I have 2008 1200 low. What are some good suspension up grades to give it a better ride.

 

Depends on your budget. Progressive products are great and they have shocks for for every budget. I took some good advise from members here and recently put some 412's on my Iron and I'm extremely pleased.

**Edit** I also did my front springs at the same time, again used Progressive, and the front forks don't dive and eats the bumps much better too.

 

Hi from the UK and welcome to HDF. You'll find that shocks get plenty of discussion in here, if you care to look back through recent threads. There are also many possibilities open to you. In the case of my SuperLow, a sort of 883 version of your bike, I have raised the suspension at both ends and fitted longer new shocks.

There are three problems we suffer from. One is that sag in the front forks takes up much of the total fork travel (unless you are feather light!). Another is that with low ride height the rear shocks have very little total travel. Finally, the quality of damping at both ends is very poor!

The front end can be improved by simply restoring ride height, so that sag is reduced to around 1/3rd of total travel (on my bike sag was 2/3rds when new). I have Hagon shocks, but there are many other brands.

 

Mustang seat and 13" shocks on my 1200 low made a magnitude of improvement - also replaced the stock fork oil with SE, but the springs are still stock. For any further perceived improvement it would probably take higher end (and more expensive) shocks (these are standard HD shocks). For that kind of money I'd rather buy a 2->1 exhaust. But if you weigh a lot or ride two up the high end shocks might be justified.

Lots of people swear by installing the RK air shocks - just don't like the look of them so didn't go that route.

 

The shocks on a sportster low are there to lower the bike but at the expense of ride quality,the answer is to have longer shocks,generally speaking the more you pay the better the quality.Your decision.

 

Ride quality and suspension is a popular subject across the entire range of Harleys. The plain fact is that the MoCo cheaps out on suspension for all but a few models (like my FXDXT), leaving us with the challenge of sorting the problem out. Even on the more expensive bikes it is a sensitive subject, as the solutions are - you guessed - expensive! For Sporty owners the cost is proportionally even more expensive, relative to the cost of the bike. Unfortunately I have yet to read a definitive discussion that we can all point to, that provides us with the solution on a plate.

 

I want to put 412's on my iron too but im not sure if im gonna go with 11.5 or the 12 inch one on the back. Do you find with the 12.5 you put on ur bike the back end is up in the air more????

thanks

 

Coco, just remember that since the shocks are mounted at an angle just about half or so of the additional length raises the bike. I tun 13.5" 440's on my 1200-C

 

for some reason i cant look at the pic you posted but ya it makes sence what u saying so i think ill go with 12 or 12.5" max. do they really improve the ride that much??

thanks for your input

 

It for sure raised the *** end. I went from 11" to 12.5". I didn't like the new ride height but did like the improved ride. I solved this by purchasing a 1" lower kit from DK Customs. So I basically am riding at 1/2" above stock now. I also replaced my front springs, but kept the original fork oil. All in all she rides MUCH better.

I just need some handle bar risers and I'll be all dialed in!