440 Shock Spring up grade

Idaho Red Rocket 3

Living Legend
Joined
Nov 22, 2008
Messages
5,720
Location
Nampa, Idaho USA
Ride
2006 RIII Standard Bagger w/Fairing
Looking to up grade my Progressive 440 springs. I have the stock springs and would like to change them to the heavy duty springs. What can be done ? What is the procedure to do it ?
 
You need a set of spring compressors , you compress your old spring , remove the keeper , remove spring , installation is just the reverse . I picked up a couple of spring compressors on EBay. I happen to have a set of Progressive Chrome HD springs that I am not using , will sell for $100 & shipping
 
Looking to up grade my Progressive 440 springs. I have the stock springs and would like to change them to the heavy duty springs. What can be done ? What is the procedure to do it ?

Bill,
Go with the 444s w/ HD springs.
DO NOT go with short shocks.
Stay with the 12½" or even 13".
Just my opinion - I could even be right!
 
As long as you are flat footed while sitting on the bike stay with the stock length if you are not the bike is to big for you , few ways to lower -shocks and lower the front also other way get a seat that is not as wide as the stupid stock seat that comes with the bike,if you go with longer shocks just remember it works both ways if it is bad to lower it is bad to raise.
To use the HD springs I hope you have the weight for them if not it will be one rough hard ride.
 

Sorry, Amigo, but I must disagree that raising shock height is as bad as lowering it.
Tis dangerous to lower shock height as it seriously reduces ground clearance and lean angle. Both of which are safety issues.
Raising shock height does no such thing and increases ground clearance and lean angle.
There is nothing wrong with having one flat foot or two toe pads on the ground at a stop.
 
Thanks for your input. I have the stock length (12.5") 440 installed now. I wanted to know what/how to do to change them over to the heavy duty springs in a cost effective manner. Can anyone describe the process ?
 
Any time you touch the height of the bike you are tampering with the work pf people who are paid (and know more than us) to design and engineer the suspension for the bike, some bikes usually high end sport bikes have some adjustment worked into these calculations but most bikes like us common people ride do not, the easiest and safest way to raise or lower a bike is through seat choice this way the suspension is not touched.
Few little tit bits that are conveniently left out when talking about height, raise to much then you should (if doing it correctly) also extend the side stand as is if lowering you should shorten the side stand, if raising or lowering the rear this tampers with the front end suspension as it was not designed for that new height.
Raise the ride height and you jack up the rear, this makes the front tyre work harder and allows the bike to turn quicker, the trade off is a loss of stability.
Lower the ride height and you do the opposite dropping the rear of the bike reduces the load on the front tyre.
Now why do we even have to mess with the suspension, most bikes are designed around a 180# 5'-6' to 5'-10" person now as the height might be a common factor that weight is effed up I have seen a lot of lets say heavy boys on bikes.
Stay stock height mess with the seat to go up or down.
Now getting back to your original question I had two local MC shops try and swap out my progressive springs with no luck I ended up sending them back to progressive and they swapped them for a small charge.
 
I thought I did " You need a set of spring compressors , you compress your old spring , remove the keeper , remove spring , installation is just the reverse . I picked up a couple of spring compressors on EBay.

Thanks Jeff. I see several different designs on Ebay. Do you have a picture of yours ? Is it the one you used to change your progressive shock springs. Are the springs you have for sale for the stock length 12.5 inches ?