I just came in from installing my new 11.5" progressive 412-4200 shocks. This was by far the easiest mod I've done so far. I got my 14 yr old to help, we were finished in about 10 minutes. It is too cold to ride, but I can tell by sitting on the bike and bouncing, it will have a softer ride. It raised my bike almost 2 inches. I bought them from Eastern performance for $163.95 NIB delivered.

Me too me too!!  I just put on my 412-4232.  I got them from mawonline for 199 with shipping.   My husband picked up the back of the bike so I could put them on.  Yahoo.  I went around the block a few time dodging the ice

Just got in from short ride. I drove on a road with lots of rough spots. The stock shocks had hardly any give, the bumps went straight to my seat. The new shocks absorb the bumps. The difference is amazing! I didn't realize how stiff the stock shocks were til now. It's not a mushy ride, but it is soft. I have the adjustment in the third notch. I can't tell any difference in the handling, just the smoother ride. My kickstand seems a little short now.

I finally got around to modifying my sidestand since going with the longer shocks. I used to have an aluminum nut glued under the pad but it was still too short so I broke it off & cut off a 3" long 1" square aluminum block & drilled a hole in it. Then drilled a hole through the sidestand pad & bolted it on. It swiveled around a bit so I just put a dab of JB Weld glue on it. Doesn't look like it's about to fall over anymore. Got the aluminum square tubing at my favorite Savage parts supplier; Home Depot. I hope the aluminum is strong enough. If it collapses I'll try it again with steel.

The 4232 and 4233 are both 11" shocks and the extra lift is less than 1 inch - both have more initial give to them than the stock spring so as soon as you sit on the bike (if you matched the load to the correct model and the preload is corrrect) it's back to very near the stock height. now how the 12 or 13 inch shocks with several inches of lift makes the  bike handle I do not know.

mpescatori wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:



That is what Paypal and Bidpay are for, to protect both the buyer and seller.

.....

Well that was something!
It took two hours to get all the stuff together to make the stand to prop the bike up and then 15 minutes to take the factory shocks off lower the rear tire and install the Progressive 412-4200C shocks. As someone said it was the easiest mod I have done (building the prop was more work).
I used two 2x6 and a third 2x6 across the side of the two, Then the flange and pipe. Lowes of course didn't have 3/4 pipe and flange so I got a one inch. All the better to grab ahold of. Those three together were perfect distance to lift the rear tire. This gave me about 6 inches rise when I lifted the bike up. Then I wedged the tire with two boards, one under the other like a fulcrum. I took the two shocks off, pulled the the wedge out, and it was exactly the right height for the new shocks. Then put the shims on, then the shocks, tightened them down (there were shims in the package that were just right for the stems where the others came off). And then backed off the prop and out for a ride.
What I found was that they come set at lowest level and that is not enough for me. I saw an improvement but I think I still need to do more.
So tomorrow I'll try at two up and see how it rides. I did find the higher seat was much more comfortable in the 20 minute ride I made (I have already done the seat mod).
Now to add something to the kick stand to raise the angle of tilt when at rest. Wanted a real hocky puck but all the Academy store here had were the plastic hollow ones. I think a puck etched out the shape of the end of the stand and then glued on would be the right height and look just odd enough to be interesting.
Next up is to work on remaking the "Savage" bags so they fit the Savage. And installing the bag stand-offs. But first I was called in to work extra tomorrow. Maybe if it doesn't get nasty this weekend I can figure out the bag stand-offs, and the proper bounce on the shocks.

Bill

In the Wilds of West Texas

Reelthing wrote on 12/31/69 at 16:00:02:


It started out at one and I went two clicks up from that so I think I'm on three.  Got to ride yesterday a little before the big snow storm today. Wow, what a difference.  I can hardly wait to go on a long ride.   Last night I couldn't wipe the smile off my face.