New Rear Shock suggestions

I *think* I currently have progressive 412s (installed by previous owner). They are lowering compared to stock. I am honestly not a fan of them at all. Looking at Gazi currently.

I'm in Iowa where anything other than interstate can be rough and I am just under 300 pounds. (context for not liking 412s)

I'm Mr Cheapo so I cannibalized and old Valkyrie and stripped it's Progressive 440s. Gave her the stock Triumph and sold the bike.
Love them 440. Set at softest setting + a 225/60 CT... mmm mmm . If a bird wishes to ride, Ill raise them to #2 or 3, depending on the size of the bust.

Found a set of comfort ride Triumph, cheap, <100$ and put in a new Valkyrie. Love them. Also set at softest preload.

Kevin,

You a big un. I am a tall and big un too, around 300. Progressive 440 was the first time I felt like I had a rear suspension under me. And, I promise you will notice the difference immediately. So change um! If your inseam is greater than 34, opt for the inch taller progressive 440. Just trust me you need extra seat height and taller shocks will add comfort.

ChrisACT said:

OK, I took the Rocket for its first ride today with the new YSS shocks.

They're really hard. Much harder than the stock shocks. I'm going to have to dial the preload off quite a bit. Static sag is only about 10-15mm which is way too little.



I'm 110kgs so not a lightweight either.

The damping is much more controlled than the stock shocks so at least that's a plus. I may need to back the rebound off a bit too. There's no wallowing after bumps at all the way the stockers did. It dips and recovers, that's it.

So adjustment is required but they seem to be headed in the right direction.

If backing off the preload isn't enough, I'll have to have softer springs fitted to them.

The extra height in them does seem to assist turning into corners. It does feel sharper. But with being so hard in the rear (ooh, err), any bump in the corners makes the rear end jump around which is not confidence inspiring when you're having a proper go.

Will update you once I make the changes and take it out for a ride.

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I would recommend doing the front as well the difference is unbelievable.
I had mine for over 13 years and put progressive kit in after 6 years.
I wish I did it much earlier.
The kits are cheep to

MikeCR said:

I *think* I currently have progressive 412s (installed by previous owner). They are lowering compared to stock. I am honestly not a fan of them at all. Looking at Gazi currently.

I'm in Iowa where anything other than interstate can be rough and I am just under 300 pounds. (context for not liking 412s)

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Back when I was new to my R3R, I 0got a set of those 412s.
Can you spell P-O-S?
They lasted ONE day & then went dumpster diving!
Progressive would not take them back or even allow me credit towards an upgrade.

Took the Rocket for a 1,500km ride on the weekend. Not much in the way of corner scratching on this on. Just lots of long, flat, open roads with long sweepers out in the mid west of New South Wales.

The town I went to has a population of 109 and it's nearest neighbour 130kms away has a population of 15. I could almost hear banjos.

Anyway, I wound the preload and rebound all the way down as I suggested I would in my previous post. It made the rear comfortable enough on nice roads but still fairly firm. Two up it would be great.

The issue here is that the front still wallows like the Titanic while the rear is nice and firm.

Going around long sweepers at ludicrous speed results in the bike developing quite a weave if there are any bumps or undulations. It's awfully scary at 200kph.

I will have to get the front sorted so it behaves more like the rear and keeps the bike more balanced.

On the bright side, the rear shocks didn't bottom out when I got airborne over a cattle grid at about 170. The front when boing-oing-oing-oing but the back end just landed and stuck and didn't punch my spine up through the base of my skull.

I may still need to get softer springs for these shocks but they're now in the ballpark and I reckon the damping is great.

Dr.D said:

The stuff I bought was terrible expensive. Worth it? I reckon.

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Hi Doc. Did Race Tech tell you the spring rate for those rears? Sounds like they sold you a race set-up. If you can let me know what they are, I may be able to help you get all this sorted out. If they didn't or won't tell you what the spring rate is, measure the outside diameter of the spring, the diameter of the spring wire, the total number of turns of wire from tip to tip to 1/4 of a turn accuracy (number of winds around the shock,) and the length of the spring when you are off the bike. From this info I can calculate the approximate rate. If they are way out of line, there are generally less expensive, softer replacements to be had.

I will be at Maggie Valley so we can tweak some then too.

Speedy said:

Hi Doc. Did Race Tech tell you the spring rate for those rears? Sounds like they sold you a race set-up. If you can let me know what they are, I may be able to help you get all this sorted out. If they didn't or won't tell you what the spring rate is, measure the outside diameter of the spring, the diameter of the spring wire, the total number of turns of wire from tip to tip to 1/4 of a turn accuracy (number of winds around the shock,) and the length of the spring when you are off the bike. From this info I can calculate the approximate rate. If they are way out of line, there are generally less expensive, softer replacements to be had.

I will be at Maggie Valley so we can tweak some then too.

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I would like you to look at the bike in MV.

I’ll look at them and take some measurements and pics.