Welp, I pulled the trigger on a set of SG shocks from another member of the forum here (they are the short 11.75in 54662-09 ones). I was going to go with the 412's but I decided to try out the air shocks first. I got them in the mail but they hadn't been sealed and were leaking oil everywhere. UGH!

Got them pulled out, grabbed my trusty mitivac and went to town. Figured out that the standard line for the mv will actually thread into the fitting hole for the shock. That makes things VERY easy to get all of the fluid out and back in. Just take the hose, twist it in like you are putting in a screw and then attach it to your fluid canister. Zero leaks on the lines (that I had). I was able to pull a good vacuum and get all of the original fluid out. I just picked up the schrader valves this morning, getting fluid (honda SS-7) and washers on the way home. I will hopefully get everything put together on the shocks before the weekend, then get them mounted once I make my 2x6 lift. Then time for a ride. My back will hopefully be much happier.

 

Your butt and back will thank you!
Just a note, I was able to change mine one at a time with the bike on the ground, no need for a lift.
I run mine with 0 PSI one up and love the ride, 4-6 PSI with a passenger works well.

 

You will really like them.

I got the same shorter ones on my Sportie for 2 years now. I redid mine with 7.5 weight oil - 10 oz for each shock. But did the old leverage axe handle pump and dump trick. Took me 1 hr each. Labor of love. I was gonna use the separate valves but when I got my shocks the guy sent the whole OEM set up so I installed it that way. I actually like it that as it matches my bagger set up.

For me I like the shocks on my Sportie at 9psi for 1 up. 2 up I run 11psi while using the HD air ride pump. Gives the 1" of shock sag at those psi numbers.

This season I wanted to redo my 2006UC air shocks so I bought the mightyvac and I had both shocks done in 30 mins total and had a cold one at the same time. Wow I should have bought the MV when I did my Sportie. UC shocks I put in 10wt and 10 oz each. Oil in mine was OEM - its a 2006 UC with 22K on the speedometer. 1 up I run 11psi and 2 up run 13psi.

You will love the ride on your Sportie with them vs. the OEM shocks.

Good luck and experiment with the pressure till you dial it in. I carried the HD pump with me and would pull over and adjust while I rode. 1psi can make a difference.

 

Well I picked up the 5wt ProHonda SS-7 for 5.99 per 16oz. It was the cheapest and actually what came in them plus I could get it locally. I am on the lighter side of things at just under 160. I worried about it being too much dampening going any heavier. I will get around to putting the oil in sometime soon (probably this weekend).

 

I think at the 7wt you will be good. I'm at 170lbs. Store I went to had stocked the Belray 7.5wt so I went with that for my Sportie. Figured the bike is just a little over 500 lbs. vs. my bagger at a tad over 1000 lbs. SO 10wt in the bagger shocks made sense.

I'm very satisfied with both.

GOOD LUCK!

 

I've gone with the 5wt for now. If I need to, I will drain and refill with 7.5...

 

I misread what you said...thought you got 7wt via the p/n you gave. See now it's 5wt you got.

I'm sure it will be fine at 5wt. The bike is very light.

 

First impression: Not bad... not bad at all. I still feel bumps (it's not like a cadillac) but they are much more muted and softened compared to the stock suspension. I need to play some with the pressure to really test what works best. I am testing with 0psi right now. I will increase 5psi each ride until it gets worse then work my way down to find the right pressure. With the 54662-09 and a light weight rider, I do think that 5wt is good.

 

Good to hear! YUP that stock suspension is a back jolter.

Sharp bumps in the road will always be a bit rougher. I find that on the road that have the up and down smooth dips you can really feel the air ride shocks doing their job as the bike floats over them. Speed bumps and small pavement curbs in and out of a parking lot etc...still have a sharpness as you roll over them. BUT I can say that the stock shocks would have HIT much harder over those road types so I know these are working much better and smoothing out the ride.