A couple months ago I sold my 2010 Iron for a 2015 48 and before doing so I took off all of the Progressive Suspension. Today I finally got around to installing the front springs and now there is a faint clicking when pressure is applied. Could that be caused by not enough fork oil? In addition, the Progressive springs have much less pre-load than the factory springs with the correct size spacer per the instructions and I feel like it may have lowered the front end. Unfortunately I didn't take an pre install measurements so I cannot verify if that is the case. I rechecked the part number for fitment and they fit both bikes. Anyone else run into similar issues?

 

What is the length of the spacer you used?
I think the spring kit comes with the spacers 3" long , mine did.
If 3" is too short for your bike , you can make a couple longer ones from PVC plumbing pipe (plastic).
You should have about 1/4 to 1/3 total travel rider sag when you're done.
On the short fork setup , I would stay closer to 1/4 travel sag , as you don't have much travel to play with.
The initial spring rate is quite soft compared to stock , and increases much quicker than the stock springs.
If you can't get the forks to bottom , you're probably safe anyway.
Mick

 

I am currently running the 3" spacer that was included. It crossed my mind to run to the hardware store and bump it up to 3.5" but I wasn't sure if it was my imagination about it lowering/having less travel. There is 9/10 of an inch of sag when my dad was sitting on it and he weighs around 180lbs which equals about 1/3 total travel. I'll have to take it for a longer ride tomorrow and see if it bottoms out anywhere. The roads around here are buck boards so it'll definitely be put through its paces.

 

That method is actually pretty ineffective. You need to set the sag rate based on your weight & the bikes weight. The Progressive Spring mod is awesome if you do it right.

Ideally the sag rate should be set at 1.6". If it's easier for you to measure 1.5", that's close enough. With the bike lifted and the front wheel completely off the ground, put a zip-tie on the fork tube and slide it all the way down to the fork slider as pictured in red. Then lower the bike and sit your weight on it. That will move the zip-tie up the fork tube a bit. Then raise the bike again and now measure how far the zip-tie is from the slider.



Lets say for example that it measures 2.25" from the zip-tie to the slider. That would mean that you need to increase your current PVC spacer by .75". So if your current spacer is 3", you should cut new PVC spacers to 3.75" In doing so you'll gain a better performance ride and without wasting available fork travel.

 

Thanks, I'll give that a try. Any idea of spacer diameter? Would rather pick it up now instead of taking the bike apart then running around buying the PVC.

 

I think the spacers are 3/4 dia. I got progressives in my 2014 Superlow. I put the 3 inch spacer in that came with the kit. The sag with bike only is 1 inch. With me on the bike its a little over 1 and 1/4 inch. That don't leave too much travel. I weight 185. It rides and handles well. I have only bottomed it out once and that was a big bump. I am thinking about putting in a 3 and 1/4 spacer.

 

Careful with measurements given here. 1.6" rider sag is WAY to much for a 48. Your roughly 1" measurement is pretty damm close to what you should have.

My OEM 48 springs had ZERO sag, the only way I could get them to compress is grab the front brake and push hard. Id say your progressives are set up right.

 

Thanks for the input everyone. Maybe I was overthinking the perceived issue. I did pick up some 3/4" schedule 40 PVC pipe to cut new spacers if it bottoms out frequently.

 

Thanks for the correction Rog, it's appreciated. That's perfect for my FXR and being that it uses a Sportster fork, I thought the same would apply.

Sorry about the mis-information titleist, fortunately Rog caught it. And he knows Sportys a whole lot better than me.

 

No problem, I appreciate the input!