Good gravy, a $450 pair of shocks has got to make the rest of the bike seem like complete junk.

Did you pick the springs or were they off the shelf?

verslagen1 wrote on 11/08/09 at 08:30:46:


I'm glad t0 hear that the 412-4005 is good for 250# or so, because I'm just a bit over that; and I picked up a like new pair on eBay for cheap a few weeks ago. Now Lancer has shipped me some grommets to make them fit the Savage, I'll be trying them out in a week or so! I knew before I bid on them that they were for much heavier bikes: the big Intruder and Yamaha V-Max, but I figured my weight ought to compensate for the extra stiffness/rebound/valving etc...

However, they are 12-1/2" vs the stock ones at 11-1/2" but since they're going on my "road bike" and not the "chopper" I figure it ought to make it handle better. But the front on that bike is still sagging and bottoming on hard braking, and that might get worse. I'd like to come up with some extra stiff front springs with an inch or two more pre-load on them. Maybe one of those trick adjustable valve gadgets someone has come out with for our cheap old standard forks!

Yeah, these things are proving to be almost as bad as a boat for dumping money into!  

Ok, I've ridden my test track with varying degrees of bumps known to cause neck wrenching, eye popping and general wincing.
1st up the neck wrenchers, due to traffic I wasn't watching for them.  Usually a deadly situation.  But traffic cleared and I suddenly realized I've gone by the deadly duo w/o pain, clenching my jaw or lifting my @$$.
2nd up, bop dots.  The morning bop dots are usually mild, but today they were pleasant.  It's the afternoon bop dots that cause shoulder rattling and change to jump out of pockets.  we'll see.
3rd up, manhole covers.  I have to retract my statement made earlier.  Certainly did notice rolling over a manhole cover.  Previous statement was due to low tire pressure.
And finally, the street equivalent to super stadium motorcross... interstate 5.  A superlative collection of spine tingling bumps, jumps and pot holes.  Completed w/o the usual wincing and grunting.