The question is the following

What is the travel length of 12" stock sportster shock vs a 12" touring air shock vs a 12" progressive 412.

Which one will give us better clearance and travel?

Many thanks

 

Is this a trick question? All 12" shocks are 12 inches. Now, if you're playing with preload and rider sag, you'll get differences, but basic travel length is the same.

 

All the shocks have different travel lengths. This varies based on internal clearances and bump stop rubbers, etc. The major difference is their load capacity/spring, especially when comparing the touring shocks to the sportster ones.

There are just way too many variations to really give you an accurate answer unless you want a specific shock answered. The 12" Sportster shock will probably have the most travel/clearance, but you're not really getting much out of a 12" shock.

The real clearance and travel comes in the 13.5" shocks or more.

 

If you dig around in Progressive Suspension's website you will find that their 12" 412 has 2.9" of travel. I don't think I've seen any data for Harley shocks, but I doubt if any of their 12" shocks have any more travel, probably less than a 412. Why do you ask?

 

This is an air shock. The blue arrow points to a Penske 46mm Piston that I put in for comparison. The stroke is 2". The Progressive 412 has a larger piston but has no piston rings unlike this OEM air shock. This means that the 412 runs steel on steel. This picture is what is in the air shock to dispel any misnomers of how an air shock works. These are undoubtedly the best shocks in the high $12.00 money can buy. All three of your choices will perform equally in the scheme of things.

 

First, many thanks to the first professors replying.

Why do I ask?

My current 12" stock shocks are letting my tire to rub the rear fender when 2up for a few millimeters.
If the travel of the air shocks or 412 was less than the stock I could potentially get the chance to stay at 12" and avoid rubibg the fender.....otherwise I go for 12.5" which I dought it exist in touring stock.

 

This is a tutorial, thanks

 

The stock 11.5" shocks on my Custom have 2.12" travel. That's probably a worldwide motorcycle record for the least amount of travel on a full-sized bike. Pathetic.

I just put 13.0" Progressive 412 series shocks on and they have 3.77" travel with 70/120 lbs/inch compression rates. The ride is definitely better, but still not nearly as good as a Touring Harley. The 412 series also comes in a "HD" version which is recommended if most of your riding time is 2-up. Same travel but the rates go to 90/130 lbs/inch.

The rear end is raised a smidge over an inch with these 1.5" longer shocks (because of the angle of the shocks) which makes it look less like it's dragging its butt on the pavement. Lots of guys prefer the dragging butt look, but not me. So I'm happy.

 

OP

Is the preload adjusted to the stiffest setting when two up? If not then that will fix it unless you are over the GAWR. Last camping trip I did I was one pound under GVWR and with my preload set all the way up I never bottomed out for 1500 miles.

Is the tire taller than stock? Are you still riding on the factory softest preload setting? If you are loading the bike heavier than GVWR or GAWR then no shocks will help you. First thing we need to know is the exact weight you are putting on the rear axle and if the tire is the same height or taller than it was designed for.

 

Just had along discussion with Dave at Hagon UK,he explained to me why certain sportser models have such crap suspension,basically the shocks are too short and therefore don't have enough travel,the exception being the Iron,and XR.he said for the shocks to work properly they need to be at least 13"after he talked me through all their variants and no pressure from him decided to go for these, they are being handbuilt to my specifications.
http://www.hagonshocksusa.com/nitro.htm