919 Progressive Rear Shock = Great!

[CBnotAnRR]

Goals: Turn the 919 into the best commuter/weekend back road bike I can.

Background: I picked up my 919 about 1.5 yrs ago and the first thing I noticed was a lack of suspension. In particular the suspension had a super sharp "edge" to it. Any crease or hole in the road felt like I was I was hitting it with a flat tire (read: rim to ground)

It was definitely expected notice since the bike had 40k on the clock.

Over the winter I rebuilt the forks using springs for my weight and the standard oil. Huge improvement, but still had that hard edge. Only thing left was the rear spring.

I waited too long to pull the trigger on a Progressive 420 in the Spring and didn't have the money for anything more costly.

By mid-Summer I had it with the bike, so after a lot of research I was set on a Hagon. When I called Hagon, I was told 6 weeks (fair enough) but while I was searching by part numbers online I came across a Progssv 420.

I pulled the trigger and could not be happier!

I kept reading over and over about not using a "progressive" rate spring (not the company) and that linear is the only way to go. My issue with that argument is and was 2 fold.

1) The 919 has a direct mount shock, so there is nothing to add "dimension" to the suspension during it's action. Unlike most other bikes that use a multi-linkage suspension, where all those little triangles change leverage ratios through out the travel turning a "linear" spring into a progressive setup.

2)The 919 was designed to be a do-it-all warrior, not a cut-throat race machine. IE: Like a CBR 900rr-1000rr.

Either way, I was still nervous. Did I just waste $350? Will I still be happy with my non-adj forks? Etc...

So now to the review.
Yesterday was a 400 mile ride smorgasbord! Sun, rain, cool - hot, small town to highway to mountain roads, rough pavement, no pavement, to freshly laid; and let me say, not one time did I think, damn, I wish I was on another bike!

In fact, on Friday I was convinced on buying an R1 today. Now, not so much. Everything I throw at the bike, it took.

Is this a magic bullet shock? No. Could I win at Daytona on the 919? No.
Does it provide great feedback? Yes. Smooth, responsive, No bounce? Yes

Again, from rough to smooth and wet to dry, the bike was never upset by it's acceleration, braking, etc.

The one weakness I noticed now are my front brakes. I'll be working on that soon...

Progressive 420, From the box:
~850-1100# spring
~Rebound: 3 or 5
~Preload: 1/4 way down threads (didn't count)

About Me:
~190, 200 geared up
~About 80k worth of experience on a motorcycle
~Riding 20 yrs (taking the last 6 of 10 yrs off)
My SetUp:
Preload: Spot on from box
Rebound: 4 of 5

During after ride, didn't need to change a thing!

For anyone interested: The is one left on Amazon.com for $330.

Bike Setup:
~RaceTech .95 Springs (factory recommended oil height and weight)
~Progressive 420 Rear shock
~Two_Bro Exhaust
~Renthal Streetfighter bars
~Givi Speed Screen

[Ottawa919]

Great review! We often get caught up in the world of what is best for sport bikes hitting the track. For the average 919 rider, much of that reasoning doesn't apply. It's overkill. Also, the 919 shock is so bad, that just about anything will be an improvement, whereas sport bikes have (usually) decent suspension to begin with, so big improvement relatively harder to find.

Thanks again for posting.

[curiousmike]

Thanks for posting the details.
Progressive may or may not actually use progressive rate springs on all their applications.

Ottawa - perfectly summed up.

[HeliMech]

Great review. Nice to see some seat time info on this setup. Keep us updated.

[CBnotAnRR]

Definitely true about racing vs. road riding, and also why I bought up about suspension type itself. As mentioned, this one is a from Progressive and is a progressive rate also.

Something I forgot to mention. Seat height did not seem to raise or lower because of the new shock. I didn't measure before or after though, so just going by feeling...

[Toast]

Excellent. Another 9er near me.

[nd4spdbh]

what was the part number for the correct progressive 420 shock?

[Tom]

Part number: PS420-1054

[mcromo44]

Good writeup, and is loaded with practicalities that relate to the majority of us all.
As for the links, they can be played with to tune the changing rate and therefore also the swing arm angle change as a function of rear wheel displacement.
Interestingly enough, a race track set of Yosh links for a GSX-R rear makes the rear more linear.
The factory linkage is designed with passenger load also in mind, as well as range of rider weights.

[Blackheart]

I'm with those that can't believe how bad the stock rear shock is. AT the very least, it should be better than the sharp jolts it transfers. Great to hear this shock improves ride quality.

I can recommend the Kyle Racing front revalving/respringing. Ohlins is the only non-stock shock I've had on this bike...of course, it's fantastic. Maybe a lessor-cost treatment would be the Kyle front with a Progressive rear? That would put the total at about 1 G. That's cheaper than selling the CB then buying another bike...which is what I was going to do before getting the suspension worked out.

Always nice to have options! Thanks for bringing this to the attention of your fellow CBer's...

[mcromo44]

What remains is this.
919s can be upgraded in terms of suspension from mild to serious levels of rework or changeouts.
The degree is really a matter of what one wants, and what they are willing to spend.
Nor is the frame and swingarm a legit issue, at least within the confines of street rubber and track days useage, thus making suspension component changes legit for someone wanting them.

[nd4spdbh]

now OP, what year is your bike? i have an 04 and dont consider the rear to be too bad after i played with the preload and rebound settings (maybe ignorance is bliss?)

btw ronayers has the progressive 420 shock for the 919 for like 250.

[PAULIBIKER]

Originally Posted by nd4spdbh

now OP, what year is your bike? i have an 04 and dont consider the rear to be too bad after i played with the preload and rebound settings (maybe ignorance is bliss?)

btw ronayers has the progressive 420 shock for the 919 for like 250.

You better post a link (and get a commission). I hope Ronayers has a bunch in stock.

[Blackheart]

Originally Posted by nd4spdbh

now OP, what year is your bike? i have an 04 and dont consider the rear to be too bad after i played with the preload and rebound settings (maybe ignorance is bliss?)

The only 919 I ever rode was my 07. Unless the roads you ride are very smooth, surely you'd have to realize the 07 rear kicks like a mule over any sharp bump. If the 04's are anything nearly as out of whack as my 07 was, you'd feel like you got a new bike if you upgrade that boat anchor of a shock.

[mcromo44]

The stock 919 shock is a shock, as compared to being a damper.
They shock extremely well.
The damping is atrocious.

[Blackheart]

Originally Posted by mcromo44

The stock 919 shock is a shock, as compared to being a damper.
They shock extremely well.
The damping is atrocious.

NOW I understand!

[nd4spdbh]

still waiting to hear if the op went from an 02-03 to this shock... or from an 04+ bike to this shock.

[Pvster]

nd4spdbh, i went from an 02 shock to an 05 shock and am currently using the 420 progressive. yes its an improvement over the 05 shock!

[drivit]

been harping about progressive for years, good value for the money.

[nd4spdbh]

Originally Posted by Pvster

nd4spdbh, i went from an 02 shock to an 05 shock and am currently using the 420 progressive. yes its an improvement over the 05 shock!

Originally Posted by drivit

been harping about progressive for years, good value for the money.

bah..... u guys are not going to make my wallet happy.....

[Ottawa919]

Originally Posted by mcromo44

The stock 919 shock is a shock, as compared to being a damper.
They shock extremely well.
The damping is atrocious.

Well done!

[CBnotAnRR]

I think I called RonAyer's & PwrSprts something or another. Both had them listed, but none in stock. Don't take my word for it though, double check for yourself!

[jeffc_76]

I see these shocks listed as fitting the '02-'04 919. Does anyone know of any reason why they wouldn't fit the '05? I know people "upgrade" their '02-'04 rear shocks to the '05+ shock, so I assume a shock that fits any year '02-'07 will fit any other year in that range.

[Pvster]

02-03 uses the same rear shock. 04-07 uses the same rear shock. anything that fits an 02 will fit an 07. dont sweat it, you're good to go.

[2002-919]

Looks like $325 at RA. Where did you get the $250 from?

EA/420 SERIES SINGLE SHOCK - Search : 420-1054

[2002-919]

$260: Progressive Suspension 420 Series Single Shock 420-1054

But: "Sorry, the following item is currently out of stock: Progressive Suspension 420 Series Single Shock 420-1054"

[snowytgr1]

Ron Ayers has it listed for $249.88 but also says out of stock

1518170

420 SHK HONDA 919 (PS420-1054) + $20 shipping

[Pvster]

i have one i'll sell to you for..... $600

[07919Dave]

Free Market economy at its best!

[g00gl3it]

Originally Posted by Pvster

i have one i'll sell to you for..... $600

Pfffft.... when you can pick up an Ohlins for $450????

[Pvster]

Originally Posted by g00gl3it

Pfffft.... when you can pick up an Ohlins for $450????

or one for $0.01, yet the seller refused to honor the deal

[jeffc_76]

I'm guessing this is old news but it looks like the PS420-1054 is discontinued. I emailed Ron Ayers to ask if they had it in stock or, if not, when it would be back in stock, and they replied saying it was no longer available. At $250, this looked like a nice lower budget alternative to the high end stuff. At $460+....not so much.

I don't suppose any of the newer Progressive shocks are compatible with the 919?