Anyone using Progressive 444 shocks

[kblahetka]

and by pick up the rear I don't mean lifting the wheel off the ground, you just take on the weight of the rear sub frame that is being supported by the shocks

 

[cr0ft]

and by pick up the rear I don't mean lifting the wheel off the ground, you just take on the weight of the rear sub frame that is being supported by the shocks

Yup, I see how it would have to work. Maybe I'll recruit a friend to come help out and see what we can accomplish. How hard can it be? <- famous last words.

 

[kblahetka]

It isn't. It went really quick.

 

[STRIPES]

BTW-Along the same line "Progressive"

Anybody want/need this?

This isn't junk but is in my junk pile. Off a touring. It was almost new when I acquired it several years ago. ...the left-overs from a trike conversion.

Shocks say Progressive. First decent offer gets it. No drive shaft. Just housing. Email me. ken at stripespls dot com

Includes wheel, tire, shocks....all you see.

 

[cr0ft]

Shocks say Progressive. First decent offer gets it. No drive shaft. Just housing. Email me. ken at stripespls dot com

Might want to try the classified section, more people there looking for stuff. The shocks visually look a lot like Progressive 440, the predecessor to the 444 I got.

 

[TriumPhil]

Agreed, they look like 440s. Should be worth about $200-250 for those whose motorcycles use that model# which is a 4 digit number somewhere on the lower housing if the label is still extant.

 

[baadactor]

I am thinking of getting the Progressive 444 shocks. Anyone have opinions on how well they work. Stock shocks are ok but are pretty harsh at level 3 and above and wife does not like harsh. Stock on level 2 the bike has too much bounch in dips. From video on Progessive shocks it looks like they take care of both problems. I had the 440 progressive on a VTX 1800 and it was a great improvement over stock, also had the front Progressive springs.

I am considering the progressive front springs for the Rocket but hate the cost and incovienous of taking to a dealer, closest dealer is 60 miles, and I am not confident that I could do the job without considerable frustration and dismay. Any techs close to Sherman Tx that have some time to spare?

I have a brand new set of the stock size 12.5 " heavy duty Progressive 440-4233 in chrome for sale.

Ooops, I see you're in Europe, and have already purchased the 444's Hope they help!

 

[cr0ft]

Ooops, I see you're in Europe, and have already purchased the 444's Hope they help!

I'm sure they'll be a solid upgrade. Have some minor questions about their longevity (based on what I read about earlier generations) but limited lifetime warranty makes me less apprehensive. Put your 440's in the classifieds!

Shipping to Europe isn't actually that bad, but if the 440's are all steel they're probably 16+ lbs, so that would get expensive. I had to pay $72 to ship these 444's via USPS, the "slow boat" version that takes upwards to two weeks, but it probably was cheaper because these are all aluminium and very light.

 

[cr0ft]

i changed my lowrider shox doing what you suggested and the right side was a breeze the left side not so much. 04 fxdli weighs 650 lbs soaking wet and fox shocks might have been easier to compress.

Well, I changed out the shocks today, got some help from a friend. As you say, the right side is a breeze for two guys - just unbolt and then push the bike harder onto the side-stand and you barely need any force at all, you use the stand as a lever. The left side was a nightmare, it simply isn't doable unless one of you is a contender for the World's Strongest Man competition (and I'm definitely not). My friend had a bright idea though - we took one of the spare car wheels in the garage (winter tyres) and pushed that in under the foot plate to the rear on the right side and then gently leaned the bike onto the tire, turning that into a lever. After that, it was child's play on the left side too, just rock the bike gently onto the tire and pull a little and the shock just slipped into place.

Brief first impression of the 444's - a "cushy firm" ride and it does swallow the annoying small bumps very well. Haven't yet had a chance to get out there and ride them, but so far so good.

Loctited the bolts well, when I went to change the originals the top left bolt had worked itself halfway out...

Still have no idea why the shop manual says to replace the bolts anytime they're removed - they're not in any way load bearing, so what's the point? Still, I did as instructed.

 

[cr0ft]

I really hate the "adjust them by hand turning the top" mechanism on the 444, just for the record. I work in IT, so I don't exactly have strongman hands either, perfectly normal hands - and adjusting the preload up on these is a nightmare on the right side and just a total non-starter on the left. Can't get access with my right hand and the left can't turn it, especially with the shocks under the normal resting load of the bike. What the hell was wrong with having a normal adjusting spanner? I figure I need to find a way to hoist the rear wheel off the ground in order to adjust the preload now, and of course - no lift.