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[Boatman]

FWIW, I recently took my standard Progressive 440's off my SEEG2 (to put on my wife's FLHX) and installed Works Performance steel trackers with DRS (dual rate springs) and ARS adjuster.  Follows are pictures and hopefully helpful information for people wanting to do the same (change shocks).   The 440's had approximately 35,000 miles on them when removed.

REASON for CHANGE-I weighed about 20#'s less when 440's 1st installed, daughter now weighs 100#'s, and pull a Bushtec trailer with daughter sometimes.  Had to crank the Progressive's all the way down in Canada.

BIKE-2005 SEEG2..  This bike came lowered  from the MOCO 1" in the front AND rear.  (came with 12" air shocks).

PROGRESSIVE 440's-They were 12.5" standard rate spring.  I bought them from Wally's Cycle World in March 2006 at a cost of $388.00..   I believe they are close to $500.00 now (list more than that).

WORKS PERFORMANCE-They are 13" steel trackers purchased from them at a cost of $499.50 (10% off $555.00) with $20 shipping.  Tom gave me the 10% off for mentioning CVO Harley.   Contact Tom at tom@worksperformance.com   .
I gave Tom my weight and passenger weight and he had them build a shock for me.  You have 30 days to try them out and they will change springs if needed.

The Progressive is on the left.

[Boatman]

The Works has better bushings (heavier duty) poly urethane instead of rubber.  Works says their shocks need to be within 1/4" top to bottom alignment to work properly.  I installed each shock with the top bolt only and torqued to 38 ft #'s..  I then made sure the shock would work freely when pivoting back and forth.  On the RH shock, I had to put one washer at the bottom of the mount between the shock and swing arm so I didn't have to push the shock over to the swingarm.  On the LH shock, I had to put a washer between the upper shock mount and frame to get the top/bottom alignment (so the bottom shock end didn't have to be pushed out to clear the swingarm).   After I did this, I spoke with Works and they said the washer (spacers) would not have been needed as "it was close enough".

This picture shows the works on the bike with the ARS lever pointed to the rear and the "adjuster cups/steps" at the top of the shock.

From the ARS lever up is the short stiff spring and the long lower spring is the less stiff.  You ride on the long spring until you hit a bump hard enough to compress the long spring and it pushes on the adjuster lever and compresses the short spring into the step in the adjuster cup.  (dual rate springs).



 

[Boatman]

The above picture shows it to be in the softest setting (deepest cup).  You adjust the shock by holding the lever and turning the top of the shock with the cup (that way the lever is always the same direction/location).

As the cups/steps get shorter between the lever and the cups, the quicker the top heavy spring will come in to play.

With the Works being 1/2" longer, the bike still sits about the same when I am on it as I have more sag.  Tom said I wanted 1-1.5" of sag.  I have about 1/2" sag when I sit on the bike.  I told Works I did not have enough sag.   

I was unaware that the bike already sagged when it was lowered off the lift on it's own weight.  With that 1" and my added 1/2" I am good to go.  Works said also on a FLHT, to measure sag, all you have to do is measure the shock length from eye to eye when weight is added as the lower shock mount is close to the axle in the swingarm.  Said you are clsoe enough.

I have put 700 miles on the Works since the install.  They ride nice on smooth roads and do not bottom out like the Progressives did.  They are easier to adjust than the Progressives.  I have not rode with my daughter yet.

The 440's are still a very good shock.  There is not a night/day difference between the two.  Just subtle seat of the pance differences that you could tell how bumps were handled on common roads traveled.

[Boatman]

I did not buy the Bitubo's, Ohlins, or Penskes because of the additional $200 up cost.  I am not smart enough to adjust the Bitubo's either.

The back end is still not as good as the Traxxion lowered front end.  I believe if I had a MOCO lowered front end the 13" rear would not have worked.  2Lane Don said the 13" would work in ride and posture and he was right (with the Traxxion)..

The Progressives are warranted to the original purchaser with a bill of sale for life.  The 440's need to go back to Work's every 35-50,000 for new gas/oil at about a $75.00 charge.

I would not have done this without Black Diamonds earlier post on the same.  Thanks.

Sorry this is long, not in order, and all the techincal parts might not be accurate but are the way I thought I was told.
As I have siad before, I know just enough to be dangerous.

[Twolanerider]

So it's a comparable price and a slightly better suspension?  When the time comes that's a simple choice.

[Boatman]

So it's a comparable price and a slightly better suspension?  When the time comes that's a simple choice.

That's  sums up the posts/shocks nicely.  The steel trackers are much better for what you get when they both cost about the same in today's prices.

With the Works on the softest setting they do not bottom out (with me) and they still ride good.   Pulling out of a gas station whose lot was higher than the road-when the rear tire would hit the rain gutter, there was always a jolt with the 440's..  Same thing happened every time the rear wheel would drop suddenly at a bridge joint etc.. 

The front end never let's me down.  Before the Traxxion, the front end bottomed out all of the time.

[11]

They had a segment on one of the motor cycle shows a few years ago (maybe American Thunder, not sure) on Works Shocks. I was just on the verge of buying the Works shocks for the SEEG I had then, after watching the clip...the next day  I bought Progressive 440's, (also from Wallys).  I just was not impressed with the dirty shop/spanish guy building shocks on a work bench setup.  I know you shouldn't make snap judgements like that and the Works may be the best product in the world,  but that shop changed my mind and I never regretted it.

[Twolanerider]

If one were choosing between the two at comparable prices the decision points seem to be few.  Several have said the Works pieces don't bottom out the way the Progressives do.  And the adjustment on the Progressives will back off over time.  Doesn't look like the Works shocks could do that.

So at comparable prices they're both way better than stock shocks and a guy can pick his own poison.  Have to admit though; if already paying $500-ish for a set of shocks, if already that deep in; I'd be hard pressed not to put just a bit more with it and get the Bitubos.

[porthole]

Several have said the Works pieces don't bottom out the way the Progressives do.  And the adjustment on the Progressives will back off over time. 

Mine don't bottom out (unless I forget to adjust) but do have the "stop bump" Adjustment never backed either, lucky I guess.

[Black Diamond]

I did not buy the Bitubo's, Ohlins, or Penskes because of the additional $200 up cost.  I am not smart enough to adjust the Bitubo's either.

The back end is still not as good as the Traxxion lowered front end.  I believe if I had a MOCO lowered front end the 13" rear would not have worked.  2Lane Don said the 13" would work in ride and posture and he was right (with the Traxxion)..

The Progressives are warranted to the original purchaser with a bill of sale for life.  The 440's need to go back to Work's every 35-50,000 for new gas/oil at about a $75.00 charge.

I would not have done this without Black Diamonds earlier post on the same.  Thanks.

Sorry this is long, not in order, and all the techincal parts might not be accurate but are the way I thought I was told.
As I have siad before, I know just enough to be dangerous.

Glad to see you like the shocks. I love how simple they are to adjust, just like me!

JW

[porthole]

Can't make me Bob - I will not buy shocks set #5

[Boatman]

Can't make me Bob - I will not buy shocks set #5

Duane,

It's kinda like seats, mufflers, tuners, etc etc etc..    It's really a sickness.  Nothing is going to make bikes this short ride good unless in back of a pickup truck.

I guess we shoulda bought GW's..       

[Boatman]

Moved the lever to the next cup/step and I really like the ride now.  This is one step up from full soft.  Really takes the big bumps nice and still rides good on a smooth road even with the daughter.  Will be keeping these.   

[porthole]

Not working Bob - not going to do it .........................

[110tHunDer]

Not working Bob - not going to do it .........................

Well, maybe not on you ... but between his review and Jeff's (Black Diamond) I'm going to bite the bullet on a set for the FXR3.  And if I like 'em on it, the SERG will probably be next.