Progressive 444 Shocks on TriGlide

[dolamiti]

So at 400lbs (approx.) weight of me and the wife plus 60lbs of traveling stuff, 460lbs would 4 turns be ok in your estimation?

thanks for any advice/comments

Diesel

 

[Gorilla]

i bet it will be close

 

[dolamiti]

Spring Rate

The spring rate for the Progressive 416's are 125/180 lbs per inch. I think that means that it takes 125 lbs to compress the spring 1 inch, then 180 lbs for the additional compression.
On the other hand, the Progressive 444's are 105/150 lbs per inch. So I'm thinking that the 444's are a little more softer and should handle the bumps better with less jarring? Make sense?
comments/advice are appreciated.

Diesel

 

[Gorilla]

Diesel. as previously posted I was one of the first to do this change. I have 17k on my trike since the change. Have ridden to Ottawa Canada from Key Largo Fl. and several places in between plus the Blue Ridge Mountains. I pre loaded them with 3 complete turns and mounted them up side down. I ride solo except when we are in a town and my wife and I ride 2 up. Our total weight is 380 lbs plus both the trunk and tour pack are full. Bottom line I love them.

 

[dolamiti]

Shocks

Diesel. as previously posted I was one of the first to do this change. I have 17k on my trike since the change. Have ridden to Ottawa Canada from Key Largo Fl. and several places in between plus the Blue Ridge Mountains. I pre loaded them with 3 complete turns and mounted them up side down. I ride solo except when we are in a town and my wife and I ride 2 up. Our total weight is 380 lbs plus both the trunk and tour pack are full. Bottom line I love them.

You sold me Gorilla! I was going to keep my 416's but I'll pick up a set of the 444's next month. I can probably take it out of my social security check, I think.....LOL
Thanks for all the good info......
Diesel

 

[dolamiti]

Shocks

Gorilla, when you got the shocks from Progressive, were they all the way down? So if not, did you turn the knob down all the way until it stopped, then turned it 3 complete revolutions?

diesel

 

[dolamiti]

Progressive 444-4020B Shocks

You sold me Gorilla! I was going to keep my 416's but I'll pick up a set of the 444's next month. I can probably take it out of my social security check, I think.....LOL
Thanks for all the good info......
Diesel

I'll be putting them on this afternoon here in Michigan. I will give you guys my findings........
I'm sure hoping for the best.................
Diesel

 

[NHBAGGER]

I'll be putting them on this afternoon here in Michigan. I will give you guys my findings........
I'm sure hoping for the best.................
Diesel

This will be a good info comparison for the rest of us.

 

[dolamiti]

Progressive 444-4020B Shocks

Just got done with the installation. Took a 25 mile ride down Telegraph here in Michigan. Telegraph is heavily traveled with trucks and such. So much that there are puckers in the road every 50 feet or so...these "road bumps" are a pain to ride over. So with the Progressive air shocks, the front tire would hit and that's ok, not too much you can do about that. But when the rear tires hit, holy cow, the jarring effect and shock would really pound up. We lived with that until this forum.

The 444's are un-believable I turned them 3 1/2 full turns from the bottom and they appear perfect. I really won't know exactly where the pre load will wind up as I will have to wait until I get the mrs and our luggage for traveling. Probably another 200lbs.
But for now the ride is 300% better than with the air shocks. Man, they smoothed out the bumps in the road and I can really feel the difference.

Ride safe,
diesel

 

[msocko3]

Just got done with the installation. Took a 25 mile ride down Telegraph here in Michigan. Telegraph is heavily traveled with trucks and such. So much that there are puckers in the road every 50 feet or so...these "road bumps" are a pain to ride over. So with the Progressive air shocks, the front tire would hit and that's ok, not too much you can do about that. But when the rear tires hit, holy cow, the jarring effect and shock would really pound up. We lived with that until this forum.

The 444's are un-believable I turned them 3 1/2 full turns from the bottom and they appear perfect. I really won't know exactly where the pre load will wind up as I will have to wait until I get the mrs and our luggage for traveling. Probably another 200lbs.
But for now the ride is 300% better than with the air shocks. Man, they smoothed out the bumps in the road and I can really feel the difference.

Ride safe,
diesel

Glad o hear its an improvement, sooner or later Harley will wise up and move away from the air shocks, they did with the air in the forks on the touring. There have been quite a few on 2 wheel who have dumped the air shocks and found a better ride can be had.

 

[geezerglide11441]

Glad o hear its an improvement, sooner or later Harley will wise up and move away from the air shocks, they did with the air in the forks on the touring. There have been quite a few on 2 wheel who have dumped the air shocks and found a better ride can be had.

:Agree:, get rid of the air shocks and you will not be sorry!! Also suggest the Progressive Mono-Tube front fork kit as well.

Roger

 

[obritt]

Progressive 444-4020B

Will the Progressive 444-4020B fit a 2014 TRi Glide? Also it sounds like they are pretty stiff. Is that the case or are they softer than the stock air shocks. This sounds like something i'm interested in but would like to know more before spending this much money.

 

[dolamiti]

2014 TriGlide

Will the Progressive 444-4020B fit a 2014 TRi Glide?

Yes, Progressive lists their 416-1643A air shocks for the 2014. My 2009 took the same shock so the 444-4020B Heavy Duty will fit.....let me know if you need any more info................
Diesel

- - - Updated - - -

Yes, Progressive lists their 416-1643A air shocks for the 2014. My 2009 took the same shock so the 444-4020B Heavy Duty will fit.....let me know if you need any more info................
Diesel

It might have been a little confusing. What I meant is that if the shock that progressive sells for your 2014 Triglide is the same as my 09, then the mounting will be the same. Just remember and get the 13inch heavy duty one....hope this explains better........Diesel

 

[obritt]

Thanks Diesel, That answers one question. I guess what I'm asking is my wife says she thinks the trike rides rougher than my Ultra did. Do these shocks give it a smoother ride. The roads in Louisiana are pretty bad in most cases.

 

[dolamiti]

Shocks

Thanks Diesel, That answers one question. I guess what I'm asking is my wife says she thinks the trike rides rougher than my Ultra did. Do these shocks give it a smoother ride. The roads in Louisiana are pretty bad in most cases.

The trike does ride a lot rougher than a two wheeler. With the Harley straight axle and the two automotive tires it will telegraph the bumps in the road much rougher. What we are trying to do is make our straight axle trikes a little more softer when the rear tires hit a rough spot in the road, and not worry about adding air all the time whether you are loaded down or riding solo. These 444's do absorb the bumps a little better than the air shock. The progressive air shocks (which I owned before I went with the 444's) were more stiff than these 444's. I could tell the immediate difference when I put on the 444's. I could push down on the rear fender and the bike would compress a little more. That told me that it would be a softer ride. But remember, nothing will be softer with our trikes, it's the nature of the animal. Harley should offer the triglide with independent suspension, that would help out a lot. just my $.02.................Diesel

 

[obritt]

Shocks

Thanks for the information. I think I'll give them a try. Just one more question. Most people are saying to turn them three turns before they install them. I'm assuming the more turns the stiffer the ride?

 

[dolamiti]

shocks

Thanks for the information. I think I'll give them a try. Just one more question. Most people are saying to turn them three turns before they install them. I'm assuming the more turns the stiffer the ride?

You are correct. Start off with 3 full turns from the bottom. Put a white mark (paint ) on them and crank them. Me and the Mrs are around 410lbs. rider weight. With approx. 50lbs of luggage at 460lbs. I just turned mine today to 4 complete turns and that seem better for the pre-load.
I just got off the phone with progressive and they are working on a set of 444's just for the trike...he said to check back with him in the fall. They will probably go with another spring type and dampener inside. I asked him if I could swap out the spring in mine for the new one and he was not sure about it.....they finally are making a non-air shock for our heavy bikes. I'm sure I will keep my 444's I have in their now....they are pretty close to setting the ride sag at between .80 and 1.20 inches. He said the same adjustment will apply to the 444's. Here is the instruction manual for setting up the 416 air shocks....just turn the adjustment knob for setting the ride sag instead of using air....hope this helps....Diesel
http://www.progressivesuspension.com/pdfs/3068-109 Tri-Glide Air Shocks Instructions.pdf

 

[obritt]

Shocks

Thanks, you have been very helpful. I will let you know how I like them. Me and my better half are headed for Key West in June, so that will give them a good test. Have a great day and thanks again for the information.

 

[geezerglide11441]

You are correct. Start off with 3 full turns from the bottom. Put a white mark (paint ) on them and crank them. Me and the Mrs are around 410lbs. rider weight. With approx. 50lbs of luggage at 460lbs. I just turned mine today to 4 complete turns and that seem better for the pre-load.
I just got off the phone with progressive and they are working on a set of 444's just for the trike...he said to check back with him in the fall. They will probably go with another spring type and dampener inside. I asked him if I could swap out the spring in mine for the new one and he was not sure about it.....they finally are making a non-air shock for our heavy bikes. I'm sure I will keep my 444's I have in their now....they are pretty close to setting the ride sag at between .80 and 1.20 inches. He said the same adjustment will apply to the 444's. Here is the instruction manual for setting up the 416 air shocks....just turn the adjustment knob for setting the ride sag instead of using air....hope this helps....Diesel
http://www.progressivesuspension.com/pdfs/3068-109 Tri-Glide Air Shocks Instructions.pdf

Diesel, in your conversation w/Progressive when they advised you they were working on a 444 shock for the Trike, did they happen to say/mention whether or not they would be mounting them upside down??

Roger

 

[dolamiti]

Progressive

Diesel, in your conversation w/Progressive when they advised you they were working on a 444 shock for the Trike, did they happen to say/mention whether or not they would be mounting them upside down??

Roger

No Roger, they didn't say...that's a good question...if I find out...I will post.....
diesel

 

[geezerglide11441]

No Roger, they didn't say...that's a good question...if I find out...I will post.....
diesel

Thanks Diesel, will appreciate the answer!!

Roger

 

[dolamiti]

444's shocks

Just spoke with Progressive about the new 444's for the triglide coming in the fall. They will mount the same as the ones we have on there now; upside down so you can reach and adjust the knob more easily. They are working on a new spring, probably a little bit heavy then the one in there now (heavy duty). I'm going to keep the ones I have in there, no sense changing them, unless we hear better reports that the new ones are far superior......

diesel

 

[geezerglide11441]

Just spoke with Progressive about the new 444's for the triglide coming in the fall. They will mount the same as the ones we have on there now; upside down so you can reach and adjust the knob more easily. They are working on a new spring, probably a little bit heavy then the one in there now (heavy duty). I'm going to keep the ones I have in there, no sense changing them, unless we hear better reports that the new ones are far superior......

diesel

:Agree: Dorsal, mine are working fine at 3 turns and there are additional adjustment on the ones I have so I don't see needing a stronger spring!!

i.e. If it ain't broke, don't fix it!!

Thanks for for the information come back, and ride safe!!

Roger