Concrats on the new shocks! I need to call and get some new rear shocks coming for my new King. Harley really lied there *** off promoting the new rear shocks. I mean honest marketing. I mean lifestyle. No they lied.

 

How did you figure out what length you wanted?

 

Huh? I had a 2015 King, stock air shocks sucked, put Progressive 444's on and huge improvement..the OEM shocks on my 2017 are an obvious improvement over the 444's and the 2015 and 2017 Kings are the same frame/chasis..the forks are a big improvement too

 

I agree. I started out thinking the shocks felt okay, but keep thinking back to my 04 King that had Howard's Shocks on it. It really is Night and day. The only people who think HD stock shocks are decent are folks who've not experienced a real premium shock on a bagger. HD has been screwing the pooch on their suspensions for decades. The new M8 bikes are no different.

 

I had some basic observations.

I am not needing to lower my bike in-order to flat foot it.

My experience with My road kings ride height was good, I never scraped and could off road the bike without hitting the frame. some camp grounds have a Berm to climb over to get off the road.

shock travel, more could be better but too long a shock gets into the mufflers, then you have to modify things.

Harley has basically two lengths of shock, 12 and 13", I stuck with a length that I knew was good for me, a Phone call to Howard while on his web page will either change your mind or reinforce what you think you need.

 

Who is Howard? How do I contact him about getting some shocks? I notice that my bike kind of pogo's around long sweepers. The stock shocks need some compression and rebound adjustments that arent available.

 

http://www.motorcyclemetal.com/gpage32.html

 

Ohlins + Penske suspensions are way better than OE, + having suspension set up for you + your riding habits is better than all the bling in the world!!!!!

 

IMO stock air shocks on a Roadtoad suck.. 440s were better but Ohlins setup by Ohlin USA were mush better.

 

yup, those air shocks are garbage, just ok for load bearing two up but so non compliant over any uneven road conditions..my Progressive 444's were so much better but like the OEM 2017's even more, so much that see zero need to upgrade..but Ohlins are the bomb..came stock on my 78' Husky CR 250 mx bike and even way back then they were considered the best of the best..they know suspension