"everyone knows stock shocks on Sporsters are terrible ."

OP - After 5 Sportsters and 60K miles how come I don't know that nor agree with that opinion at all. 11 XL1200C Low, 03 883R, 09 XR1200, 14 XL1200T Superlow and a 16 XL1200 Roadster.

All ride and handle great. My 77 year old decrepit arthritic body has no problem riding them around the North American Continent.

Or then maybe your Sporsters is a different brand of bike than my Sportsters.

 

My hats off to you. I'm 41, 6'2" 215 and my stock suspension was killing the joy of riding. even a minor bump in the road was transferred directly to my spine. big bumps nearly bucked me off. I tried adjusting the stock shocks to no avail - alas, the 444's and front springs/ fluid change made all the difference in the world

 

The ones that have trouble with stock shocks will far and away be more than the ones that don't.

 

I stand corrected then and should of said in many riders opinion

 

I have a XL1200T which came with a single sided adjustable emulsion shock. According to the manual I am not heavy enough for any adjustment and on my own I get no sag. Two up and adding some preload it seemed to work. With preload I would get bumped out of the saddle.

I now have Progressive 430s with standard springs and do get sag and can freely adjust preload. These work much better for my weight.

With either I can't say my ride was or is a bone shaker.