Topic: did I blow my Progressive shocks?

[JBMorse]

We're still in the midst of our round country trip, which I am excited to share with the forum when we get home.  There is a mechanical malady which swwms to have gotten "progressively" worse: we are dragging bottom on all but the mildest of bumps. 
Last year I installed one pair of Progressive shocks complete with their heavy-duty springs. They worked great for a while. I haven't experienced any bottom touching until halfway through our trip.
We're on a very loaded cb500, 2-up.  But, I don't believe we're overloading the shocks because I beleieve the very same shocks are recommended for the 80 pound heavier cb750. 
Could there be another factor?  I've got the springs on their stiffest settings now, and we seem to drag the least on this setting.
Thanks for any advice!
Jeremy b

[Damfino]

Are your knee's sore?

  Sorry, I couldn't resist...

[scottly]

Unless your shocks have blown out massive amounts of oil, they are probably ok. Most likely, your springs have sagged a bit. You might try shifting some weight onto the gas tank. 

[Terry in Australia]

Unless your shocks have blown out massive amounts of oil, they are probably ok. Most likely, your springs have sagged a bit. You might try shifting some weight onto the gas tank. 

But will his wife be happy to sit on the tank mate?

[scottly]

Unless your shocks have blown out massive amounts of oil, they are probably ok. Most likely, your springs have sagged a bit. You might try shifting some weight onto the gas tank. 

But will his wife be happy to sit on the tank mate?

Hmm, better ask her. Might depend on which direction she is facing??

[nancy]

Moderator intervention looms...

[MCRider]

We're still in the midst of our round country trip, which I am excited to share with the forum when we get home.  There is a mechanical malady which swwms to have gotten "progressively" worse: we are dragging bottom on all but the mildest of bumps.  
Last year I installed one pair of Progressive shocks complete with their heavy-duty springs. They worked great for a while. I haven't experienced any bottom touching until halfway through our trip.
We're on a very loaded cb500, 2-up.  But, I don't believe we're overloading the shocks because I beleieve the very same shocks are recommended for the 80 pound heavier cb750.  
Could there be another factor?  I've got the springs on their stiffest settings now, and we seem to drag the least on this setting.
Thanks for any advice!
Jeremy b

Your problem is virtually all an issue of the springs. The oil in the shocks doesn't carry any of the motorcycles weight. It slows down the speed of movement (damping) of the spring, so if it can't do that there is an issue of the spring momentum carrying you to bottoming out. But its still mostly a spring issue and not the shock.

The HD spring for the 500 may not be the HD spring for the 750, even if the shock bodies were the same. Your bike is likely overloaded per the Honda specs. I'll bet the weight limit is 350 or less. Your CB500 Progressive HD springs have likely been fatigued to the point of being shot.

Call Progressive about the spring weights and upgrade to the HD springs for the CB750.

[JBMorse]

Well the girl is a good sport to be sitting where she is already!
If the springs have indeed gone soft then I'm going to file a warranty claim with Progressive Suspension. I spent a small fortune on their shocks and springs, the ones they reccomend on their site, btw.
It's kind of nerve-wracking to be spending so much time avoiding bumps rather than viewing the scenery. We'll see I guess..

[MCRider]

Well the girl is a good sport to be sitting where she is already!
If the springs have indeed gone soft then I'm going to file a warranty claim with Progressive Suspension. I spent a small fortune on their shocks and springs, the ones they reccomend on their site, btw.
It's kind of nerve-wracking to be spending so much time avoiding bumps rather than viewing the scenery. We'll see I guess..

It all depends on how much weight you actually are carrying. The recommended spring for a 500 may not have been up to the job from the get go if you are in fact overweight.

I was always overweight on my CB750. The load rating is about 350lbs. I was close to 175 with gear and she was maybe 140, and 50 pounds of gas and gear probably more, and I'm over. Let alone if I hung a windjammer and saddlebags on it. You have to tell Progressive how much weight you'll be carrying. Otherwise they just go by the book.

[JBMorse]

Yup, we're most definately over the load limit, probably by 100 pounds!  I believe it's 300 on my bike.  So it's not a warranty issue I'm having, but a badly chosen product issue.  I think I'll have to upgrade springs.  I'll try havoc since I'm almost in his neighborhood.  Thanks for the info!

[MCRider]

Yup, we're most definately over the load limit, probably by 100 pounds!  I believe it's 300 on my bike.  So it's not a warranty issue I'm having, but a badly chosen product issue.  I think I'll have to upgrade springs.  I'll try havoc since I'm almost in his neighborhood.  Thanks for the info!

Hope you get your spring issue resolved to your satisfaction.

Let me say in the words of the worn commuter on the opening of Then Came Bronson: Man I wish I was you. (on a MC trip that is)

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