When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I installed a pair of brand new 2016 12" premium Road Glide take offs last year on my 2011 RK. I had adjusted them all over the place from 4 turns to 17 turns. (2 up 99%) They road harsh and bottomed out on most bumps.Yesterday I had a chance to flip the R/H shock over. I set it at 15 turns as a starting point. My wife and I went out today for 200+ mile ride today, The Dragon, The Moonshiner and run I40 home. All I can say is having the shock installed as the prior picture with the arrow. 100% different shock. It does not bottom out at all on any bumps or dips, like it did before. These shocks now work very well. They smooth out the little bumps and washboard and no harsh hit. It is amazing how good they are now in comparison. I had read the mfg states it makes no difference, I will assure you that it is night and day. I had planned on ordering an upgraded set this evening, but I don't need them. There is no placebo effect here, it's a dramatic improvement. Very happy with the heads up on this issue. Thanks to all that posted.
Just to clarify, you now have it mounted like the picture with the arrow?
of course HD will say it makes no difference. they do not want to recall all the bikes to put the shock on correctly.
The manufacturer of the shocks says they can go either way (not HD) so it really doesn't matter unless you're installing a detachable passenger backrest. If so, there's a service bulletin put out by HD saying they will flip it for you, if you can't or don't feel comfortable taking the 10 minutes to do it. There's no conspiracy here.
My shocks look like these, they are 13" though. These are not a picture of my actual shocks, but mine look exactly like these. They have been on three bikes now, a 2009, 2012 and my current 2014. I bought them used here on this forum in 2011 or so. The 2009 and the 2012 both had quick release docking hardware, and quick release backrest and luggage rack too. My shocks do not have the big bare portion shock tube like in the pics shown here, my spring goes all the way, and covers up all of the right shock.
I'm really not sure what this means, just sharing what I have on my scooter.
My shocks are the OEM take offs from a 2016 RG, 12". The right shock does NOT look like this pic. My R/H shock looks looks like azdrumbles pic. There a different shocks, I don't know who gets which R/H shock.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.