Has anyone tried the Progressive 944 SERIES ULTRA TOURING SHOCKS with a lowered front end on a 2014 touring bike?

They claim to retain the same travel of a 13" shock yet lower the bike 1", which should in theory be a good match to the HD lowered forks.

I have a 2014 Limited with the HD Premium Lowered single cartridge fork and the Premium Adjustable lowered rear shocks (12"). I'm relatively happy with the ride and particularly the performance which is excellent.

I'm curious if the 944's might give a little more comfortable ride when two up. The 2" of travel on the HD lowered shocks runs out fast.

Anyone?

 

I have the 944s on my SGS. I love the ride, much better then the stock shocks.

 

So the 13" 944's really do give you the same low stance of the HD 12" shocks?

I'm not sure, does the SGS come stock with the HD premium adjustable 12" shocks? The ones with the dial on the left shock only.

If you don't mind me asking, what is your weight and did you go with the standard or heavy duty springs?

Thanks for any info you can supply.

 

OTWALL,went on a 2400 mile ride to Nova Scotia with a buddy and our wives. Identical 2014 ultras he had 944's on his I had ohlins from motorcycle metal. He bottomed out hundreds of times, me never. Needless to say, he has ordered ohlins from Howard at MM and the 944's are coming off Night and day on how they ride can't even compare

 

I have a pair on my 2014 Ultra and I am very disappointed. One up riding is okay but two up is awful. These shocks bottom out all the time and adjusting the pre-load doesn't help. I'm not a heavy guy nor is my wife so I was expecting a much better ride. I consider these shocks to be marginally better than the stock shocks. I called Progressive and they told me I bought the wrong shocks (without suggesting an alternative) and their only suggestion is to swap out the springs for the heavy duty springs...at a cost +shipping! I'm sorry but it's the shock and not the spring that makes the ride! Needless to say, I just purchased a pair of Ohlins :-)

 

Are either of you running lowered or stock height in the rear and/or front?

I am already lowered with the H-D Premium adjustable 1" lower shocks (not air shocks). I'm not unhappy with my current setup, I'm just looking for possible alternatives to keeping a lowered profile AND improving the ride a wee bit.

I fully understand that I threw away an inch of travel in lowering the bike but that is the look and leg reach I desire. Just trying to see if there are other alternatives to the H-D 12" Premium Adjustable shocks. The 944's looked like the ticket.

I'm interested in comparisons to other lowered shocks. Are the Ohlins available in a lowered configuration?

Thanks all for the comments!

 

Call Howard Messner and ask him
http://www.motorcyclemetal.com/

 

I have 944HDs on a 2014 Ultra Classic. I like 'em except for one thing (I'll get to later.) The bike sits just a little higher than my '13 Street Glide did, so I believe the lower stance to be about the same as the 12' HD air shocks. (The Ultra Class has other differences that make it sit slightly higher than a Street Glide, even with the same shocks.)

The bad: the 944s have an infinitely adjustable threaded adjustment (no notches). There are no notches or markings of any kind to assist you in adjusting the shocks evenly. I'm a heavy guy, I like a tighter suspension, and I sometimes carry a passenger. For all of these reasons I want to increase the pre-load, but so far haven't figured out a good way to adjust them to my satisfaction.

 

Gadget have you ever ridden on a bike with ohlins? You will never go back. Maybe I'm the minority but I don't want to feel the bumps Progressive shocks are junk!!! All their money gets spent on marketing, not shock development IMHO

 

My understanding of the shock/spring relationship is that a heavier spring or imcreasing preload on the spring may actually prevent bottoming out. The shock itself will come into play for sharp bumps like potholes.