I want to lower a 14 Street Glide Special. How do you think the bike will ride and handle with a set of 11.5" Progressive 444 shocks instead of the standard hd 12" premium ride shocks? If anyone can give me any insight I would appreciate it
Thanks

 

I had the prior model 440 Progressives on a 2005 Road King. I liked them a lot. They were 12". I'm considering putting the 444's (12") on my new SG. I think 12" might be better than the 11.5's because of the extra 1/2" of fender/tire clearance...and also, a little more shock-travel (presumably) to help avoid bottoming-out. The difference in look between 11.5 and 12 inch will be very hard to perceive.

I've been looking at the Harley hand-adjustable premium shocks, too. I had such good luck with the 440's though, I think I'll try the 444's over the Harley shocks (which to me are an unknown).

Sorry, this is all personal experience, not a lot of 'scientific' information. But I would suggest the 12" versus 11.5" of anything you get, simply to benefit from the additional shock-travel, and tire/fender clearance.

Alan

 

You wont even notice the 1/2 inch first of all and with the 12 inch shocks you only have 2 inches of suspension travel. Do you really want to reduce that to and inch and a half? The Harley premium shocks are great just spend some time on adjusting them to your needs. If you really want a nice ride buy the premium 13 inch shocks. Thats what I put on mine and it now rides like a touring bike and no one has any idea my bike has them on. You just cant tell by looking unless you point it out.

 

I run the 13.5 444 on my 10 SG and love them as for the extra 1/2 inch (was running 13 harley air shocks) you can not tell the 1/2 in looks but two-up it makes for a much better ride. no more air time over railroad tracks! I also went with the progressive cartridges for the front and really like them as well. the bike is much more "planted" in the turns.
to sum it up: go with as much travel as you can. IMO

 

+1,
their premiums should have been one of the first add ons I had done. I changed to them a month ago and the difference is incredible.
I have zero experience with the progressive's, but they do have a loyal following.

 

No way I would put 11.5" shocks on a touring bike unless I were so inseam challenged I couldn't reach the ground any other way.Even then I'd go with a cut down seat first.The Dyna in my sig pic had 11" shocks, looked good, rode like hell.By the time I sold it I had changed shocks 4 times and ended up with 13" Ricors.Suspension travel is your friend.

 

I am lowering the front end with the 14 premium single cartridge set up, so I wanted to also get the back a little lower as well. I am vertically challenged but I also like the look of the SG when it's lowered. When you sit on the new bikes with these shocks there is vertually no sag whatsoever so i would like to get the bike down so i can flat foot it. Would the 11.5 444's be that big of a difference in the ride?
Thanks Guys

 

Also would 12" Progressive 444 Shocks have more sag then the 12" HD shocks?

 

I had 12" Progressive 440's on my 09 Street Glide. Riding mostly 2up, I think they stunk. To much bottoming out. Currently running the 13" HD Premium Hand adjustable. Night and day difference between these and the 440's.

I just ordered a pair of 944's. They supposedly have 13" of travel but provide a 1" lowered ride height.

I may be selling the 13" HD adjustable in the very near future. If your interested.

 

I would not take the premium ride shocks off just to get a half inch lower. They are great shocks in my opinion. I lowered the front end just one inch with Monotubes and noticed a big difference. If your already planning to lower the front end, I'd try that first before lowering the rear end.