What about the Arnot air ride kit. Comes with the compressor & brackets...I saw it on Tony's Chrome web site when I was looking for shocks to lower my wife's 883. I was thinking of trying it out for her.

 

I just put the 412's on my Nightster, you guys are right not much better than stock.

 

I don't have a pic. I have them on a 2004 Roadster. I bought my bike with 20,000 miles so I don't know how the shocks were when new but I experienced a huge difference. It doesn't bob up and down all the time like the old shocks so I have more control in corners. I think it gives me a little more clearance in corners too, probably because it doesn't bob up and down as much. As for bottoming out, I don't think I've bottomed it yet. If I have it's a much softer experience. I was bottoming the old ones every day, especially when quickly pulling into a parking lot.

 

so from what i read, the only mods i'll need is 1/4 spacer?

 

There are a few good companies out there, here's some links.

You might try looking at Race Tech, YSS, Works Performance, Ohlin, or Penske for shocks and Ricor and Race Tech for the forks.
http://www.racetech.com/page.aspx?id=59&menuid=67
http://www.yssusa.com/
http://www.worksperformance.com/html/home.html
http://www.ohlins.com/Motorcycle/tabid/53/Default.aspx
http://www.motorcyclemetal.com/
http://store.ricorshocks.com/

I have YSS 300mm YSS Z-366TRL's on my other bike and am happy with them.

On the Dyna side many people are happy and swear by Works. Also positive reviews for MotorcycleMetal and their Ohlin and Penske set-ups.

Race Tech, YSS, Works Performance, Ohlin, or Penske dealers can set up the shocks for your weight and riding style when you order, so they are custom fitted to you.

Longer travel will probably by your first step. Then, unfortunately, ride quality is proportion to money spent.

Good luck with your search,
Joe

 

thanks. i'm gonna go the road king route and see how much it improves.

 

How much do you weigh? If you are under 220 they will likely be too stiff for you.

 

yeah, after talking to the guy at the dealer and him telling me about the air shock and keeping them full of well, air, it made me rethink. the RK, the progressive 418s, and 430s, are all listed as "heavy duty", which I read on another board is pretty much a weight issue as FatTony said. I'm only 160, the devilwoman is maybe 130 (i could always find a smaller woman!!!). does this mean i gotta spend around $600 on ohlins or similar? or are the progressive 440s which are on sale for a little over $400 going to give me similar rewards? maybe get 12 or 12.5"440s? i'm hoping someone with ohlins or 440s on a similar bike can chime in here!!!

 

eviltwin415 I think that you have this shock concept a little wrong. First of all, the way every shock company goes about manufacturing their shock and finding their solution is way different. You can not compare the shocks you mentioned to each other because the results are so much different (read ride quality). It is like spending only $2,000 on a defense attorney and be found guilty of murder and spend much more on a defense attorney (like OJ) and get off. I hope you see my point.

There are many posts and members who switched from Progressive to a better shock. There are many who say that the difference between stock and Progressive is not that much if anything. That is your members saying that, not me, search. I just say that any progressive product belongs at the bottom of a garbage can and some other brands should be on top of them.

I would recommend that you spend your time researching this great site through a search and read past postings. There are many as I read every motorcycle performance related thread since I joined. Once you found the posting subject matter, PM your member(s) and I am sure they would be happy to help you.

I will state that this site (HDF) provides you with a pool of the best source of helpful and seasoned riders in the whole wide Internet, period! I would take real world experience over magazine education anytime.

PS; All HDF members qualify for dealer pricing from Ohlins through me. That makes the pricing between progressive and Ohlins only pennies. No other shock company supports this site, no other company offers suspension products that are comparable in side by side testing.