If you're rocking an extended swingarm you need to think about your shock. Sticking with the OE unit is a big mistake, but there's an easy solution.
There are two big problems when you run a stock rear shock on your stretched sportbike. First, standard rear shocks are designed for the whole world; from skinny 100-pound trackday fans to 300-pound boulevard cruisers. And second, they're designed to work with the standard swingarm. So when you slap on a 12-over chromed 'arm, pop your old lady on the back then head over to the beach, is it a surprise when you end up grinding your rear tire on the fender? And don't even think about how the handling will be with the extra leverage from the longer arm crushing the stock unit.
Enter Californian suspension maestros Progressive Suspension. The guys at the La Palma-based firm have been doing the business for cruiser fans and track riders for years. And now they're helping out the custom sportbike scene with a new line of extended swingarm replacement shocks.
Based on the 465-series monoshock, the 465 Long Arm shock is specially sprung and damped to ensure solid handling and no rubbing of the tire on your bodywork (or your old lady's). And the units are also shipped one-inch lower than stock to help level the bike out if you've dropped the front.
Dave Zemla of Progessive told SSB, "Ride quality is superior to bikes with ridiculously heavy springs over stock dampers, and the correct closed length helps keep tires and sensitive bodywork from colliding."
Like the main 465-series units, the Long Arm shocks feature a high-pressure gas monotube damper design, with a threaded preload adjuster and five-way rebound damping adjustment to fine-tune the performance to your riding style and weight. Build quality is good too, with a hard-anodized finish on the all-aluminum body.
The Competition
-Race Tech G3-S Custom Series
from $699
racetech.com
The Details
-Available for ZX-14 and Hayabusa, more models coming soon
-Adjustable preload
-Five-way rebound adjustable
Price: $495.95
Website: progressivesuspension.com
| THE SCORE |
| Style: |
19/20 |
| Price: |
15/20 |
| Durability: |
19/20 |
| Street cred: |
18/20 |
| Performance: |
19/20 |
| Style: |
18/20 |
| Price: |
18/20 |
| Durability: |
20/20 |
| Street cred: |
20/20 |
| Performance: |
15/20 |