944's or how I stopped worrying and loved my motorcycle
#11
04-11-2018 | 07:44 PM
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 4,931
Likes: 610
From: Kansas City, Missouri
Yea this. I bought a set new never could get them adjusted to my liking. Sold them at a loss. Next time I get the extra cash I'm giving Howard a shout.
#12
04-11-2018 | 08:28 PM
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 2,002
Likes: 254
From: Seattle
You don't need to lower the front if you lower the rear one inch.
I have the 944's on my 03 RKC right now. I have a pair of ohlins 3-3's as well. Just need to be re-valved. Ohlins are 5x better than stock air shocks. The 944's are 3x better than stock. I don't like the lowered 944 though as I will scrape in aggressive riding.
For $700, I would contact howard and pick up his budget Ohlins. Not sure what they can be had for with forum discount, but not much more than that. And by budget, they are still going to be leaps and bounds better than most of what can be had.
Otherwise, I'd look at Revo, Pro-Action ($800), and Bitubo from DK Customs are a solid shock for a heckuva price around $500.
I'd by and large skip the 944's. Only reason I got them is for the down time when I send my Ohlins off for re-valving and I picked them up used for $200 on the forum here.
I have the 944's on my 03 RKC right now. I have a pair of ohlins 3-3's as well. Just need to be re-valved. Ohlins are 5x better than stock air shocks. The 944's are 3x better than stock. I don't like the lowered 944 though as I will scrape in aggressive riding.
For $700, I would contact howard and pick up his budget Ohlins. Not sure what they can be had for with forum discount, but not much more than that. And by budget, they are still going to be leaps and bounds better than most of what can be had.
Otherwise, I'd look at Revo, Pro-Action ($800), and Bitubo from DK Customs are a solid shock for a heckuva price around $500.
I'd by and large skip the 944's. Only reason I got them is for the down time when I send my Ohlins off for re-valving and I picked them up used for $200 on the forum here.
#13
04-11-2018 | 11:36 PM
Thread Starter
|
Novice
Joined: Sep 2017
Posts: 17
Likes: 1
From: CO
Thank you
Wow, what a response. I contacted motorcycle metal, and will probably go that route. I forgot to mention that I am already getting the front end replaced with progressive cartridges. I was just thinking about getting the rear-end done also. Thanks again for the great feedback. Appreciate it.
#14
04-12-2018 | 03:56 AM
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,246
Likes: 122
From: Watertown, CT
#15
04-12-2018 | 06:11 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 23,520
Likes: 7,187
From: Snow Hill, NC
Wow, what a response. I contacted motorcycle metal, and will probably go that route. I forgot to mention that I am already getting the front end replaced with progressive cartridges. I was just thinking about getting the rear-end done also. Thanks again for the great feedback. Appreciate it.
#16
04-12-2018 | 06:25 AM
Banned
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 607
Likes: 106
From: Dark Side of the Moon
Agree on the stuff Motorcycle Metal offers.
If you have an iPhone, you can request desktop site for this forum site (or any web site really). Not sure about the Android stuff though.
Originally Posted by Kennebec
But I'm on mobile and am finding it difficult to properly search.
Last edited by Ex-Leftcoaster; 04-12-2018 at 06:30 AM. Reason: typo
#17
04-12-2018 | 07:47 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 42,698
Likes: 26,173
From: PNW
Why would you even consider 944s if you don't want to lower the bike? - that's what they are for - lowering.
Take a look at the Progressive 444s. They are well under your budget (easy to find under $500) and work great. I had Ohlins and didn't like them. I tried a buddy's bike that had 444HDs on it and liked the way it rides so I got myself a pair and sold off the Ohlins. I love my bike now.
Take a look at the Progressive 444s. They are well under your budget (easy to find under $500) and work great. I had Ohlins and didn't like them. I tried a buddy's bike that had 444HDs on it and liked the way it rides so I got myself a pair and sold off the Ohlins. I love my bike now.
#18
04-12-2018 | 09:48 AM
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2005
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 38
From: Central Florida
Why would you even consider 944s if you don't want to lower the bike? - that's what they are for - lowering.
Take a look at the Progressive 444s. They are well under your budget (easy to find under $500) and work great. I had Ohlins and didn't like them. I tried a buddy's bike that had 444HDs on it and liked the way it rides so I got myself a pair and sold off the Ohlins. I love my bike now.
Take a look at the Progressive 444s. They are well under your budget (easy to find under $500) and work great. I had Ohlins and didn't like them. I tried a buddy's bike that had 444HDs on it and liked the way it rides so I got myself a pair and sold off the Ohlins. I love my bike now.
#19
04-12-2018 | 10:14 AM
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 42,698
Likes: 26,173
From: PNW
I got the 444's as well and like them. I also put in the progressive front spring replacements as well to go with it. Very happy with it. I'm sure a customized Ohlins setup would be better but the Progressive's were good enough for me and improved things tremendously over the stock setup. Also relatively cheap.
After that I was pretty discouraged. I mentioned it to a friend who had a similar bike with Progressive 444HDs. When we traded, I loved how his bike rode. I immediately bought the 444HDs and put them on the bike - night and day difference.
That said, I sold the Ohlins to a HDF member who said he loved them.
My point - some people like Ohlins. Some people like Legend. Some people like Pro Action. As for you and I (and a LOT of others), we like Progressive. Ohlins are extremely well made shocks. But so are Progressive. The obvious advantage to the Ohlins is that they are rebuildable. Progressives are not. But they do have a lifetime warranty. And I feel they are very well made.