had the SS8 oil in there, bad bad bad clunk, since the 5wt the clunk is less than it was but still there. The Progressive sheet said the lighter oil will help with the compression, so I tried it. I do like having less dive under braking but getting beat to death isn't something I enjoy.  Makes me wonder if the OEM springs and 15wt oil might be a better deal??

     From my understanding the clunk is the brake calipers moving back and forth, when they come back they clunk.

I get NO discernible clunk when braking.  This is a fork compression generated noise. The tech that did the forks has been a HONDA tech for 41 years, so I'm pretty sure they are together right.

[Steve K (IA)]

Very, Very overrated product.  Have had them in my I/S for a long time.  When I picked up the bike at the shop, the front end was 1" taller.  Rode like a lumber truck for many years.  Finally 2 summers ago, I replaced the seals and made sure I had the Exact amount of oil in the forks.  My thoughts were that the shop put too much oil in because so many people said those springs were the best thing out there.  Well....ahh, No!  It rides a little better with the correct amount of oil, but doesn't ride as nice as my Std that hasn't had the forks messed with.  A lot of guys used to complain about the front end "dive".  No again!  I can make the front end dive as easily on the I/S with the Progressive springs as I can on my Std.  Some day, I'll be getting original springs and change them back. 
Everyone has an opinion, and that's mine.   

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Man, sorry to hear. The progressive springs are my favorite upgrade I've made. I think the amount of oil makes more difference than the weight. More oil equals less air in the forks which stiffens them up. I had to remove some oil to find the happy spot.

[olddog1946]

Man, sorry to hear. The progressive springs are my favorite upgrade I've made. I think the amount of oil makes more difference than the weight. More oil equals less air in the forks which stiffens them up. I had to remove some oil to find the happy spot.

How much oil did you remove??

[FryeVRCCDS0067]

Man, sorry to hear. The progressive springs are my favorite upgrade I've made. I think the amount of oil makes more difference than the weight. More oil equals less air in the forks which stiffens them up. I had to remove some oil to find the happy spot.

How much oil did you remove??

I hate to admit it but it was several years ago and I really don't remember. I removed equal amounts from each fork and I'm sure it wasn't a lot but it made a big difference.

[OKIERYDER]

I'm sorry they didn't work out for you, but there are a lot, a lot of riders who disagree.

Incidentally, I went with the heavier oil and I love them.    

I originally had the SS8 oil in there, bad bad bad clunk, since the 5wt the clunk is less than it was but still there. The Progressive sheet said the lighter oil will help with the compression, so I tried it. I do like having less dive under braking but getting beat to death isn't something I enjoy.  Makes me wonder if the OEM springs and 15wt oil might be a better deal??

     From my understanding the clunk is the brake calipers moving back and forth, when they come back they clunk.

I get NO discernible clunk when braking.  This is a fork compression generated noise. The tech that did the forks has been a HONDA tech for 41 years, so I'm pretty sure they are together right.

           I was only repeating  what I think I read in teck on clunk, I'm probably wrong. Sorry

[Tundra]

Man, sorry to hear. The progressive springs are my favorite upgrade I've made. I think the amount of oil makes more difference than the weight. More oil equals less air in the forks which stiffens them up. I had to remove some oil to find the happy spot.

+1 Love the total package. New springs and LESS oil and 440's on the rear. I didn't realize how bad my suspension was, mushy and squshy. I can now corner like I'm on rails and it has significantly reduced my nose diving on emergency hard front braking. I will look for the oil quanity that I used for you. I don't remember off hand, but I do keep good records. I found the reduced recommended oil quanity right here about 5 years ago? You may try a search on the subject. I won't be able to post back until tommorow.

[hubcapsc]

I get NO discernible clunk when braking

Right after a caliper rebuild the clunk is very apparent, the calipers
moving back and forth effortlessly on the freshly lubed pins... after
a while the clunk is muffled...

-Mike

[Patrick]

It kinda sounds to me as though you may have too much oil in the forks.. I like to short the amount of oil by about 3 ounces and I go by volume, not height..
The brake calipers can cause a 'clunk' when not applied,, the clunk usually will dis-appear when pressure is applied..

[Chrisj CMA]

When I bought my progressive front springs I was told to put them in upside down to minimize the clatter.  And (If im remembering right) the instructions allowed for that as well. The Honda mechanic that did the work abliged but wouldnt slight the oil by 1oz per fork like I asked...he put in the  right amount.  

I love the ride and have never regretted the change.  strong smooth and quiet.  handling is firm and reliable.  

Id have to believe that anyone that absolutely hates progressive springs....something went wrong with the installation process.  If you were here Id let you ride mine and see if there is a difference

[pocobubba]

Has anyone tried the Taxxion suspension ?

[Jess from VA]

Years back, I had the PS springs installed in an IS by a dealer. The ride was very stiff, stiffer than necessary for proper handling.  It slowly softened up, a couple years later. No leaks.

[f6john]

     I had my stock forks reassembled by a Honda tech about 6-7 years ago using the original springs. Rode ok it seemed, but when I went over a bump the forks would bottom out. When I complained, the tech blamed the bottoming out on my ACE Supertank which I knew was BS. I rode the Valk to Bike Week and after bottoming out hard during a low speed panic stop I knew I had to do something. A vendor at the Sunshine Mall was doing Progressive spring installs so I had them change mine out. The tech who installed my Progressives told me that a part in one of the forks had been installed "upside down"!

     Now my Progressives have not been ideal. I may now know why. My forks sit higher since the install, I had noticed whenever parked with other Valks that I had more of my lowers exposed by close to an inch. Sounds like I may to adjust the fluid level.

[olddog1946]

When I bought my progressive front springs I was told to put them in upside down to minimize the clatter.  And (If im remembering right) the instructions allowed for that as well. The Honda mechanic that did the work abliged but wouldnt slight the oil by 1oz per fork like I asked...he put in the  right amount.  

I love the ride and have never regretted the change.  strong smooth and quiet.  handling is firm and reliable.  

Id have to believe that anyone that absolutely hates progressive springs....something went wrong with the installation process.  If you were here Id let you ride mine and see if there is a difference

According to the progressive install sheet, they can go in either way..That is interesting though.  I guess I will try to remove some oil  from the forks and see if the ride improves. Too bad there isn't a drain in these things, lol. 

[sugerbear]

a syringe and a tube will work just fine. take the same amt out of each.
just a little at a time until you like the ride. 

[PharmBoy]

Steve K, I have three pair of OEM springs out in the shop.  One has 3K, another 17 K, and the ones off my I/S has 35K.  Any pair of them are yours for the postage...Jim

[Red Diamond]

I had considered Progressives on my Interstate, after riding a friends with the Progressives, it was a no go for me, too stiff. The loud clunk up front when going over rough bumps was the worst I've heard. I also no mention of the forks having different amounts of fluid. The Interstate have slightly more than the Standard and Tourer.

[9Ball]

It's funny to hear so many complaints....well, not funny but odd.

This was one of the first upgrades I made to my '99 standard that I bought new off the showroom floor.  Installed the 440s and the fork springs about 1 year after buying the bike.  The difference in handling was amazing and I consider it the best bang for the buck upgrade I've done to the bike.

Not sure why all of a sudden I'm hearing complaints.  I wonder if Progressive changed something with the fork springs that is causing these complaints.

I'm glad I made this upgrade but obviously "your mileage may vary."

[john]

                             " getting beat to death isn't something I enjoy.  Makes me wonder if the OEM springs and 15wt oil might be a better deal?? "                     

[art]

I went completly stock .OEM springs ,seals,new bushings and dexron transmission oil.No leaks no bottoning out.Just like new.And recommended oil level

[Willow]

Not sure why all of a sudden I'm hearing complaints.  I wonder if Progressive changed something with the fork springs that is causing these complaints.

I think it's evidence that not everyone is looking for the same ride. 

It could be we haven't heard complaints before because the few who disagreed kept silent in the face of the overwhelming number of positive experiences related.  When one complaint is put forward it makes it easier for more to speak out.

I think YMMV is very applicable here and in regards to many products (as well as tire pressures).