I have a question to add into this one, what is everyone switching to while keeping the stock seat height? I'm 5'1" and can't go any lower. My wife and I are about 340lbs combined. I know HD has low profile two-up shocks as well, but I heard they aren't the greatest, any other recommendations?

 

try streetglide air shocks (ebay) and 1" lowering blocks (also find on ebay). measure your stock shocks and see how long they are. i think the street glide shocks are 12" add the 1" lowering blocks...11" total. and the ride will be way better than the stock shocks. you can do a search on the air shocks on sporties. good luck

 

My '08 1200C is getting the best of my lower back. After the first 2500 spine-jarring miles, I put Progressive 412s on and I find they are no different from stock. I've also tried different tire pressure and have tried all shock settings, and still feel every bump in the road. Has anyone put Ohlins or Air Tracker shocks on their sporty? I love everything else about the bike. There has got to be a way to make the ride right.....any ideas?
Thanks,
Doug

 

My wife and I are 300 lbs combined. I adjust the preload to the tightest setting when we go two up and have no problems with bottoming out. It only takes a minute with a $10.00 spanner wrench available at the dealer. Progressive shocks are in the future though.

 

When I had my sporty I found some road king air shocks (by showa) that were brand new take offs from a new bike that the dealer lowered for a short customer. Took about 30 minutes to install, you do have to add a few washers to keep the shock from rubbing.

For 50 bucks it was the best mod I did on my sporty. Whenever the wife rode I just added some air to the shocks. The ride was much better for 2 up and a little better then stock for solo. It will always be a sportster ride no matter what you do. All you can do is improve it a bit.

 

Doug, as fun as the sporty is...I see a dyna in your future. Just as fun as the sporty but much better for 2 up. We put up with it for 2 years and finally bought a new dyna superglide custom. The wife loves to ride even longer now and is very happy. And if the wife is happy....

No matter how much you spend in suspension upgrades you will never get a decent ride out of it with 2 up. Don't spend thousands on it and then trade it in. Go try a dyna at the dealer.

 

i put one inch longer shocks on mine... went with custom built shocks by works performance- yes more expensive, but they fit me and my +2 perfectly and i can easily adjust then with a very easy twist of my wrist.
i have never bottomed out on these and the bike handles much better too.

i even like the look- it does not look like it sits any higher: