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[Deep Blue Dives]

Looking for thoughts and opinions on a suspension change out for the front forks.  I have seen alot about the Traxxion AK20's ($1249.00)on the CVO SESG and realize that they will be an upgrade to the stock system.

I have read in other model related threads about the Harley Premium Ride Double Cartridge Fork Kit-45500106 ($499.00), and was curious if any of our SESG group have tried these on our bike.

I know this change will help with the bottoming out accross terrain, but will the change help with flexing I feel when really pushing the bike in the twists, or is this just due to the reaction of the frame to the force of the turn?

I still have some riding time left, but when January hits, I want to put it in the shop for an upgrade.

[LovemyCVOgirl]

Looking for thoughts and opinions on a suspension change out for the front forks.  I have seen alot about the Traxxion AK20's ($1249.00)on the CVO SESG and realize that they will be an upgrade to the stock system.

I have read in other model related threads about the Harley Premium Ride Double Cartridge Fork Kit-45500106 ($499.00), and was curious if any of our SESG group have tried these on our bike.

I know this change will help with the bottoming out accross terrain, but will the change help with flexing I feel when really pushing the bike in the twists, or is this just due to the reaction of the frame to the force of the turn?

I still have some riding time left, but when January hits, I want to put it in the shop for an upgrade.

Great question!  I would like to know the same thing.   

[Gnarl78]

I don't have any experience with the ones you listed, but I recently put a set of Progressive monotubes in my front forks, and the ride is greatly improved over the stock springs that came in my '08 CVO Ultra. The monotubes should cost less than those sets.

[Twolanerider]

Have ridden one bike with the Harley cartridge kit.  Have installed and ridden several with the Progressive Monotube kits (including my own).  Have ridden four with the Traxxion package (including my own).

The HD and the Progressive kits are comparable in effect.  The Progressive kit is cheaper.  The Traxxion package is definitely better.  But not a thousand dollars better.  For ease of installation and cost/benefit effect for me the Progressive package is an easy choice right now.

[Mr D]

Have ridden one bike with the Harley cartridge kit.  Have installed and ridden several with the Progressive Monotube kits (including my own).  Have ridden four with the Traxxion package (including my own).

The HD and the Progressive kits are comparable in effect.  The Progressive kit is cheaper.  The Traxxion package is definitely better.  But not a thousand dollars better.  For ease of installation and cost/benefit effect for me the Progressive package is an easy choice right now.

X2

[ultrafxr]

I went through this same dilemma about a year and a half ago on my '12 cuse7.  I have Traxxion AK20s on my '07 cuse2 which I still have in my stable but was not sure I wanted to spring for the big bucks for the Traxxion on my '12.  I looked at the H-D Premium Ride cartridge system and the Progressives.  What drove me to decide on the H-D was simple:  the Progressives are gas sealed (kind of like a strut on a modern car) and according to the Progressive tech I spoke with have an estimated life of 50,000 miles.  Whereas the H-Ds are not gas sealed and can be serviced.

This is not to disparage the Progressives in any way as I am sure they are good but also at that time there were a few (not many but enough to notice) reports of failure (leakage) from the gas sealed Progressives.  While the part is warranted by Progressive the labor is not.  That was the deciding factor - I did not want to take a chance of premature failure and the labor expense to replace and I wanted something that would last longer than 50,000 miles.

I am very happy with the H-D Premium Ride cartridge system in my '12.  Is it as good as the Traxxion, probably not but then again I don't push things to the max.  the H-Ds work just fine for me and are a significant improvement over stock imo.

[mjb765]

I also went with the Progressive kit and am very happy with the results.

[Midnight Rider]

Looking for thoughts and opinions on a suspension change out for the front forks.  I have seen alot about the Traxxion AK20's ($1249.00)on the CVO SESG and realize that they will be an upgrade to the stock system.

I have read in other model related threads about the Harley Premium Ride Double Cartridge Fork Kit-45500106 ($499.00), and was curious if any of our SESG group have tried these on our bike.

I know this change will help with the bottoming out accross terrain, but will the change help with flexing I feel when really pushing the bike in the twists, or is this just due to the reaction of the frame to the force of the turn?

I still have some riding time left, but when January hits, I want to put it in the shop for an upgrade.

Put simply, to say that the AK-20's are an "upgrade" is like saying a Porche Cayenne is an upgrade over a 68 Buick.     There are thousands and thousands of riders out there on stock HD bikes who have no clue how bad the suspension is on a stock bike because they have never ridden a HD with GOOD suspension...so, they don't know what they don't know.  I personally am a proponent of the Traxxion AK-20 cartridges because I enjoy having the best available on my bike, and I like a bike that handles as well as is reasonably possible.  But, they are the most expensive option.  There are none better though.  Having said that, there are many many people here running the Progressive Monotubes and are quite happy with them, and for the money, they would be hard to beat.  The HD cartridges, from reports I've "heard" are just a slight notch below them.  Ultrafxr makes a valid point by saying that the Progressives are gas charged, so IF they leak, you have a pogo stick.  The HD cartridges are oil operated so there's nothing to leak but the fork seals, which remain stock.  The same is true with the Traxxions...they are just a more advanced design, are manufactured completely in house in Woodstock, GA, and their manufacturing and service is impeccable.  One of the determining factors is how close you are to GA, or are you willing to either ride there, or pull the forks and ship them to be done.  Or find an authorized installer/dealer...but they are few and far between.

I have heard Don (Twolane) say before that while the Traxxions are a 10 on a scale of 1 (stock) to 10, the Progressives are somewhere around a 7.  Perhaps the HD cartridges would be a 6?  Don, please correct me if I am missing the mark here.  There is no "fix" for the fork flex on a HD...However, the front tire staying firmly in contact with the pavement at all times...which does NOT happen on the stock suspension...improves handling in corners 100%, IMO.  But you need good rear end stuff too.  On the '09 and later bike frames, you no longer have the tail wagging the dog as you did pre '09.  But, you still have rubber mounted handlebars, so SOME of the "flex" you may feel is due to that fact.  The other is due to fork flexing, but you have to push hard to make that happen.  I have no vested interest in Traxxion vs Progressive vs HD Premium Ride...I just know the Traxxion product well, that's all.

[Twolanerider]

I have heard Don (Twolane) say before that while the Traxxions are a 10 on a scale of 1 (stock) to 10, the Progressives are somewhere around a 7.  Perhaps the HD cartridges would be a 6?  Don, please correct me if I am missing the mark here.

That's a fair assessment TC.  All of our asses will measure the feel on the road a bit differently so there is some subjectivity.  I didn't feel much difference at all between the one Road King I rode with the Harley kit and my Road King with the Progressives.  They aren't the same kits at all but their effect is comparable.  If TD is a 10 (because none of us has found anything better yet) and the stock bikes are a baseline zero from which to measure it doesn't seem unfair to say the Progressive and HD packages are in the 7-8 range. 

There is a difference between them and TD.  They both keep the front wheel on the ground all or nearly all the time.  Losing the wheel hop is the first thing that was so significantly noticeable with any of the upgrades.  I thing TDs rebound control is better and its adjustability is a benefit.  The overall feel is just a little bit better.  Saying that is not to say that the Progressive kit is not good enough.  To me it's become a choice between a perfectly acceptable good enough and something that is even better. 

Those being the choices is why it's hard for me to justify the extra grand to go TD anymore.  Especially when added in to that equation is that I can do the Progressive myself on a rain Saturday afternoon and the TD has the bike down as the forks must go back and forth to Georgia or you've got to make a road trip to their shop.

[INDEPENDENT_1]

For what its worth, we install the Traxxion AK-20's here and we support the CVO forum by offering its members a 10% discount on all products including the AK-20 kits. If it is a help to anyone who reads this thread, we are located in eastern Oklahoma, just south of the Tulsa area. I run the AK's on my own personal 2012 Road Glide Custom and I have no regrets. As someone earlier mentioned, I enjoy making my Harley-Davidson motorcycles the best they can be. It doesn't matter if we're talking engine, transmission, clutch, tires, brakes, wheels or the tune I have manipulation the output of the engine. I love making these bikes the best they can be based on the products and resources we have available today. If the issue is money and it that is the case a lot of times, I like to offer the best product available for the budget set by the customer. The bling guys put on their bikes is appealing to me but what I enjoy most is working with guys who are passionate about making their bike function on a higher level than they are produced at and performing at a higher level than one might could have expected. Sorry for the long post but we are here if you are and if its the installation that is the thing keeping you from taking the plunge. Let us do it for you! The Traxxion Dynamics are without a doubt the best thing on the market. 

[Twolanerider]

For what its worth, we install the Traxxion AK-20's here

Had missed that you were doing AK20 installs.  Good to know there is an option short of Georgia or NorCal that most here would know about.  If shipping the forks off it honestly makes little difference.  UPS goes anywhere and it's just a couple of extra days when the bike is already down.  But it's a significant difference for anyone hoping to ride in.  I did the first of the AK20 installs we all got done here shortly after becoming aware and shortly after TD had started doing them to Harleys.  It was a good excuse for a road trip half way across country over a long weekend.  But it's not something I'd look forward to doing repetitively for a suspension upgrade.  I think you're less than three hours away.  That's hella easier .

[Rooster]

I have had Traxxion AK20's installed by Jim (hddude) in my CUSE2 for so long now I probably need to ride a stock one some time so I can remember how bad stock is.  One of the many reasons I hang on to my 07.

[Twolanerider]

I have had Traxxion AK20's installed by Jim (hddude) in my CUSE2 for so long now I probably need to ride a stock one some time so I can remember how bad stock is.  One of the many reasons I hang on to my 07.

It's a weird, and not in a good way, feeling when you do.  You completely forget how much the front wheel is hopping when it no longer is.  The squishy soft feeling is not your friend... 

[05Train]

No matter what fork internals you use, the limiting factor is still fork flex due to the design of the top tree.  There's an outfit in Florida (Motorcycle Metal) that's designed a proper top tree that positively clamps the forks and adapted 49mm fork tubes for the '09-'13 bikes.  Combined with better damping via some sort of cartridge system, that should be the hot ticket.

[Deep Blue Dives]

For what its worth, we install the Traxxion AK-20's here and we support the CVO forum by offering its members a 10% discount on all products including the AK-20 kits. If it is a help to anyone who reads this thread, we are located in eastern Oklahoma, just south of the Tulsa area. I run the AK's on my own personal 2012 Road Glide Custom and I have no regrets. As someone earlier mentioned, I enjoy making my Harley-Davidson motorcycles the best they can be. It doesn't matter if we're talking engine, transmission, clutch, tires, brakes, wheels or the tune I have manipulation the output of the engine. I love making these bikes the best they can be based on the products and resources we have available today. If the issue is money and it that is the case a lot of times, I like to offer the best product available for the budget set by the customer. The bling guys put on their bikes is appealing to me but what I enjoy most is working with guys who are passionate about making their bike function on a higher level than they are produced at and performing at a higher level than one might could have expected. Sorry for the long post but we are here if you are and if its the installation that is the thing keeping you from taking the plunge. Let us do it for you! The Traxxion Dynamics are without a doubt the best thing on the market. 

Sent you an e-mail for some information today - your about 3 1/2- 4hrs up the road.  Get back to me when you can.