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Better Ride on the Street Glide

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  #31  
Old 09-28-2021 | 09:55 AM
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Originally Posted by Softy 103
Why would the ride be stiffer on a street glide than a road glide, unless you had improvements on the road glide?
Street Glide shocks are an inch shorter than Road Glide.
 
  #32  
Old 09-28-2021 | 10:10 AM
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Just went ahead with the Progressive 444-4020. We will see how they do. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
 
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  #33  
Old 09-28-2021 | 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by RBJones
Street Glide shocks are an inch shorter than Road Glide.
only if you are talking about a road glide ultra. the standard roadglide and specials have the same 12'' suspension.
 
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  #34  
Old 09-28-2021 | 10:36 AM
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I had the RG Ultra. Same year and not modified. In my opinion, this SG rides nothing like that did.
 
  #35  
Old 09-28-2021 | 10:52 AM
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Road Glide, Street Glide, Road Glide Special, or Street Glide Special.... all come with 12" shocks. the bigger touring bikes (with tour packs) come with 13" shocks. When trying to improve the ride/handling, first step is tinkering with the PROPER settings for the shock on the bike... you can make a great shock ride/handle terrible too lol

Seems like peoples natural inclination is to soften it up, and its usually not the answer. Too soft basically gets you to the same place, because it bottoms out and you feel every little thing. Try the proper setting, and a few setting stiffer and softer around that first... but then get your wallet out lol

If you don't have reach issues, going to a 13" shock alone generally helps because of the added travel, and I don't think appearance wise I could tell the difference. Then of course getting shocks with the right spring ratings for your riding load/habits.

I went with 14" SuperShox (with 1" lowering blocks) on the back and Legends up front. The Legends are stiff, but feel so much better than stock. I really only notice the stiffness coming into my driveway, because its basically like going over a rounded curb (get a little pogo-stick feeling). Down the road, even though they are stiffer than stock, the ride is so much better than stock. The SuperShox I toyed with the setting a lot after putting them on. I could set them so soft that solo it was bouncy... like having worn out shocks on a car and it just keeps bobbing. Went with the recommended settings, then went for a ride solo on a stretch of a highway by my house that has 3 long sweepers (concrete slab construction that will get a soft bounce going). When I'd take those sweepers at 90mph or more, I'd get a bit of a wobble going, so I'd stop and stiffen it a couple clicks and hit the sweepers again and repeat. I think I wound up stiffening it 1 full turn from "recommended" and the wobble went away. Just my opinion, but I think it is because this adjusted the front and rear to the same compression/decompression rate. Then just went for a ride and it was great at normal speeds in real daily riding conditions. Got back home and grabbed a neighbor and took her for a ride without adjusting anything. The ride was still good, although a bit softer, and there was no more bottoming out. Over all, day and night difference in ride and handling. The proper settings is important, and too soft or too stiff is just wasting money.

So just be warned, once you change the rear shocks... the front may become your next target. I had first tried the 13" HD hand adjustable from the classifieds on here... they were better than the stock 13" air shocks I had originally, but not by a lot. That was a $250 experiment, and luckily I was able to sell them. So, like others have said, save your money and go with a quality brand the first time, and set them up properly... and I wouldn't waste my money on 12" anything, but thats just my opinion.
 
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  #36  
Old 09-28-2021 | 11:05 AM
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The first thing you need to do is set the proper sag by measuring unladen then laden. It will be different between solo, 2 up, tour pak etc. Get a good pair of 13" shocks and start from there. The stock 12" shocks are junk.
 
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  #37  
Old 09-28-2021 | 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by clancaster23
Do these qualify as higher end? I see a lot of people talking up Legend brand but they are up there in price. I assume I will need the heavy duty set since I'm mostly 2-up? Still go with a 13" set?

Legends 1310-0939 Revo Coil Heavy Duty Suspension - 13in. – Powersport Superstore
yes but whichever shock you get like this you should have built to your specs . It’s gray I did with Motorcycle Metal for my ohlins on my 07 FLHTC and from DK customs with my 14” pro action for my 14 Tri Glide
 
  #38  
Old 09-28-2021 | 11:42 AM
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Originally Posted by clancaster23
BriGlide - I believe I do have that same seat. I think the previous owner had a tour pack on the bike but took it off before trading in and that seat was already on. The wife says she likes the seat (nice and wide like her behind) but she still has a hard time with the bumps.

I'll be taking it to work tomorrow or the next day and drop the suspension down a good bit to see how that does.

I'm leaning towards the Progressive 412's though. I have read a ton of great reviews on them and have a couple buddies also recommend them. I'm assuming I should get the heavy duty ones considering most of the time we will be 2-up? They also have a 13.5" option. Should I consider that or stick with the 13"?


-- I got permission to go up to $600 so that should open up a few more possibilities. While I am still considering those Bitubos that someone recommended. Anyone know what the difference between the Progressive 412 and the 430? Is it worth the $200 difference?
Not sure about you, but 13.5 would give me problem in the Reach department..
 
  #39  
Old 09-28-2021 | 11:46 AM
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Originally Posted by clancaster23
Just went ahead with the Progressive 444-4020. We will see how they do. Thanks for all the help and suggestions.
Please report back to this thread with your impressions of the new shocks. Thanks.
 
  #40  
Old 09-28-2021 | 11:49 AM
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Hopefully you have better luck with the 412s than I did. I'd stick with 13" regardless of what you choose.
 


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