ome companies take a while to find their stride after start-up, while others make one or two good items and rest on their laurels. Whereas anyone who has ever seen or used products from Progressive Suspension would agree that they got it right the first time and have continued building exceptional suspension systems ever since.
Progressive Suspension was founded in 1982 by Jay Tullis and Donn Rickard who between them had over 30 years of motorcycle experience. Over the next few years the company grew by leaps and bounds establishing itself as a major player in the suspension industry. During this time multiple product lines were introduced to help further establish Progressive Suspension as a leader in not only suspension, but other areas such as motorcycle accessories and repair tools. Progressive Suspension is now one of the largest aftermarket motorcycle suspension manufacturers in the United States as well as being a supplier of suspension components to domestic OE customers such as American IronHorse, Bourget’s Bike      Works, Motor Trike, Big Bear Choppers, American Performance Cycle, California Sidecar, and many others.
     Progressive Suspension’s philosophy has always been to sell through a distributor network in order to best serve both dealers and consumers. This policy ensures the product is available internationally and consumers will have easy access to it. On the Original Equipment side of their business, Progressive Suspension prides themselves on reliable delivery to meet the needs of their OE customers who count on the quality and performance of their products to compliment their vehicles.
     Progressive Suspension has worked with major performance companies and teams such as White Brothers, XR’s Only, Muzzys R&D, Bartels Harley-Davidson®, Stroker Performance and most factory off-road race teams to develop and test new products. By combining the use of the latest in design, data collection, rapid prototyping and testing equipment with a dedicated team of professionals who have a passion for developing products that emphasize quality and performance,      Progressive Suspension continues to be at the forefront of innovation.
Currently, the Progressive Suspension product line includes a host of new, cutting edge, performance suspension shocks and suspension systems for Harleys, Metric Cruisers, Standards and Customs.
     A good example of Progressive Suspension’s Cruiser products is the AirTail suspension system for the venerable HD Softail. The AirTail allows a rider to lower his bike for that custom look and still set ride firmness independently. Utilizing Progressive Suspension’s custom tuned dampers, the AirTail offers superior damping, improving ride quality and control. The AirTail is not just a cosmetic fix, but a genuine suspension improvement thanks to features such as the linear rate coils coupled with a progressive rate air shock for a smooth ride and ultimate bottoming control. The optional On-Board Compressor allows the owner to dial in the ride with the touch of a button.
     Another great product for the custom crowd is the AirTail I.A.S. (Inertia Active System). This is an integrated air and coil shock which offers independent firmness and height adjustments and boasts Progressive Suspension’s Inertia Valve technology which separates wheel movement from chassis movement. The result is a smooth, adjustable, ride over varying road conditions, as well as ride height adjustment.
     The flagship product from Progressive Suspension is the 440 Series shocks. By combining PSI’s patented I.A.S. technology with progressive rate springs, the 440s are the top of the line coil-over shock. The Inertia Active System allows this shock to uniquely separate chassis movement from wheel movement. The result is a float-over-the-rough-stuff-without-wallowing-in-the-twists-and-turns ride. A black nitride shaft finish for improved durability completes the package.
The latest news from this market leader doesn’t involve a specific suspension product, but rather the location they build them in. Always looking to improve the line, PSI has relocated their production facilities to Orange County, California. The new building, located in La Palma will house an expanded R&D Department, as well as upgraded space for Customer Service and Marketing. Their hi-tech suspension test facility has also been expanded and will allow for more efficient new product development.
     Now twenty five years into building the best of the best of high end motorcycle suspension, PSI continues to innovate, while still serving the core of the market they created 25 years ago. Ask your Drag Specialties rep for more information about the Progressive Suspension product line and how it may fit into your store.