Bagger Shocks

[egstandard04]

I have got to get rid of these stock air shocks on my 04FLHT. I don't have an arm and a leg to spend, so I am wondering what is a decent shock out there for a replacement. I am 200 lbs and ride mostly solo. Loaded on cross country trips though. Any suggestions would be great. Looking for stock length.

[roadglide65]

I'm runing a set of works performance steel trackers and am very happy with them. They custom make them for your riding style. 

Don't know what your idea of an arm and a leg is but any good quality shock is going to run around 400.00 to 500.00

[Snuff™]

Don't know what your idea of an arm and a leg is but any good quality shock is going to run around 400.00 to 500.00

Damn! That's a left testicle! 

[Sixspeed]

Best rear shocks around for the money are the Progressive Suspension 440 adjustable gas charged shocks. Best price I found was from One Stop Moto.
I have purchased from them three times now and have found them to be fast and courteous. Here is the site:
http://www.onestopmoto.com/product_p/hdps-440hd-004.htm
Chrome from: $454.95
Black from: $424.95
Here is a previous HarleyTechTalk about the 440s.
http://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php/topic,5659.msg55751.html#msg55751
They offer a standard and a heavy duty. If you ride two up or carry a lot of camping gear the heavy duty is best.
Sixspeed

[Rags722]

OK, since he said a DECENT not Perfect shock and does not want to spend an arm and a leg, what would be wrong with using a 13 inch PS 412 heavy duty?  PS lists the 412 as a shock that fits:

Product Type  13"
412 Series   
416 Series                           
430 Series       
440 Series

Sure the 412 ONLY costs $299.00 so you don't get bragging rights about how much you spent on a set of shocks, but at $299.00 I would expect they should pass for a DECENT shock.

[egstandard04]

I'll check out those 412's. Thanks rags, sounds exactly what I'm looking for.

[Ancient]

I've been using the 412's for over a year and have been very pleased so far. If you shop around you can probably find them cheaper. IIRC I paid in the $220 range for mine.

[egstandard04]

Great, thanks. Sounding better all the time.

[cactuscruiser]

If you want to go in real economy mode, then why don't you consider doing what many of us have done and that is to change out the oil in your current shocks with something better. You didn't really say what you didn't like about your current shocks. Are they bottoming out?
If you are interested, I believe it was Texas bowhunter how posted great instructions here a few years ago about how to do it. Using a simple mitivac. I did mine using his instructions and replaced my oil with Belray HVI 10wt suspension fluid. To this day, I have enjoyed a much nicer ride and still have the adjustability of air shocks. Just my two cents anyway....

[superglidesport1]

You might want to look for a set of '09+ bagger take-off shocks. They run higher pressures and are a definite improvement. I used a set on my '07 FLTR and the improvement in adhesion and dampening was noticeable. You can pickup a set off new take-offs for $75 -  $100. Mine were off a brand new EGC that the owner lowered when he purchased it.

Frank

[egstandard04]

I have just never been able to find the correct air pressure, if there is such a thing, where I can get a decent ride out of this bike. I'm tired of messing with air pumps and would just like to get rid of them.

[FLTRI]

I have just never been able to find the correct air pressure,

I run anywhere from 15-20lbs - 60-80 lbs depending on 1 up - no load to 2up fully loaded.

The amount of pressure needed is dictated by how much it takes to keep the suspension in the middle of its travel.

The stock shocks normally need oil change after about 20k miles.

If you have more than about 30k on the shocks, they will never feel new/good again until replaced or the oil is changed per the article.

That said, if money is available there are many aftermarket shocks available...none of which, IMO are better than the stock shocks set to the right pressure.

Bob

[egstandard04]

Well maybe that's it. I have 70,000 miles on these shocks. Can someone direct me to the instructions on how to change the oil? Capacity?

Superglidesport1, is it really that much of an improvement on the 09 shocks? I see a set for sale here in the swap meet for $100.00. And they will bolt right up to an 04?

[mayor]

I'll check out those 412's. Thanks rags, sounds exactly what I'm looking for.

I rode Sonny S's '01 Ultra last year that he had installed a set of 412HD on, and it handled and rode very nice.   

I can't seem to get the air adjusted to my liking on my '09 bagger.    

[FLTRI]

I can't seem to get the air adjusted to my liking on my '09 bagger.   

How high pressure have you run. Is the bike bottoming?
Bob

[DresserDan]

I did'nt know you could put 60-80 lbs of air into these shocks.They will hold that much?Does it help?

[mayor]

I can't seem to get the air adjusted to my liking on my '09 bagger.   

How high pressure have you run. Is the bike bottoming?
Bob

I'm not sure now what I have in there.  I think I have it somewhere around 18#.  The dampning just doesn't feel right, and it bottoms out fairly often when running two up.  I didn't want to pump the air too much, since the ride quality already isn't quite there.  This is on a Street Glide, which I think has shorter shocks.  The ride of my '02 RK is much better at 10#, and I don't have near the bottoming out issues. 

[superglidesport1]

Superglidesport1, is it really that much of an improvement on the 09 shocks? I see a set for sale here in the swap meet for $100.00. And they will bolt right up to an 04?

Absolutely. You'll notice a big difference.

Frank

[7hogs]

I really like these out of all of the ones I had tried
http://www.progressivesuspension.com/940/index.html

[dmrdn]

I'm runing a set of works performance steel trackers and am very happy with them. They custom make them for your riding style. 

Don't know what your idea of an arm and a leg is but any good quality shock is going to run around 400.00 to 500.00

I am running the same setup. I thought it was bs paying that much for a set of shocks but bit the bullet and did it.  That ended up being the best gamble I have ever taken. It is the best money I have spent in years. The ride is as different as night and day. Your back and a** will thank you every time you ride.

[PoorUB]

Well maybe that's it. I have 70,000 miles on these shocks. Can someone direct me to the instructions on how to change the oil? Capacity?

This should  help you out.
http://harleytechtalk.com/htt/index.php/topic,22777.msg234068.html#msg234068

[FLTRI]

One more time:
I run anywhere from 15-20lbs - 60-80 lbs depending on 1 up - no load to 2up fully loaded.
The amount of pressure needed is dictated by how much it takes to keep the suspension in the middle of its travel.
Bob
PS - I purposely put 100# in the shocks to see if I could damage or blow them up. Nothing but stiff ride after 50 miles. No leaks, no blown seals, just a bumpy ride.
Try more pressure, Mayor...A LOT MORE! 18# in the short shocks is at least 12# low for 1up and 30# low for 2up!

[mayor]

alright, I'll try more air...but if I don't like it you will be the first one to hear about it.   

[Admiral Akbar]

alright, I'll try more air...but if I don't like it you will be the first one to hear about it.   

That what you get for buying a street glide instead of an Electraglide..

Max

[mayor]

yep    ...not to mention the $1k I'll need to spend even with a discount to add a tourpak.   should have bought a EGC ..but then I would have been mini-Max twice.