Progressive shocks Model 416

[sam]

Hello I'm a new member to KawaNOW. I have looked for quite awhile and can't find any answers.
I was wondering if anyone has installed Progressive Air Shocks
Model 416 on a 2005 Nomad. All catalogs only list them for 2004
and older. Will they work on the 2005?
Thanks
Sam

[zoom45]

I was at J&P store in Daytona and I think they had some for half price in their tent outside in the vendor area. Not a 100% that was the right number.
Zoom45

[chainsaw]

Why not give Progressive a call, they should be able to tell you. Welcome from the great state of Texas.

[sam]

progressive said they did not have one for the 05. I was woundering if anyone would know if the04 would fit the 05

[bruce]

I'm not 100% on this, but I believe the 1600's use a different length. The 1500's use a 13" shock so it should be easy enough for you to measure yours and check the difference, or someone on the board to jump in and correct me if I'm wrong. I would have thought that if you spoke with Progressive or one of their dealers they would have suggested some alternatives.

While on this subject... I've installed a set of 440's on our '04 along with their fork springs and some heavier wt oil and a slightly higher level. I couldn't be more pleased, it took what was an under sprung and wallowey feeling bike and turned it into a great riding and handling motorcycle.

[pablo]

Originally Posted by Bruce McCrary

While on this subject... I've installed a set of 440's on our '04 along with their fork springs and some heavier wt oil and a slightly higher level. I couldn't be more pleased, it took what was an under sprung and wallowey feeling bike and turned it into a great riding and handling motorcycle.

Did you get the heavy duty 440's? Do you ride two up? What length did you get?

[bruce]

Yes, I got the H.D.'s, and the 1500's call for a 13" eye to eye length. I weigh in at 250, my wife... oooo... let's not go there... But let's just say she's a real woman and not a waif. The bike almost never leaves the house with out both of us and some basic gear (jackets, rain suits, change of shoes, camera, first aid kit, etc.) going to a heavier spring rate and more focused dampening was the whole point of the exercise, you know?

The front end should be balanced with the front, so likewise new fork springs were always in the picture when I began eyeballing the project over the winter of 2007. We found though that changing the springs alone wasn't enough and thats when I changed to the heavier oil and raised oil level hight.

As I said, my wife and I are very satisfied with the ride quality and the way the bike handles. No more bottoming out on square edged bumps, no more heavy diving under braking during a spirited ride and likewise no more excessive rebounding of the front end while in the turn requiring heavy trail braking to keep the front end stable and on line. The bike doesn't have a... shoot, I'm not sure of the right wording here... wallowing, marshmallow feel. It's still a smooth ride, not harsh or stiff, but the whole motorcycle feels more solid, ahhh, like the front and rear ends are connected and working together. Make sense?

It's a huge financial investment, and one not to be taken lightly. But one that was very well worth it for us.

[pablo]

I appreciate the response. I am considering the same thing, but didn't want to invest so much money if there isn't a significant improvement in ride quality. Everyone I've talked to about the 440 shocks has been pleased; not so much with the 412's. I guess that's why there is so much price difference. What weight oil did you go to on your front forks? Do you think just changing the oil would suffice or do you need to do the springs too?
Thanks,
Pablo

[bruce]

I used a 20wt oil and raised it 5mm. As for the springs, I'd recommend them, but your weight (and that of your passenger) has alot to do with it, and if you'll need the HD shocks.

The reason the 440's get better reviews and are more expensive than the 412's are because the 440's dampen on both compression and rebound. The 412 have rebound only dampening. The 412's would be a good replacement for the factory shocks if the OEM's were faulty as the Progressive units are much cheaper. But if your looking to make an improvement over stock I'd look to the 440's.

[sam]

Is there a reason you all go with that shock? rather than a air shock like 416
sam

[bruce]

In these applications the air is really just assisting the spring. The downside to it is that as the shock compresses the air pressure inside the shock basically doubles in PSI for roughly each inch it is compressed. So if you start out say 10 psi of air at rest, by the time it gets near bottomed out you have 40 psi. But in our case we ran the max that Kawasaki recommended, 41 psi., which worked out to 164 psi at full stroke. That tends to be a bit harsh. not to mention that there is no compression dampening, only rebound.

The 440's have both compression and rebound dampening so the shock is controlling the movement via it's valving on both the down (compression) stroke and the up (rebound) stroke. The same way that sport bike and off road suspensions do. The 440's also have a 'speed sensor' in the valving to prevent it from 'packing', which is basically hydraulically locking up, on big hits.

When a shock on dampens on the rebound stroke the spring (or air over the spring) is completely responsible for controlling the compression stroke, which isn't the best way to handle that job. When you have controlled dampening on both strokes then the springs basic job is to hold up the motorcycle and it's load, the shocks valving actually controls the ride and handling qualities at that point.

[sam]

Did anyone put the 440's on a 2005 up. I still can not find shocks

[strobe]

The 440 for the 1600 Classic is listed, that is the one that fits. You need a spacer kit (or use washers), but they do fit. The Part number is 440-4233 for the HD ones I believe.

[sam]

thank you I will look

[coacha]

Bruce, great responses to the questions. I have been thinking of doing the replacements myself but the price is a tad daunting. My wife and I are of similar stature as you and your bride.