I pick my new iron up on Friday and from what I've read I will be changing she suspension sooner than later , so who prefers what and why . I'm undecided over ikon  ( I've used them. Before ) or progressive, 440's or 970,s on rear . Any thoughts would be appreciated 

Can't help mate but I will be watching this thread because I am in exactly the same boat.

Cheers...

I went with Ikons, i cant comment on the progressive, but im very happy with mine, i have both front and rear, (11" rear) but it did take me some time to get the right preload for the front, once i did i have to say the ride is so much better than stock. Being local i guess i have a store front to goto if i have issues or need a rebuild!

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I too am keen to hear some comparisons

Hey chopaweeza, are they heavy shockers ( ie 2 up?)

I've got Ikons on my gs 1000 and they are great so I imagine the result should be the same on the iron , I was quoted $465 for rears & $160 for fronts . But anything has to be an improvement over the stock suspention

I have Progressive 412 on rear & Progressive fork springs. I went with 12" rear as advised buy the workshop manager at my local. I'm 105kg & with standard HD shocks I had the preload wound all the way up & screwed them in just over 6 months. With the Progressive I have them wound all the way down & find them to be just right. Screw them up a notch with passenger on. I can't really comment on Ikon stuff but in the grand scheme of things it will be debated to the cows come home. I suggest that you try one & if you don't like them buy the others. Unfortunately what works for me may not work for you. I bought my Progressives from JC Motorcycles online had them in 10 days from US & saved $250.

I went with the progressive springs and have just recently bought the 412 progressive shocks from the JC mob ,turns out they have an Ebay store as well.
I can't believe how ordinary the suspension is on the iron.It's not a matter of if it should be changed but when.

i agree, astounds me when people spend a fortune on the look, and the engine, but are still running stock suspension

got to agree , have done 350 klms so far and the standard suspension sucks ,new will be ordered by the weekend , still trying to decide which way to go but either has to be a major improvment over stock

I changed my suspension very early on as like most of you I found the standard suspension crap. And we paid a premium for the bike that is promoted as a sportster. Rear shocks & springs plus front springs from Ikon. Found Geoff to be very helpful. Changed fork oil and dropped the front 5mm. Bike was good and turn in so much better. Some 14k later I find the front end is very spongy, bike is wallowing through the corners. I will now need to get the front shocks re-valved. A bit sad really my son's Jap bike stops and handles 10 times better and only half the price. Pity HD can't do better!

I've used ikons on a couple of bikes and found them good shocks (and better than stock) if not always exactly great (not ohlins great anyway), can't really comment about progressive.

Was going to start another thread, but figured this'll slot in here nicely.

I've searched through the forum for people running the Burly slammer kit, and I found a few people saying they're ordering it or want to order, and I think it was chop luey, had some pics up with them on his bike, but i couldn't see any follow up posts about how it runs. So anyone who has got the kit on their sportster care to chime in? Preferably someone around or over 100 kgs. Are you happy with 10.5 shocks on our shit house roads?
Cheers

I almost went that way Black Mamba, but after reading they are harsh i decided not to, i know of one rider with a sportster Iron that has been ejected off his bike at slow speed with this kit, he weighs about the 80kilo mark. From what i can tell 11" shocks are for us lighter blokes, for 90+ kilos go with atleast 12" .

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I have the Progressive 412's Heavy Duty 11" on my 48. I like em, took a few rides to dial them in right but now they ride well. I also have the Progressive fork springs, done with Oldman conversion. Btw I am over 100 kegs.

Nice. Thanks for the feedback. I'd like to get under 12" so I might just take a punt on the Heavy Duty 11" Progressive 412's for the rear. Cheers.

Im 100kg and have ikons on my bike here in oz and on my bike in asia. They handle the rough potholes and crappy roads in aisa well. Cant comment on progressives.

i run my ikons on full soft and lowest preload (rear) i had to pick up a mate the other day so i took my spanner with me, i weigh 55 (62 with winter gear) and he is 78kilo maybe 80ish with his gear. i put the preload on full hard and upped the dampener to 3 and it didnt bottom out once (from geelong to sunshine) and the ride was good..... thought i'd better add this in...

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