New progressives on back

[GS1100GLMLA]

I put progessive shocks on the back of my GS1100GL and with the softest setting it only squishes down about 1/2" from no load to with me sitting on it(170 lbs.). Does that sound about right or are the springs to stiff? They are the 412-4222C from progressive. I have the progressive front springs ordered but they haven't arrived yet.

[Steve]

Sounds good to me.

Consider that there is probably only 3 inches of total travel. That leaves you 2.5 inches of travel left to soak up the bumps.

Or, if you really want to drop more, I will gladly trade my wife's shocks from her 850. I think they drop 1/2 inch, just taking the bike off the center stand. Add in the fact that they are worn-out stockers with NO damping, and they bottom out going over tar strips.


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[twr1776]

Progressive has two suffix's for the shocks on the L models. The -4211C is standard duty and the -4212C is heavy duty. I got the standard duty -4211C for my 1000L since I use that as my solo bike. I have not checked the sag but on the lowest pre-load setting I have not bottomed it out yet. I am about 175 lbs. If you are considering tires as well go with the Pirelli Sport Demons and you will not believe the handling difference. I am not a peg scraper but the new tires and suspension will put a smile on your face and make you wonder why you did not do them sooner.

[GS1100GLMLA]

Steve, I just changed out the original shocks to the new progessives. Big difference. I took it for a long spirited ride yesterday after work and with the new progressives on back and the original springs in front, I could really notice the back handling well but the front was real weak. The front squishes down about 2" as compared to the backs 1/2". Hopefully the new front progressive springs will arrive today and I can put them on tomorrow.

[bwringer]

Are you measuring static sag with NO weight on the rear (bike on centerstand, rear wheel in the air) and then with you on it? The difference between these measurements should be about 1/4 to 1/3 of total travel.

If your first measurement is with the bike on the kickstand, then there's a significant amount of weight on the rear already. Add yourself, and another 1/2 inch or so sounds about right.

[GS1100GLMLA]

bwringer,

I was measuring with the bike on the center stand and the rear wheel off the ground (13.25" center to center eye) to off the center stand with me sitting on it. (12.75" center to center). I did the front the same way. Off the ground to with me sitting on it was 2" difference.

[82Shafty]

How does your bike handle with the front progressives?

[salty_monk]

Mine handles very well with them.....

I've just got a set of progressive rears.... hoping the 90-130lb spring is man enough for my 1000G & my 165lb a**

Dan

[tconroy]

I have progressives front and rear and it is exellent! You can be as agressive as you want or load it up and cruize all day! They are stiff in the back and I have them on the lowest setting.I have bags and always have them loaded down.

[salty_monk]

That's good to know, they recommend the 95 - 140's for my G. Actually I can't find this spring in their book....

Made in Canada - well who'd have thunk it!

[robertob]

I haven't seen anyone mention it, but what's important is the sag at the wheel not at the shock.

You might have 1/2 inch at the shock but 1 at the wheel.

Like bwringer said you want to have 1/4 or so of the travel used up with static sag (you on the bike, with your gear).

Also, you can't measure sag by yourself very accurately, because you need both feet on the pegs and both hands on the bars. Ideally you have a friend hold the bike steady and measure the wheel sag while you sit on it.

[salty_monk]

Put a couple of small cable ties on the shock shaft... when you get off they'll be at the point where it sat at (as long as you don't bounce on it).

Old mountain bike trick. If you have it apart you can put an o ring on the shaft & leave it there permanently.

Dan

Dan

[Steve]

Put a couple of small cable ties on the shock shaft...

Still not quite right. That still measures the sag at the shock, not at the wheel. Ideally, you need three people to do this. You to sit on the bike, one person straddling the front wheel, hoding the bike vertical, and a third person to do the measuring.


I would like to put Progressives on my wife's bike, but I need to talk to them to find which ones would work that are about an inch or so shorter. I have not measured how much they sag now, but she is far from flat-footing it, even with the excessive sag in the front, too. Yeah, she's "vertically challenged", but handles the bike just fine. I'd like to find the shorter shocks for the rear, then add Progressive springs in the forks and slide them up in the triple trees as far as practical to get near the ride height she has now.

In this picture, the preload was cranked to the max on the shocks because we were coming back from a week-long trip. The saddlebags had their usual stuff, the trunk was loaded, but not full, and the clothes in the soft luggage on the rear seat made up her back rest, and she's still not flat-footing it.


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