..I always assumed if you want a smooth ride, ride a Harley. Want a hard handling ride, ride a Sport bike.
Eliminate Front Fork dive?
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,806
Likes: 8,705
From: Edmonton, Alberta
I assumed that too - turns out I was wrong. All three of the sportier bikes I've owned have had a more supple ride than any of the three Harleys I've owned.
I've been able to improve the Harleys' ride somewhat with better shocks but still inferior.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 1,466
From: Charleston, SC
Hey Gov, That is one of the things the new Pro-Action front fork system was designed to do. I rode with George on a test ride when he was fine tuning the system. I was amazed at how the dive disappeared. The kit is not expensive at around $200 bucks. Depending on who you can get to install it the total may not be too bad. I plan to add it to my bike this fall to compliment the Pro-Action rear shocks.
Good luck as I am not familiar with any other add ons that may help.
Good luck as I am not familiar with any other add ons that may help.
EDIT: I just looked at the webpage. George was founder of Pro Action. The 49mm Fork kit, Pro Action Street Series Fork Kit is $315 for my Ultra Classic. That's not bad. I'll as my Dealer how much install will be.
Last edited by GOV5; May 31, 2020 at 06:50 AM.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,336
Likes: 415
From: Southern Maryland
Confused
When I rode dirt bikes, we wanted as much travel in the forks as we could get. The idea was to let the front tire move up and down as you hit the bumps while you basically sat on the seat. I fail to see what has changed.
I think you still want the front tire to move up as it encounters an obstacle, and drop back down to follow the contour of the road so you maintain tire contact.
On my 2009, I changed to SE Heavy fork oil, and then was unlucky enough to follow riders who took a shortcut on a dirt road. This road had been bulldozed so it had the bumps. My front end was too stiff, and my tires could not keep up so my front end skipped and moved on me. I kept slowing down until it was ridiculous, everyone was passing me. I went home and put the 5 wt back in. On my 2015, I am using 7.5 wt oil and couldn't be happier.
Why would you not want the front tire to move up and down freely?
I think you still want the front tire to move up as it encounters an obstacle, and drop back down to follow the contour of the road so you maintain tire contact.
On my 2009, I changed to SE Heavy fork oil, and then was unlucky enough to follow riders who took a shortcut on a dirt road. This road had been bulldozed so it had the bumps. My front end was too stiff, and my tires could not keep up so my front end skipped and moved on me. I kept slowing down until it was ridiculous, everyone was passing me. I went home and put the 5 wt back in. On my 2015, I am using 7.5 wt oil and couldn't be happier.
Why would you not want the front tire to move up and down freely?
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
Likes: 1,466
From: Charleston, SC
When I rode dirt bikes, we wanted as much travel in the forks as we could get. The idea was to let the front tire move up and down as you hit the bumps while you basically sat on the seat. I fail to see what has changed.
I think you still want the front tire to move up as it encounters an obstacle, and drop back down to follow the contour of the road so you maintain tire contact.
On my 2009, I changed to SE Heavy fork oil, and then was unlucky enough to follow riders who took a shortcut on a dirt road. This road had been bulldozed so it had the bumps. My front end was too stiff, and my tires could not keep up so my front end skipped and moved on me. I kept slowing down until it was ridiculous, everyone was passing me. I went home and put the 5 wt back in. On my 2015, I am using 7.5 wt oil and couldn't be happier.
Why would you not want the front tire to move up and down freely?
I think you still want the front tire to move up as it encounters an obstacle, and drop back down to follow the contour of the road so you maintain tire contact.
On my 2009, I changed to SE Heavy fork oil, and then was unlucky enough to follow riders who took a shortcut on a dirt road. This road had been bulldozed so it had the bumps. My front end was too stiff, and my tires could not keep up so my front end skipped and moved on me. I kept slowing down until it was ridiculous, everyone was passing me. I went home and put the 5 wt back in. On my 2015, I am using 7.5 wt oil and couldn't be happier.
Why would you not want the front tire to move up and down freely?
What's causing my issue is the "dive" where there was never any 'UP" motion. There are times when that up and down motion help...like riding over speed bumps. If you apply the front brake heavy when your front tire first hits the bottom entrance to the bump, the rebound back up will carry you over the speed bump without ever feeling the bump at all.
However, when just coming to a stop, and putting both feet down while squeezing the front brake, the front end dives hard. That's NOT where it should dive because no bump was ever hit. I'm not naive either, as I understand forward momentum will naturally cause some forward weight shift just as it does in a car. But not enough to compress the forks half way down. It should be much more gentle that that.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,174
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From: Charleston, SC
I KNOW what's needed...a better suspension. I'm not sure how much longer I'm going to have this bike. I usually trade about every four years, and I'm there now.
I'm trying to get it a little better..if that's possible..for a "little amount of money"..if THAT is possible. OK, I'M CHEAP! LOL COSMIC gave me the best solution other than just pouring in heavier fork oil.
What I really need to do is decide if I'm going to keep this bike or trade. If my decision is to trade, I'll save my money now and have the dealer put in a new suspension on the new bike at time of purchase. I'm going to look at some different bikes too. I may wind up with an adventure bike which already has a good stock suspension.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 2,395
Likes: 153
From: Utah
It's not really the fork dive to me... it's the impossibility to keep the bike in a balanced position once the fork has to dive... a more gradual 'dive' might make it easier to keep your balance but a touring Harley is just top heavy... not much you can do about that.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 92
From: ny
In done heavier fork oil, different rates springs different size spacers, different fork oil levels and nothing really helped. The fork dive was improved but the front end was to harsh for my liking. I even tried progressive suspension mono tubes. Then I can across Pro Action fork kit. This fork kit was so much better than any thing else in done. The fork dive is gone, front end feels so much better. Its a easy install, hardest part is removing the forks. I'm still slowly trying to get the feel I'm looking for, it's close, but I think it can be better. For $300 ya can't go wrong.
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Joined: Jun 2018
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From: AZ
Have some Maxima 15 wt fork oil ready to go. Waiting on fork nut socket tool & new fork nut seals to arrive. Have 944 rear shocks that are awesome but have never liked the front end ride. '09 Ultra Classic.
Novice
Joined: Aug 2018
Posts: 17
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
I changed springs to a progressive front fork set from Revzilla for about a hundred dollars, followed their video and did the work myself, took the brake diving I was getting right out of the picture....