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Progressive Monotubes

4K views 22 replies 12 participants last post by  bob2002 
#1 ·
Do the Monotubes make the front of the bike sit higher?
 
#2 ·
Yes. If that is an issue, the fork tubes can be slid up inside the triple tree some to bring the front of the bike back down. I think the limit is 10mm above the top clamp.
 
#5 ·
With PMTs I mounted mine right back where they came from, flush. At 6', 6", reaching the ground? Not a problem for me! Ha.
 
#6 ·
I replaced mine last year in May after I had problems with my original set. This new set of tubes lowered my wing a little and I put the tubes in the clamp in the original position. I also did not put a shim in. My first set I put one shim in. After 9 months, of riding with these new tubes I think they are softer riding than my first set. The springs on my first set were progressively wound while the new ones were not. I used the Honda ss8 fork oil to.
I am 5'6" with a 30" inseam and weight about 180 lbs with gear on. Yes I am vertically challenged but I still can hold the 900+ lbs bike up on my tippy toes. Lol. I hope this helps.

Brett
 
#7 ·
I replaced mine last year in May after I had problems with my original set. This new set of tubes lowered my wing a little and I put the tubes in the clamp in the original position. I also did not put a shim in. My first set I put one shim in. After 9 months, of riding with these new tubes I think they are softer riding than my first set. The springs on my first set were progressively wound while the new ones were not. I used the Honda ss8 fork oil to.

Brett

Do Ya suppose the newer set is different, or was it that you did not use the spacer? I recall reports that use of the spacer really beefs-up the ride support, maybe too much.


prs
 
#8 ·
RE: Progressive Mono Tubes

Here is a pic of both PMT's. The one on the top is my original and the bottom is the replacement I bought before I received my replacements under warranty from Progressive.

The replacement I bought is different, the spring is thinner and you can see the closeness of the spacing between the winding is different. The progressive windings are almost non existent.

I did use one spacer on my old set but on the replacements I went with the recommendations in the instructions and by a parts counter person where I bought the replacements at. (They exclusively work on ALL YEARS GW's), so I trusted what he recommended. It was late in the night and I had to get my transportation done, so I can go to work. When I pushed the GW off of its center stand, I noticed that the front dropped considerably, almost like when my OEM springs were in there.

One shim does make the ride a little stiffer but I think with the shim, big bumps with the big jolts to the rider are better handled. The front of the bike was at OEM ride height, maybe a few millimeters higher because the GW leaned a little further than it did with OEM springs.
 

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#9 ·
Glad to see someone else talking about front suspension. I have a 2005 GL1800A that I got from the original owner who had put about 36,000 miles on it. The bike has 75,000 miles on it now. He also replaced the front springs with Traxxion springs rated at #3. They offer a range of 1 to 3 as for a more firmer ride. I didn't like the stiff ride so I got the #1's and replaced them. I know by visiting many forums that many people don't like the OEM springs because they are too "soft". I don't like the feel of all the vibration that comes up the handlebars. My phone vibrates while in the holder, my tall tumbler spills water at times and the noise it makes when hitting certain bumps is very annoying too. I also have the Traxxion rear shock and 1100lb spring. I want a Cadillac ride and not a log truck ride. I would like to find some OEM springs and install them in my tubes and see how they ride. If anyone here has any that are fairly new, I would like to purchase them if you are willing to part with them. If any of you want to offer suggestions, then please do so. Thanks in advance for your help.
Big H
 
#10 ·
Hi Big H. I am not familiar with Traxxion's rating of #1, #2, #3 and only know them as how they are, in spring rate. 1.1 (or 1.2 or 1.3) Kg/mm come to mind. I think OEM was in the .9 Kg/mm range. I would be willing to wager you would have several offers to trade. I run the 1.2's and I might interested in your 1.3's. That spring rate is stamped (or engraved) on the ends of the spring.
 
#14 ·
I just installed the PMT's in my 2017,according to tech at Progressive the GEN 3 has a spring tension of 1.06, I went with one spacer in the left fork, I rather it be a little stiff then bottom I did not install the anti dive hardware.
 
#15 ·
The original front suspension springs on my 03 is used for garden ornaments at the moment don t think that was a good idea anyway I have the early version of the tubes and roughly with 60K on them now with no issues I followed the instructions and used the one spacer on each tube at first it was a bit of a stiff ride but now have settled in nicely so far as to say the suspension on my wing at the moment is more supple than on my KLR SIDE NOTE I have raised the tubes 10 mm Next time I do a fork seal job might try it without the spacer and lower the forks back to stock :thumbup:
 
#19 · (Edited)
BIG H

This is getting old with this forum with PM's not working. I have a set of stock springs I just took out of my 2017 Wing with 638 miles on them if you want to do a swap for your traxxion springs let me know .
 
#20 ·
Gold winger Steve asked if there is a diffference in the PMT's.
I posted a pic of my replacements and the first set of PMT's in a past post of this thread.
There is a significant difference in the spring on thickness and how it is wound. As for the ride height, I noticed with my replacements my front end of the wing came down significantly. The top of the tubes are 1mm from the top of the clamp as shown in the picture of this thread.
I used one shim in my first set up; one shim in each tube. With one shim the front was higher just like when I got it from the dealer when I bought it. It rode a bit stiffer but handled the big bumps better.
My replacement set up I used NO shims, the front end was very noticeably lower than my first set up and when stock. What I have noticed now is, when I am riding my wing it uses the full stroke of suspension travel. This, making the ride very plush and having the rear shock adjusted to 25 or lower gives it a very plush ride.
When I have do my seals again which I hope is not going to be for awhile I am going to add a shim and see how it rides and how much the ride height changes.
 
#22 · (Edited)
Just an observation and a little new info. (2010 23K miles)
I just finished installing Gen-3 PMT's. Measured the height before, floor to bottom of nose cone with bike on center-stand, and after. Sits less than 1/4" higher (.225"). I have the tubes flush with the top of the clamp, NO spacer in the PMT.
According to my instructions it requires a total of 530 CC's (200 + 330) of fork oil for both forks. I used Belray 15 WT fork oil. I'm told any weight oil can be used as it does not function as a damper, only a lube for the sliders.
I also replaced all sliders and seals at the same time and re-installed the anti-dive components.
A time consuming but not terribly difficult job. As with most jobs, removing components to get the forks off was the most difficult part.
 
#23 ·
UPDATE to post# 14

I installed the last shim, every time I checked the cable tie around the fork tube I was only 1" from bottoming. I'm a little nervous with how soft these GEN 3 mono tubes are.
 
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