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[Billy]

I'm trying to make the ride better on my SERK. I was thinking about installing 440 13 inch shocks on the back. i know that the standard shocks are 12 inch but think  that I would get a better ride. Just not sure if the look of the bike will change that much. i would appreciate any help on the matter. Need to prevent more back problems. Thanks Billy

[mr_magoo]

You may want to disconnect the shocks and jack up the rear end and see how much more drop the swingarm has and if they will even fit.  You may want to look in the traxxion thread they talk about a new set of shocks that are adjustable for compression and rebound.

[Hoist!]

I'm trying to make the ride better on my SERK. I was thinking about installing 440 13 inch shocks on the back. i know that the standard shocks are 12 inch but think  that I would get a better ride. Just not sure if the look of the bike will change that much. i would appreciate any help on the matter. Need to prevent more back problems. Thanks Billy

Billy, I believe standard Road King shocks are 12", and our shocks on the SERK are 11". I'm replacing mine with standard height. I believe you'll be able to go 1" over, meaning 13", if you're tall enough to still be flatfooted. I would not do this unless you're raising the front fork the same amount. 2" up on the shocks, 2" up in the front. I was told not to do the back without doing the front. It will adversly effect the bike's handling. Hoist!

[SPIDERMAN]

I'm trying to make the ride better on my SERK. I was thinking about installing 440 13 inch shocks on the back. i know that the standard shocks are 12 inch but think  that I would get a better ride. Just not sure if the look of the bike will change that much. i would appreciate any help on the matter. Need to prevent more back problems. Thanks Billy

Not only will the "look" change, but the reason for the " look "  the stance ( geometry) of the bike will change lifting the rear of the bike 1" and changing the balance point shifting the weight forward. This increased weight on the front end will cause the bike to dive into corners and wallow around like the fat lady at the circus side show. Unless you plan on putting a 1" spacer into each of your fork tubes to compensate, this is a bad idea.

IMHO

B B

[Billy]

Billy, I believe standard Road King shocks are 12", and our shocks on the SERK are 11". I'm replacing mine with standard height. I believe you'll be able to go 1" over, meaning 13", if you're tall enough to still be flatfooted. I would not do this unless you're raising the front fork the same amount. 2" up on the shocks, 2" up in the front. I was told not to do the back without doing the front. It will adversly effect the bike's handling. Hoist!

I talked to my dealer and they said that the SEEK had 12 inch shocks. i also spoke to progressive and they said the same. i guess I will have to check or measure my self to tell for sure. do you think the 12 inch if standard would help the ride. using 440 's. Thanks Billy

[Hoist!]

I talked to my dealer and they said that the SEEK had 12 inch shocks. i also spoke to progressive and they said the same. i guess I will have to check or measure my self to tell for sure. do you think the 12 inch if standard would help the ride. using 440 's. Thanks Billy

Absolutely Billy, they're very responsive shocks. Traxxion is testing an Italian Sport Bike Shock for our bikes. I believe Chief will be helping them test them on his SEUC. I'm waiting on the results of that before doing anything. If they test well, I'm using them. If not, I'm getting the 440's. Let me know about stock SERK and stock Standard Road King shock heights. I want to go 1" over front and rear on my SERK. Hoist!

[Billy]

Absolutely Billy, they're very responsive shocks. Traxxion is testing an Italian Sport Bike Shock for our bikes. I believe Chief will be helping them test them on his SEUC. I'm waiting on the results of that before doing anything. If they test well, I'm using them. If not, I'm getting the 440's. Let me know about stock SERK and stock Standard Road King shock heights. I want to go 1" over front and rear on my SERK. Hoist!

Thanks Hoist, I will check out the size of the Seek shock. When will the testing of those new shocks be complete. How do you raise the front of the bike one inch? Thanks for the help Billy

[miker]

What difference is between the 412's and the 440's., besides I am sure dollars.  Anyone?  Anyone?  Buehler?
 
Miker

[Chief]

What difference is between the 412's and the 440's., besides I am sure dollars.  Anyone?  Anyone?  Buehler?
 
Miker

The 412 is a standard shock while the 440 has their IAS mechanism which changes the compression based on inertia, or the speed at which it is being compressed. Both are good shocks. The 440's have a bit more engineering in them.

[miker]

Thanks Chief....

Anything has got be better than whatever the "MoCo" thinks they put on the back of these FL's.
I think my old hardtail with a pogo seat rides better.  No inertia dampening though.  I may try a set of 412's.

[Boatman]

Billy-
The SEEGlides also came lowered with the 12" air shocks on the back and also lowered 1" in the front.  Before you buy new shocks, try raising the air pressure in the rears to 30 PSI as the shorter shocks require much more air than the 13" standards.   There are posts regarding air pressure in the SEEG section.

Also, a lot of us has put 12" or 12.5" (me for one 12.5") 440's on the rear and they ride and HANDLE better with the 440's..  The 12.5" 440's raised my bike about 1/8" in the rear.  The MOCO air shocks have a lot to be desired.

[Chief]

Thanks Chief....

Anything has got be better than whatever the "MoCo" thinks they put on the back of these FL's.
I think my old hardtail with a pogo seat rides better.  No inertia dampening though.  I may try a set of 412's.

Miker,

I've been running the 440's for about 30,000 miles, actually took them off of the old bike and put them on the new bike. They are a great shock. I rode the air shocks until there was no damping left, just spring action. Made for some REALLY nasty bridge abuttment hits at speed. Things would jar you like crazy. The 440's solved 95% of those hard bumps.

I will be trying the Bitubos here soon. Hopefully I'll be able to provide some worthwhile comparison between new Bitubos and 30,000+ mile 440's. I don't know if that will be truly fair to the 440's.

[Billy]

Miker,

I've been running the 440's for about 30,000 miles, actually took them off of the old bike and put them on the new bike. They are a great shock. I rode the air shocks until there was no damping left, just spring action. Made for some REALLY nasty bridge abuttment hits at speed. Things would jar you like crazy. The 440's solved 95% of those hard bumps.

I will be trying the Bitubos here soon. Hopefully I'll be able to provide some worthwhile comparison between new Bitubos and 30,000+ mile 440's. I don't know if that will be truly fair to the 440's.

My back can't wait, i went with the 13  inch 440's  Progressive said that they will fit fine and raise the bike 3/4 inch . I will try them and see if the look is still Ok. can always send them back for smaller shocks. bought them at MAW for $408.00 del Thaks for the help. Even though you guys seem to make me spend more money it is always well spent and I seem to get  it right the first time without buying things twice. Thanks Billy

[miker]

Billy, I believe standard Road King shocks are 12", and our shocks on the SERK are 11". I'm replacing mine with standard height. I believe you'll be able to go 1" over, meaning 13", if you're tall enough to still be flatfooted. I would not do this unless you're raising the front fork the same amount. 2" up on the shocks, 2" up in the front. I was told not to do the back without doing the front. It will adversly effect the bike's handling. Hoist!

Hoist, I measured 12", bolt center to center.  Are shocks measured overall length or on center?
Help me before I order!

[Chief]

When will the testing of those new shocks be complete?

Hasn't started yet. Still waiting.

[Billy]

Hoist, I measured 12", bolt center to center.  Are shocks measured overall length or on center?
Help me before I order!

The dealer said to measure hole to hole. That will be 12 inches on my SERK Billy

[miker]

The dealer said to measure hole to hole. That will be 12 inches on my SERK Billy

Thanks Billy, I measured 12 inches on center hole to hole...440's( Thanks Chief) for me after I hunt em down swerving all over the innernet.

Miker

[Billy]

Thanks Billy, I measured 12 inches on center hole to hole...440's( Thanks Chief) for me after I hunt em down swerving all over the innernet.

Miker

Look them up on Ebay  MAW had the shock for $408.00 Del to me. Billy

[RJ749]

So do we need 13" 440's on the SEUC's?  I may need to check what I got on mine this week.

[Boatman]

Roger-
If you want to maintain the stock SEUltra ride height, you would buy the 13" 440's..  12" or 12.5" would not hurt anything.  I went from 12" air to 12.5" 440's on mine.   Bob

[RJ749]

Roger-
If you want to maintain the stock SEUltra ride height, you would buy the 13" 440's..  12" or 12.5" would not hurt anything.  I went from 12" air to 12.5" 440's on mine.   Bob

I'll have to make sure what they got, I asked them to keep it stock height so hopefully they got the 13".  I'll find out today when I pick it up.

[Hoist!]

Thanks for the info on the SERK3 shocks guys. I thought the SERK3 was 12". I'd like to go with 13" as well. Billy, why did Progressive claim only 3/4" over. Shouldn't it be 1" over? Hoist!

[Billy]

Thanks for the info on the SERK3 shocks guys. I thought the SERK3 was 12". I'd like to go with 13" as well. Billy, why did Progressive claim only 3/4" over. Shouldn't it be 1" over? Hoist!

I'm not sure. i wil install the shocks and take lots of measurements with my laser before and after and let you know for sure. He may have been talking about the seat height after I sit on the bike. I should have the shocks next week and install them on the week end.  Billy

[miker]

Im slamming the 12's on...anything gotta be better.  By the by, cornib refnded my buy on the 05 serk seat saying it won't fit!
The old 2up seat fits it just doesn't match the dash profile, what gives?

[JW]

Roger-
If you want to maintain the stock SEUltra ride height, you would buy the 13" 440's..  12" or 12.5" would not hurt anything.  I went from 12" air to 12.5" 440's on mine.   Bob

Boatman:

Just wondering why you went with the 12.5 rather than the 12"?  Did that 1/8" height difference change the handling in your opinion?  Also, my understanding from reading prior posts is that the "standard" is what most use, that some like the "heavy duty" if they prefer a stiffer ride.  I am thinking of making the switch now that Ive had the bike for a 1000 miles, black shocks (cant see how the chrome gets you anything on this one), not heavy duty, and 12" to keep the current height of my SEEG which I like.  I bottomed out hard the other day on a pothole I didn't see (after that nasty noreaster we had a couple of weeks ago, they are everywhere) and that's with 35lbs of air in the shocks.

[Boatman]

Boatman:

Just wondering why you went with the 12.5 rather than the 12"?  Did that 1/8" height difference change the handling in your opinion?  Also, my understanding from reading prior posts is that the "standard" is what most use, that some like the "heavy duty" if they prefer a stiffer ride.  I am thinking of making the switch now that Ive had the bike for a 1000 miles, black shocks (cant see how the chrome gets you anything on this one), not heavy duty, and 12" to keep the current height of my SEEG which I like.  I bottomed out hard the other day on a pothole I didn't see (after that nasty noreaster we had a couple of weeks ago, they are everywhere) and that's with 35lbs of air in the shocks.

Most of the other forum members put 440's on theirs before I did mine.  I weigh 215#'s, ride single most of the time, and put the std's on mine.  I went with the 12.5" mainly thinking it would have more travel (halfway between the 12" we had and the 13" shocks that are std on the other Touring bikes).  With the 12.5" stds, it rides better and HANDLES better than the air shocks.  Rather you get the 12" or 12.5", you will be much more satisfied.