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[Navyret 2001]

I know some or all this has been covered off and on in other post, but I really don't want to make a mistake..again. I removed my p.o.s rear air shocks after my second shock leak on my 16 CVO limited. A friend had a "new" set of Progressive 944's with less than a 1,000 miles that I picked up cheap. Installed them a few days ago after setting sag and torquing them down, work was done at a friends shop, former head wrench at local HD shop. Had 3 turns on them road it home 20 miles and thought I crushed 3 vertebrae. Backed them down to 1 turn took wife a quick ride and she complained it was still to stiff, now backed all the way off, still stiff but tolerable. I'm looking at HD premium rears, actually ordered them and then compared them to the stock shocks on 17 CVO limited. The passenger side coil on stock 17 is spread out while the premium shock is coiled tighter at the top then spread towards the bottom. I'm concerned that the premium are also stiff? I have seen other post and it seems the ones that have them love them. I'm not going back to air shocks while the 944's have the ability to crush bone the handling is unbelievable!! I'm I going the right way? And yes the fronts are soon to follow.

[King Glide]

I have both the front and rear premium shocks on my bike. I weigh 195 and have the one inch lowered ones front and back. I ride solo these days. Mine are set at the lowest number( 1 I believe) and find them just right, firmer than stock but still very comfortable on Louisiana roads, which are the roughest I ever seen. They are milder on preload than the 944's but, they vastly improve the handling on our bayou following roads. I'm not one of those guys that take every bend in the road 40 miles an hour faster than the sign says, but 20 over feels very solid. I'm sure you will be surprised at how comfortable the ride is.

[Navyret 2001]

Thanks King Glide, well I run about 270 and the wife about 130, so I'm pushing around 400lbs about 90% of the time. The other side effect, and for me at 6'2" was the 944's lowered the back end a good inch. Never thought an inch would be that much of an issue, man I was wrong! I do enjoy reading others post, an issues and the "cures" damn sure beats the stealership's b.s.! I look forward to the HD premium version....I hope.

[Major Tom]

G'day Navyret,

I am in your weight division and Miss Lenda weighs nothing and I am not asking. I run the HD premium on the back of Lucille & stock 2015 on the front. Handles much better than the air shocks she came with. I made sure to get the 13" ones not the 12"s they put in Street glides. I like the ground clearance and it is a little firmer than the same set up on Lucille's predecessor Bertha. Handles great and works just fine. I am sure you will be happy mate.


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[Road Dad]

Even the HD premium shocks are not very premium in the world of shock absorbing.  I run Ohlins (Öhlins) on my bikes and it is night and day compared to what HD can offer. Probably the best money I spent on the bike overall.

[Navyret 2001]

Thanks Major Tom, yep definitely going 13" need my ground clearance back! Road Dad I looked at Ohlins, only real issue with that is I only keep Harley around about 3 years before selling/trading for new one, not sure I want to spend $1,000 or more for shocks. Might be the case for next Harley, that one should be my last, going for 2nd retirement unless the wife has other ideas! Love this site, folks on here are great!

[OBB]

Thanks Major Tom, yep definitely going 13" need my ground clearance back! Road Dad I looked at Ohlins, only real issue with that is I only keep Harley around about 3 years before selling/trading for new one, not sure I want to spend $1,000 or more for shocks. Might be the case for next Harley, that one should be my last, going for 2nd retirement unless the wife has other ideas! Love this site, folks on here are great!

Unless there's a huge change in the rear of the bikes between now and your next one, you'll be able to move whichever shocks you buy to the new bike as long as it's in the same class of frame.

[Para Bellum]

The passenger side coil on stock 17 is spread out while the premium shock is coiled tighter at the top then spread towards the bottom. I'm concerned that the premium are also stiff?

First, anytime you go to a shorter shock, it will be stiffer than a longer shock--it has to be stiffer to avoid bottoming out, and it has less length to absorb the bump.  Second, the different coil spread on the premium shock is done that way to make the spring have a variable rate--the "spread-out" coil isn't as stiff as the "close" coils, which lets it be more comfortable on smaller bumps.

If the bump is large enough to compress the shock/spring all the way to the "close" coils, the extra stiffness there tries to prevent bottoming out, but it's going to be a lot harsher than the spread coils.

You'll get a lot better ride, plus the cornering clearance, with the 13" shocks.

[FLSTFI Dave]

First, anytime you go to a shorter shock, it will be stiffer than a longer shock--it has to be stiffer to avoid bottoming out, and it has less length to absorb the bump.  Second, the different coil spread on the premium shock is done that way to make the spring have a variable rate--the "spread-out" coil isn't as stiff as the "close" coils, which lets it be more comfortable on smaller bumps.

If the bump is large enough to compress the shock/spring all the way to the "close" coils, the extra stiffness there tries to prevent bottoming out, but it's going to be a lot harsher than the spread coils.

You'll get a lot better ride, plus the cornering clearance, with the 13" shocks.

The above is why I do not have the factory 12" shocks on my 13 CVO King.  I have Ohlin 13" shocks for a better ride, increased lean angle and more travel.

[Navyret 2001]

The HD premium shocks arrived Thursday and was able to get around to removing the Progressive 944's and installing new shocks Friday evening. Put 4 full turns on adjuster and took it for a ride, world of difference! Got my ride height back, ride is greatly improved and it handles as well as it did with the Progressive's. One thing I forgot to mention in previous post when lowering and raising the ride height is the belt adjustment or you will smoke the transmission bearing.

[Major Tom]

The HD premium shocks arrived Thursday and was able to get around to removing the Progressive 944's and installing new shocks Friday evening. Put 4 full turns on adjuster and took it for a ride, world of difference! Got my ride height back, ride is greatly improved and it handles as well as it did with the Progressive's. One thing I forgot to mention in previous post when lowering and raising the ride height is the belt adjustment or you will smoke the transmission bearing.

Good news mate!


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[bigchuck]

The HD premium shocks arrived Thursday and was able to get around to removing the Progressive 944's and installing new shocks Friday evening. Put 4 full turns on adjuster and took it for a ride, world of difference! Got my ride height back, ride is greatly improved and it handles as well as it did with the Progressive's. One thing I forgot to mention in previous post when lowering and raising the ride height is the belt adjustment or you will smoke the transmission bearing.

Now that you have had the premium shocks over a month are you still satisfied. I'm also about 400lb when riding 2-up and about to make a shock change