Progressive vs Legend vs DK Customs

[Rabbittown]

I (new to trikes) just recently purchased a 2020 Triglide that came with air suspension. I thought that it would provide a soft ride, but it doesn’t. The shocks bottom out at max inflation when hitting potholes, RR tracks, etc. I’ll be riding 1up probably 40-50% of the time. I’ve been looking at Progressive 444, Legend Revo A, and Dk Custom 14” with lift kit. Any experience shared with these brands would be greatly appreciated or if you had one of these brands and switched to the any mentioned. Thanks.

 

[RKplus10]

I ( new to trikes) just recently purchased a 2020 Triglide that came with air suspension. I thought that it would provide a soft ride, but it doesn’t. The shocks bottom out at max inflation when hitting potholes, RR tracks, etc. I’ll be riding 1up probably 40-50% of the time. I’ve been looking at Progressive 444, Legend Revo A, and Dk Custom 14” with lift kit. Any experience shared with these brands would be greatly appreciated or if you had one of these brands and switched to the any mentioned. Thanks.

I would suggest trying about 22psi in you shocks and 22 psi in your rear tires for starters. I’m using the Bitubo shocks from DK and very pleased. You’ll get a lot of recommendations here but any quality coil over will be a big improvement. DK has their test results on their site.

 

[trikechuck]

I don't have any aftermarket shocks on my TriGlide, but can confirm the 22 psi in the rear tires had a big positive impact on ride quality.

 

[nucseal]

Welcome to Trike Talk

I ride 2020 Tri Glide. I hated HD suspension. I have Progressive Shocks and lift kit from Dk Customs bought before DK Customs came out with there 14" NexGen Shocks. The progressive change the whole ride, much more comfortable. My hearing and reading the NexGen shocks are great shocks and I would buy them if I was still in the market. You should give a call to DK Customs and get the information on the shocks before you make any decisions. They are always willing to help.

DK Customs (662) 252-8828

 

[pwhoever]

Welcome to TrikeTalk Richard! You will find many good tips here to help you achieve a better ride on your trike.

 

[Mykneesbehurtin]

I have Pro Action 14 inch shocks on my 2017 Tri Glide, a great improvement over stock. But it could still be better, that can be said with any aftermarket shock. Trikes with solid rear axles take some getting used to.

 

[Rogue1]

I'm running progressive 444's on my 19 Tri Glide. Big improvement over the stock shocks but don't forget you're riding a motorcycle, a solid axle trike at that.

 

[DOKK]

I'm running the 14" NexGen with comfort lift from DK on my '16 Tri glide and it is night and day difference. I've been running them for a couple of years now and it's the best change I've made to it.

 

[hardwickbv]

I rode stock air shocks for 72K miles then installed the DK Custom Nextgen 14" shocks and lift kit on my 17 TG.
As stated already it is the best change I have made. I now have 90K on it.

I hit a deer and took out the forks and a lower so when they put it back together I had them install a rake kit and the Progressive FST Asymmetric Fork Cartridge System from DK Custom. That helped a lot also.

Bob

 

[DOKK]

I rode stock air shocks for 72K miles then installed the DK Custom Nextgen 14" shocks and lift kit on my 17 TG.
As stated already it is the best change I have made. I now have 90K on it.
I hit a deer and took out the forks and a lower so when they put it back together I had them install a rake kit and the Progressive FST Asymmetric Fork Cartridge System from DK Custom. That helped a lot also.

Bob

I have the exact same setup on the front as well. Rides like a different Trike now.

 

[New Orleans Kevin]

After about a month on stock suspension back in 2021 I had enough on my 2021 TriGlide and had Legends Lift kit and Revo A installed on the rear and Legends Axeo Comfort installed on front. A costly venture even with a 10% parts discount but worth every penny . Nowhere near the rough harsh ride of stock and the bike tracks solid at interstate speeds +. We have done many long days including an Iron butt run and I’m still super appreciative of the comfort. More comfortable = more miles

 

[14TG]

I’m running the 14” ProAction rear shocks and also their front Fork kit and rides excellent.
I also added a rake kit which also changed it much better as well.
Don’t forget to take the rear tire pressure down to 22 psi.
(It’s still a trike with a solid axle, but so much better than stock now).

 

[hydraglide]

After about a month on stock suspension back in 2021 I had enough on my 2021 TriGlide and had Legends Lift kit and Revo A installed on the rear and Legends Axeo Comfort installed on front. A costly venture even with a 10% parts discount but worth every penny . Nowhere near the rough harsh ride of stock and the bike tracks solid at interstate speeds +. We have done many long days including an Iron butt run and I’m still super appreciative of the comfort. More comfortable = more miles

Ditto what Kevin said… I have the exact same set up and am extremely happy with the ride.

Iron Butt and this year just shy of 26K in the saddle on my 21’ Tri Glide.

Add in a Road Zeppelin seat and Butt Buffer sheepskin… BINGO!

 

[PosseRider]

I (new to trikes) just recently purchased a 2020 Triglide that came with air suspension. I thought that it would provide a soft ride, but it doesn’t. The shocks bottom out at max inflation when hitting potholes, RR tracks, etc. I’ll be riding 1up probably 40-50% of the time. I’ve been looking at Progressive 444, Legend Revo A, and Dk Custom 14” with lift kit. Any experience shared with these brands would be greatly appreciated or if you had one of these brands and switched to the any mentioned. Thanks.

Talk to George at ProAction.com. I have his front & 14" rears, no lift. he builds his shocks, have used his on my 16 tri & now on my 2020. Oh yeah Life time warranty & he DOES stand behind them..

 

[Notgrownup]

I installed the 14” Pro Action shocks from DK with the lift kit. After a while I called George at Pro Action and did a pretty extreme change and it made a huge difference. I’m next thinking of removing the lift kit and installing a rake kit on the front. It’s next on my list.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Here is a real world comparison chart-

And you can read reviews of folks at this LINK






Always feel free to email or call with any questions (contact info below).

Kevin

 

[Rabbittown]

Thanks for the replies. After much deliberation, I went with DK Customs Nexgen with Comfort Lift kit. I just installed them yesterday and should be able to test it out this weekend. I did sit on the bike and there was no give, has me a little concerned. I had removed the trunk and stood on the frame and it dipped down then. I weigh about 210.

 

[rwtrick]

Here is a real world comparison chart-

And you can read reviews of folks at this LINK


Kevin, I have a question about the comparison chart - How do you determine the point value assigned to each of the shocks? BTW, I'm a loyal customer and love your products. I have NexGen Shocks, Comfort Lift and Intimidator Valves on my RG3. I have been curious since you don't list any specific evaluation criteria. Thanks!




Always feel free to email or call with any questions (contact info below).

Kevin

 

[Rabbittown]

Holy Cow! What a difference the Nexgen shocks with lift kit installed makes to a trike. I haven't had the trike a month and I'm still getting used to operating 3 wheels, but I can tell a difference already. I'm taking curves at higher speeds and feel safe while doing so and the bumps aren't bad as they were before. WTG DK Custom!

 

[DK Custom Products]

rwtrick​

Kevin, I have a question about the comparison chart - How do you determine the point value assigned to each of the shocks? BTW, I'm a loyal customer and love your products. I have NexGen Shocks, Comfort Lift and Intimidator Valves on my RG3. I have been curious since you don't list any specific evaluation criteria. Thanks!

At this LINK we give quite a bit of detail on how we did our testing. I will copy and paste it below:

How We Tested:

Everyone’s perception of what is a good ride can vary. So we employed the butts of more than a few folks.

This is our 3rd Update of the Rear Shocks Testing Report.

We have now spent over 6 years and more than 75,000 miles testing a wide array of rear shocks. We also spent time testing various shocks on a Shock Dynamometer, measuring compression, rebound, spring rates and travel.

We used 3 Sportsters, 2 Dynas, a Street Glide, an Electra-Glide, an Ultra, a Freewheeler and 3 Tri-Glides.

We ran solo, 2-up, & loaded down with luggage.

Our focus was on how it felt, and how it handled in a variety of situations-

We have two “courses” that we rode through, slowly, at cruising speed, and fast. We also did several longer trips, ranging from 800 miles to 3,000 miles, both 1 up and 2 up.

Another aspect of the testing is that when you go from one shock to another, you will notice some differences, but many times, when you go Back to the previous shock, you will pick up even more differences. Because of that, we tested each pair of shocks multiple times, before and after other shocks in the test.


Specific Ride Compliance Testing Strategies-

Riding two circuits, with straights, curves, smooth & bumpy surfaces. We rode thru the same curves & over the same bumps & dips under acceleration, cruising and braking conditions... 1 up, 2 up and loaded.

On 2 wheeled bikes we paid close attention to “wallowing”, and on the Trikes we paid close attention to body roll, testing for stability in curves. For us it is important to be able to go as fast thru a curve as you want without having wallow or body roll being a limiting factor. What this translates to, in daily riding, is better control/safer operation in the curves, even at normal speeds.

Another safety factor we tested for was rear tire/tires skidding when braking hard on roads that were not smooth. The better a shock functions, the better it stays in contact with the road, reducing the possibility of the rear tire/tires “locking up” when going over an imperfect surface. This is not particularly needed in everyday riding, but when it is time to do an emergency stop, it can make all the difference.

One of the most important things we looked for in our testing was to make the small road imperfection disappear and to take all the harsh jolts and "round the edges", making them seem more like a small dip.



What we Tested

We tested over 2 dozen different shocks, including all the popular brands/models. We tested 11’, 12’, 13”, 13.5 & 14” shocks.

To keep the report from being excessively large/confusing, we have not listed all the shocks we tested. What we have left off the report are some that produced less than favorable results, nor have we listed some of the products that were very expensive and produced results no better than significantly less expensive options.

We have included a few of the more popular model shocks to give a point of reference when comparing.



Test Results

In all our testing, the stock shocks were consistently the least favorable.



Point system-

In all our testing, the stock suspension was consistently the least favourable, and the NEXGEN™ were the most favorable. For grading we used the stock as a reference # of 0, and the NEXGEN™ as a reference # of 100.

Everything else was awarded points between 0-100, based on how much better they are than stock, and how close they are to the most favorable shocks.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Holy Cow! What a difference the Nexgen shocks with lift kit installed makes to a trike. I haven't had the trike a month and I'm still getting used to operating 3 wheels, but I can tell a difference already. I'm taking curves at higher speeds and feel safe while doing so and the bumps aren't bad as they were before. WTG DK Custom!

Happy to hear you are enjoying the improved ride quality and safety of the trike being more stable.

Thank you for your business, we do appreciate it.

Kevin

 

[Notgrownup]

Now that I have my Pro Action 14” adjusted as far as I know as perfect as I can, I wonder how much difference I would feel with Nexgen shocks? I really like the overall ride I currently have but always wonder if there is more to be had as far as more comfort?

 

[rwtrick]

rwtrick​

Kevin, I have a question about the comparison chart - How do you determine the point value assigned to each of the shocks? BTW, I'm a loyal customer and love your products. I have NexGen Shocks, Comfort Lift and Intimidator Valves on my RG3. I have been curious since you don't list any specific evaluation criteria. Thanks!

At this LINK we give quite a bit of detail on how we did our testing. I will copy and paste it below:

How We Tested:

Everyone’s perception of what is a good ride can vary. So we employed the butts of more than a few folks.

This is our 3rd Update of the Rear Shocks Testing Report.

We have now spent over 6 years and more than 75,000 miles testing a wide array of rear shocks. We also spent time testing various shocks on a Shock Dynamometer, measuring compression, rebound, spring rates and travel.

We used 3 Sportsters, 2 Dynas, a Street Glide, an Electra-Glide, an Ultra, a Freewheeler and 3 Tri-Glides.

We ran solo, 2-up, & loaded down with luggage.

Our focus was on how it felt, and how it handled in a variety of situations-

We have two “courses” that we rode through, slowly, at cruising speed, and fast. We also did several longer trips, ranging from 800 miles to 3,000 miles, both 1 up and 2 up.

Another aspect of the testing is that when you go from one shock to another, you will notice some differences, but many times, when you go Back to the previous shock, you will pick up even more differences. Because of that, we tested each pair of shocks multiple times, before and after other shocks in the test.


Specific Ride Compliance Testing Strategies-

Riding two circuits, with straights, curves, smooth & bumpy surfaces. We rode thru the same curves & over the same bumps & dips under acceleration, cruising and braking conditions... 1 up, 2 up and loaded.

On 2 wheeled bikes we paid close attention to “wallowing”, and on the Trikes we paid close attention to body roll, testing for stability in curves. For us it is important to be able to go as fast thru a curve as you want without having wallow or body roll being a limiting factor. What this translates to, in daily riding, is better control/safer operation in the curves, even at normal speeds.

Another safety factor we tested for was rear tire/tires skidding when braking hard on roads that were not smooth. The better a shock functions, the better it stays in contact with the road, reducing the possibility of the rear tire/tires “locking up” when going over an imperfect surface. This is not particularly needed in everyday riding, but when it is time to do an emergency stop, it can make all the difference.

One of the most important things we looked for in our testing was to make the small road imperfection disappear and to take all the harsh jolts and "round the edges", making them seem more like a small dip.



What we Tested

We tested over 2 dozen different shocks, including all the popular brands/models. We tested 11’, 12’, 13”, 13.5 & 14” shocks.

To keep the report from being excessively large/confusing, we have not listed all the shocks we tested. What we have left off the report are some that produced less than favorable results, nor have we listed some of the products that were very expensive and produced results no better than significantly less expensive options.

We have included a few of the more popular model shocks to give a point of reference when comparing.



Test Results

In all our testing, the stock shocks were consistently the least favorable.



Point system-

In all our testing, the stock suspension was consistently the least favourable, and the NEXGEN™ were the most favorable. For grading we used the stock as a reference # of 0, and the NEXGEN™ as a reference # of 100.

Everything else was awarded points between 0-100, based on how much better they are than stock, and how close they are to the most favorable shocks.

Kevin

This is very helpful - thanks, Kevin, and Happy New Year!!!

 

[14TG]

Now that I have my Pro Action 14” adjusted as far as I know as perfect as I can, I wonder how much difference I would feel with Nexgen shocks? I really like the overall ride I currently have but always wonder if there is more to be had as far as more comfort?

I am in the same boat. I too have the 14” PA, and are certainly a HUGE improvement over stock. BUT… if there is better, I’m all ears! Granted a trike with a straight axle is, “it is what it is” and can only improve so much.

I’ve been happy with the PA on my previous bikes and I live 30 minutes away from them, and also know George from years ago from attending the same congregation.
BUT, I am not married to anyone but my wife and will certainly change for improvement.

I actually just bought the comfort lift brackets (the ones JUST for 14” shocks) which will angle them back more than what they are. The angle (“Cantilever” - angle if you will) supposedly is a noticeable difference.

The question is: How much of a difference will be noticeable??

I will wait until riding season starts and get my “butt memory” for a true comparison and a before and after before I install them. I will also probably do a quick video and review as well when I do this in a few months.

Honestly, I kinda thought/think the “brackets” (lift/comfort brackets) were “snake oil” and when most buy the shocks, they’re also buying the brackets. So is it really just the OEM vs new shocks that’s a noticeable improvement which is a given) and those brackets really don’t do much???

I will see if these brackets alone and will give an honest opinion on them. After talking to Kevin (and a couple girls) at DK, I’m now getting the impression that there will indeed be a difference (not huge), …but still a better difference.

I shall see!!


THEN…. I may do a change out of my PA to the NEXGEN to see if there is a noticeable difference between the shocks! So this will be an accurate before and after in stages.
DK posts on their “point” system and as the NexGen gets 100 points, and the ProAction gets 80 point (in second place).
by using the point system info, I think we could all agree that the shock change itself, one should be able to tell a difference. (Again… that’s later after the bracket swap).

Edit:
Kevin, as I personally have quite a few DK parts on my TG, but my curiosity is really high and I want the best possible results for it.
So I hope you take no offense. I know some years of testing, time & money is put towards these. Honestly from what I hear from the consensus, it will be good & really looking forward to see (and feel) the difference.
You guys make great stuff! Kudos!

Now, just like oil, or seats or windshields…. What may work and be a difference for some, may not be a difference for others.

But when we are all looking for a better ride, I think we can all agree that we want our ride as comfortable as possible, smooth as possible, and take out as much bone jarring hits that a shock and suspension can take as best as possible. So yes… I’m curious and committed to make my TG the best it can be.

This may be the last HD I will buy and expect to keep it as long as possible.

 

[Notgrownup]

I’m very curious if the comfort lift makes a difference on the actual suspension part. I know it’s advertised as helping on steering but is it making a difference on the cushioning . The angle of the mount made my shock bend a bit I believe and made the spring rub the body of the shock . Now I don’t know if this affects my warranty. I am thinking of installing the rake kit sometime and wonder if I need the comfort lift kit.

 

[iditchmycar]

As soon I bought my trike I immediately bought the next gen 13 shocks from DK custom products since my bike had a legend lift. What I learn you Don’t need a 14 shock if you have a lift installed. What I like of DK custom is they have plenty of videos showing testing successfully their products.

 

[14TG]

As soon I bought my trike I immediately bought the next gen 13 shocks from DK custom products since my bike had a legend lift. What I learn you Don’t need a 14 shock if you have a lift installed. What I like of DK custom is they have plenty of videos showing testing successfully their products.

Yes, if you already have a “lift kit bracket” (a bracket that actually give you an inch of lift) then you should stay with a 13” shock… which of course theoretically is the same as installing a 14” shock (without a “lift bracket).

Installing a 14” shock with a TRUE one inch “lift bracket” kit can give you some clearance issues.

So… if you already have a 14” shock, DK Does indeed make a bracket kit (aka: “Convertible comfort mount”) which does not really give lift, but instead angles/kicks the angle of the shock back further (Cantilever - if you will), which is advertised to also give a 14” shock a better ride due to the more angle given to it.

Here is a link to the brackets designed just for anyone with 14” shocks:

Harley Trikes - Convertible Comfort Mount™ for 14" Shocks

Convertible Comfort Mount™ Smooths & Levels Out Your Ride - Fits All Years & all Exhaust Configurations - For Use with 14" Trike Series Shocks

www.dkcustomproducts.com

 

[DK Custom Products]

I’m very curious if the comfort lift makes a difference on the actual suspension part. I know it’s advertised as helping on steering but is it making a difference on the cushioning . The angle of the mount made my shock bend a bit I believe and made the spring rub the body of the shock . Now I don’t know if this affects my warranty. I am thinking of installing the rake kit sometime and wonder if I need the comfort lift kit.

Here is a video showing bump recorder results of with and without the Convertible Comfort Mount/Lift. Specifically starting at the 2:10 mark.

You will see that it not only rounds off the sharp jolts, but that it also reduces seat movement by 36%.

Most people notice that improvement, some do not.




We have never seen a shock body hit the trunk with the Convertible Comfort Mount/Lift installed.

Kevin