Adjusting the Progressive Softail shocks on a Harley Davidson.

Ive seen some misinformation on how to adjust the softail shocks. This video will get you in the general direction on properly adjusting progressive shocks.
www.progressiv...

[@bikerboot888]

Please do your research for your specific bike!

[@bikerboot888]

@FITNESSOVER45 Sorry i missed this comment. I’m 200lbs and ride solo only on this bike.

[@stuartvorster4911]

Thanks Buddy....have a 2007 Night Train i bought just over 2 years ago & looked on KZbin for a good video but there wasn't one, so never adjusted these. Really useful. Cape Town South Africa

[@bikerboot888]

Thanks for watching. Clutch video will be out shortly.

[@josephzaccaro7428]

Thank you for visual/audio. this was well done, quick, informative and absolutely doable by me with this video

[@bikerboot888]

Thanks for watching.

[@whollymary7406]

That was a great tutorial thanks 👍🏼

[@rbblu]

Cool Video! Quick and clear Thank You 👍

[@bikerboot888]

Thank you for watching!

[@edZILLA64]

THANKS FOR VIDEO. GOT MINE ADJUSTED YESTERDAY. PEACE OUT

[@bikerboot888]

Glad it helped.

[@jerielyork4399]

Thank you very much you explain that a whole lot better slower understanding thank you

[@bikerboot888]

Thanks for watching.

[@IronBornRider]

Great info BB! I need me a bike jack like that

[@bikerboot888]

It’s a craftsman jack. Just don’t buy the Harbor freight cheapo jack. It broke while my Streetglide was jacked up and it was stuck in the air.😂

[@whollymary7406]

Good job I could see everything and get orientated

[@bikerboot888]

Thank you. I did this video because I couldn’t find a good one.

[@69littletoy]

Can you tell me how many rotations for 200 LB guy . Thanks for the great video.

[@LJSiar]

Great video, thank you. Is that Bike a Night Train?

[@bikerboot888]

This is a 1989 Softail Custom.Thanks for watching.

[@firstnamelastname9603]

my 92 softy has fournales shocks, only gotta pump air in or let air out .. takes two minutes.

[@Sergei_Leshkov174]

Спасибо из Челябинска, РОССИЯ.

[@bikerboot888]

Thanks for watching!

[@RickDelmonico]

I'm confused! My locknut and adjustment location is on the front, not near the rear tire. I need to remove all of the preload. Which way do I turn the shock. The shock gets longer when I sit on the bike. Does the shock get longer when you remove the preload or does the body of the shock move rearwards?

[@bikerboot888]

What year is your bike? It maybe completely different.

[@RickDelmonico]

07 flstn

[@RickDelmonico]

@@bikerboot888 So, The rear of my shock appears to extend out from the shock body when I Turn the adjuster counter clockwise. However, that is just the shock body traveling forward on the shaft. The inside, which I cannot see, is compressing the spring i.e. more preload. This is what I would have preferred as an explanation; if the far side of the shock is all the way in (the weld bead is against the shock body), the preload is soft, if it is out (max 1/2"), more preload. The 2007 FLSTN has the locknut and adjuster on the forward end, the rear is eyelets.

[@Jeff82556]

@@bikerboot888 The year of the softail is irrelevant! The more questions you answer, the more I don't trust anything you say. (sorry, but true)

[@shovelhead1705]

Nice ol evo

[@bikerboot888]

Thank ya!

[@jeremysmith9960]

These adjustable shocks are not factory i assume right ? The factory shocks for 89 were not adjustable? I just bought the same bike so im curious , i havent gotten under the bike and looked yet . Thanks man

[@bikerboot888]

They are progressive shocks. The stock shocks should be adjustable also.

[@rogershinton7483]

I read , somewhere, Progressive shocks sit a hair lower than frame rails meaning my J&S jack couldn't be used. True/false?

[@bikerboot888]

I use my motorcycle jack with no issues. In fact I use it to move the bike around.

[@darrinleazer6784]

How did it ride after adjusting the shocks? Also' were you looking for a more stiffness ride or softness. I have a 2015 Fatboy and I weigh 207, and sometimes have a rider on the back, but' I have never adjusted my shocks and it rides stiff.

[@bikerboot888]

I still have it set the same. It’s a softer ride. It’s a matter of playing with the settings, and getting it right for the occasional passenger but still Dailey rideable.

[@darrinleazer6784]

@@bikerboot888 oh ok' I appreciate you responding back to my question about that.

[@davidlawless858]

Well done.thanks

[@bikerboot888]

No problem

[@manuelchavez3431]

Nice ride

[@bikerboot888]

Thank you

[@73macrino]

No question is a stupid question if ya don’t know but what if I want to lower the backend by an inch or two, is there a special kit for this? Thanks in advance Your bike is freakin beautiful by they way ✌️

[@bikerboot888]

Yes they sell a lowering kits for progressive shocks around $150. JP cycles has them:

[@73macrino]

@@bikerboot888 thank you sir!

[@HarleySteelersfan]

Where do you get the adjusting tool

[@bikerboot888]

Right on Amazon

[@Jeff82556]

The adjustment tool comes FREE ... included with the new Progressive shocks. (it's in the box)

[@mattduncan2581]

Hey liked the video I ordered a set of progressive 422 heavy-duty are the shocks set at lowest setting when out the box and how hard was the install any tips my oem shocks are messed up and been killing my back and tailbone I went to adjust the oem shocks and found out the coupling and grommet was missing on one shock and also the springs are shot are the progressive shocks really a good investment im a daily rider dallas texas

[@bikerboot888]

Hey thanks for watching. This bike came with the progressives so I did not install. Anything is better then stock Harley shocks so progressives is a good choice. I installed Legend suspension on my street glide and love them. There’s a video of that install on my channel.

[@Jeff82556]

Looks like they forgot to teach you (in grade school) how to use a PERIOD at the end of sentences. Meanwhile, the heavy duty shock 422 is intended for heavy people over 250lbs or those who most often have a passenger. Progressive actually warns against the heavy duty and recommends the standard duty. (did you notice how I used periods, capitol letters, and even a freakin' comma?) (yep, went to grade school)

[@mattduncan2581]

@@Jeff82556 OK Misses English teacher thanks for your input 👍.

[@Jeff82556]

@@dmystify1381 Yeah, thank you very much, happy holidays!

[@meseahunt]

do u happen to have the paint color code for that deep red on your bike? 🤠

[@bikerboot888]

That is the factory red and black from 1989. I've seen this on a few models from 89 and 90.

[@NotAJ-yn3xe]

Any jacks you would recommend?

[@bikerboot888]

Yes. Pittsburgh 1500 lb. Aluminum ATV / Motorcycle Lift #63397 from harbor freight. Don't buy the cheapo version from them. I have the Craftsman version of this which they don't carry anymore. This is the same exact jack probably made by the same manufacture.

[@NotAJ-yn3xe]

@@bikerboot888 okay thx

[@gmoneyk6027]

After u loosened the nut u turned the first shock a bit , then u commenced to turn both after. It kinda confused me

[@bikerboot888]

At 2:14 i put up a diagram showing the direction. I may have spun the shock loosening the nut but you should be using the shock tool to actual spin it. I hope this explains it.

[@alexisgilera215]

So to carry more weight on the motorcycle, I would have to adjust clockwise?...

[@bikerboot888]

There's a graph on the video. Just pause it and take a look. It's been a while:

[@gmoneyk6027]

Did u raise your bike in that video?

[@bikerboot888]

Yes. It leveled it out.

[@Jeff82556]

@@bikerboot888 Again, you didn't answer the question! He didn't ask you if you leveled your bike. He asked you DID YOU RAISE YOUR BIKE!

[@dmystify1381]

@@Jeff82556 faaark...you ARE an idiot.

[@leehybrid3456]

Which Direction you turn to lowering the bike ??

[@bikerboot888]

It’s in the video. There should be a diagram also.

[@nswiss19751]

Which way will lower it

[@bikerboot888]

It’s in the video. I think put a diagram up also.

[@rickb.5492]

Some say turning clockwise makes the ride softer and some say turning counterclockwise makes the ride softer. Even the famous "Doc" Harley contradicts himself in his video. I'm beginning to think none of you know how to do it.

[@bikerboot888]

I gotta tell you, you have a point. I followed other videos and quickly realized they were doing it in the wrong direction. That’s why I put the diagrams up of the correct way to turn.

[@bikerboot888]

I also put a link to the progressive instructions.

[@FlipandTheBlueMule]

The engineer that thought of this should be disenbouled... mine has been nothing but a problem... keeps bottoming out

[@bikerboot888]

Yeah we've come along way since 1989 thank god.

[@FlipandTheBlueMule]

@@bikerboot888 👍🏻👍🏻🇺🇸⚓️🇺🇸

[@bhudson4739]

You and I seem a similar size. I'm 6'1" and about 260. How did this adjustment do for you?! Any advice? I plan to adjust mine asap. I nearly bottomed out recently.. the last owner was about 150. Lol so it's set for a bitch at the moment!!. 🤣

[@bikerboot888]

I would adjust it all the way out and work your way down.

[@Jeff82556]

@@bikerboot888 This didn't answer B Hudson's question: "How did this adjustment do for you?"

[@thomasreyes2857]

All the way out the ass end of the bikes going to be sticking up in the air like a skunk and ride as hard as a rock it's going to BIND UP.

[@benjamanschaeffer273]

M

[@markp4967]

😂😂😂, or even worse, you don't want the bike to get hurt!

[@Jeff82556]

If what you say at 01:51 is true, then why does Progressive adjustable RAP shocks adjust only ONE shock?

[@bikerboot888]

Because the Rap shock probably didn't exist when these were made. Everything on this EVO is old.

[@Jeff82556]

@@bikerboot888 What??? This video is a Progressive RAP shock video about RAP shocks! Your statement makes absolutely no sense! It's like holding a hot dog and saying this hot dog didn't exist when this hot dog was made. (makes no sense at all) You must be stoned.

[@bikerboot888]

@@Jeff82556 I think you have the wrong video friend. These are the 422's without the RAP. Shocks hidden under the frame make common adjustments difficult on the Softail ® chassis. Not anymore! RAP (Remote Adjustable Preload) combines high performance shocks with a remote preload adjuster. Conveniently located behind the left passenger peg, the RAP system allows for easy tuning of the shocks to account for changing loads or the addition of a passenger.

[@Jeff82556]

@@bikerboot888 I sincerely apologize! I have no idea of why I assumed this video was on the RAP model. But still, as my first question asked, why do the RAP adjustable shocks only adjust 1 of the 2 shocks? (the cable from the mounted remote control only connects to 1 shock, not 2) You may not know the answer. I just found it to be odd and illogical. THANKS! Thumbs up!

[@bikerboot888]

@@Jeff82556 I appreciate the apology. My 2014 Street glide had the same setup with one shock being adjustable. Also some of the new Softails have the same setup as the RAP. The Premium Hand adjustable shocks split the work of compression and rebound. Each shock is optimized for one function. The right is non adjustable as rebound does not care how much weight is being carried. The left adjusts the preload depending on the weight carried. I'm assuming its the same concept as the RAP shocks. Hope this answers your question.