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How to choose shocks for Iron 883

  • diallonortv
    diallonortv
    6 years ago
    Hello,
    Sorry for the naive question for it's my first HD so i don't know much.
    I bought a HD 2012 sportser 883 iron and the shocks are very bad ( it's bouncing ). I am looking for better shocks and i saw on forum that the Progressive 412 can be a good option but i don't know which size i should use ( i was going for the 12 inch as it seem to be stock size ) and if i need the heavy duty or not. I am 85 kg riding solo during the week and with my partner during the weekend ( she is 70 kg ). I bought the bike used so i can't tell what the original shocks size are.

    Cheers

    VIncent
  • Kingchops
    Kingchops
    6 years ago
    Welcome to the forum.  If your shocks are bouncy you may need to set pre-load.  You should have 5 position preload settings on your shocks.  For a solo rider of your weight you should have them set to the second or third pre-load.  Give that a go before changing shocks.
  • diallonortv
    diallonortv
    6 years ago
    Hi, thanks. Yes i did, they are already on the lowest setting and bouncing when i am solo.
  • Krash Kinkade
    Krash Kinkade
    6 years ago
    I have had about four sets of progressive shocks over the years and never again!!
    I also have a sporty but bit older than yours 2003 year , am going to rebuild motor I'll be getting Terry Hayes at shock treatment to tune the stock forks gold valving and race tech springs, I'll also get him to build me shocks stock hight. I had a dyna twin cam he did that and was the best I've had over thirty six  years on hd's riding them all hard

    update just bought some near new used ohlins shocks from a mate he had them built by frank pons , they are 14' so half inch longer than my stock shock. was lucky to get at a good price too, I road his bike with them on and was beautiful ride over bumps.
  • TC883
    TC883
    6 years ago
    Welcome to the forum mate. Like the previous advice, try upping the preload on your existing shocks before anything else. If you have a 2012 Iron with original shocks, they will be 13.5 inch and only have three preload settings. Set them on the highest setting and try that. If you are after cost effective replacements, Bad Boy Bobbers in Melbourne sell good ones very cheap (only about $220 from memory). They have them in various lengths. If you are riding two up I would recommend no shorter than 12 inch. Cheers, TC
  • Neale
    Neale
    6 years ago
    As the above guy said, go for 13" fully extended shocks. I put a set of fournales from my Electra glide onto my custom model sportster and the difference is like night and day. The , I think, 11 1/2" stock height ones are really bad for the bumps.
    I was looking at the new screaming chicken performance shocks to suit a sportster for mine, I'm just curious as to the longevity quality of 'em.
    Top end quality shocks can cost over $2,000 a pair. I don't know what fournales are worth now, mine cost me $1,300 something 7 yrs or so ago and are still working well with 60,000 plus kms on them.
    The screaming eagle ones are around $880, I think.
    Hope this helps.
  • diallonortv
    diallonortv
    6 years ago
    I was looking to spend about 500 aud. I am on the lowest setting of the shocks and i found them to hard ( doesn't act like a shock) and it rebound. If i increase the pre-load the shocks gonna be even harder making it worse. So i am not sure how increasing the preload will help. I start to look at the Bitubo WME03 as well.
    Cheers

    Vincent
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