Bottom picture is the heritage shock with remote spring preload adjuster next to the stock FXLR shock. And the Heritage Shock installed.

 

I'm hoping to disassemble both shocks when I swap them and put my Sport Glide's remote preload adjuster on the Heritage shock. They look the same in the service manual...I'll know for sure when I get the new shock in-hand.

 

Bung King sells a shock extension for the 2018 Softails, adds 1 3/4" lift to the rear. $120

 

I was looking at that, not for the stock shock (which is indeed, very good for a factory piece) but for the Öhlins monoshock. They only offer it in 12.5” which is the stock length for the LR, but I also want some height.

I’ve had Öhlins on every HD I’ve owned - currently on my RKS and my FXR and as decent as the stock shock is, the Öhlins should be a world of difference.

So im wondering if that extension will work on the Öhlins monoshock instead of the factory one. Looking at the photo of it, I can’t figure out how it mounts to the shock...

 

It is for the stock shock, you need to remove the shock from the bike, compress the spring and replace the swingarm end. The Bung King is threaded to mount on the shock shaft. Check it out below

Cheers

 

Ok, so if I'm understanding you, the stock shock shaft is threaded and the stock mounting eye unscrews from that shaft, which also releases the spring cup/platform/whatever its called. So for this to work with the Ohlins mono shock, it would have to have to have an "un-screwable" eye and the same threads as stock. Hmm, thats probably a very long shot.

I'll ask Howard Messner at Motorcyclemetal.com - he should know. He talked about making up a custom Ohlins monoshock of a longer length then then 12.5" Ohlins HD502 they are only offering at this point.

Thanks!

 

Will it increase ground clearance as my pan frequently hits the ground.

 

Well, thats pretty much the point of that piece... Says raises rear of bike 1.75"

 

I wonder what it does to the handling. I would love to get more than 27 degrees of lean angle out of my Sport Glide, but I'm a bit afraid just raising the rear. On a sportbike, even small increases to the rear can quicken the turn-in considerably at best, or make it very nervous at worst. 1.75" is a huge change...

 

To keep it simple; sport bikes are affected greatly by minor changes in suspension because you already have a bike on the edge of the handling spectrum. (23.5 - 25 degree rake)
Harley (cruiser type) bikes are less affected because the geometry is much more relaxed. (28 - 30 degree rake)

Yes turn in will be easier and ground clearance on turns will increase, however high speed stability is not going to be affected dramatically.

Remember an increase of 1.75" at the rear of the bike is at the far end of the fulcrum point (being the front wheel) this will translate into a .25 - .50 (maximum) degree change of steering rake at best, hardly sport bike territory.
It is always trial and error once you start down the road of modifications

Good luck and ride safe