2018+ Softail Models Breakout

Time to upgrade the front suspension?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Feb 7, 2026 | 05:01 PM
  #1  
morooster's Avatar
morooster
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Photogenic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 324
Likes: 179
From: Socal
Default Time to upgrade the front suspension?

When I'm going at around 80-85 and the freeway gets those undulations, my bike will feel like its going to rock itself into a wobble. Normally I just slow down and get out of the fast lane, but its a pretty big buzzkill. I have a 13.5" shock in the rear so I'm curious if an upgrade like let's say GP cartridges will handle those better. It's a pretty big investment if I let them handle the labor, so I had to consult the wise posters of hdforums. Do Touring bikes handle road irregularities better?
 
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2026 | 05:39 PM
  #2  
Biggzed's Avatar
Biggzed
Seasoned HDF Member
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,465
Likes: 625
Default

Is this a new issue, or been around since day 1? If it's new, I would check over the bike over front to rear. Engine mounts, suspension, bushings, tires, fall away adjustment etc.

Zach
 
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2026 | 08:36 PM
  #3  
drbf's Avatar
drbf
Intermediate
15 Year Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 44
Likes: 9
From: Delaware
Default

I agree with Biggzed, i do not have any wobble at 80-100 miles/hr. Let us know how you resolve the problem?
 
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2026 | 08:48 PM
  #4  
chopper_man's Avatar
chopper_man
Stellar HDF Member
Veteran: Army
10 Year Member
Liked
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 3,325
Likes: 2,115
From: Masshole
Default

North of that very frequently, never an issue. Perhaps the aerodynamics of your scoot.
 
Reply
Old Feb 7, 2026 | 10:54 PM
  #5  
morooster's Avatar
morooster
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Photogenic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 324
Likes: 179
From: Socal
Default

Hm.. OK, Looks like I will need to check some things. So everyone has a rock solid ride but me, that's concerning
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2026 | 12:31 AM
  #6  
Durham man's Avatar
Durham man
Stellar HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,321
Likes: 1,884
Default

Low rider s and st inverted forks have the same internal’s as regular forks. Don’t know if Harley improved the newer ones. I went with Olin’s . That said never had high speed problems with the stock fork’s. I also run a 13.5 rear shock and my tubes are down in the tree’s to raise the front and level the bike. Great setup.
 

Last edited by Durham man; Feb 8, 2026 at 12:50 AM.
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2026 | 12:33 AM
  #7  
Durham man's Avatar
Durham man
Stellar HDF Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 3,321
Likes: 1,884
Default

 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2026 | 05:43 AM
  #8  
GalvTexGuy's Avatar
GalvTexGuy
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,070
Likes: 5,321
Default

Originally Posted by morooster
Hm.. OK, Looks like I will need to check some things. So everyone has a rock solid ride but me, that's concerning
So, did it always handle like you described or did it start after installing the shock, the handle bars, the windshield or some other change you made to the bike?
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-5

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
Old Feb 8, 2026 | 02:45 PM
  #9  
morooster's Avatar
morooster
Thread Starter
|
Tourer
Photogenic
Joined: Mar 2023
Posts: 324
Likes: 179
From: Socal
Default

Originally Posted by GalvTexGuy
So, did it always handle like you described or did it start after installing the shock, the handle bars, the windshield or some other change you made to the bike?
I am pretty sure it just got slowly worse over time. I did change out the bars and risers and triple tree. Could be some bolts that need to be retorqued
 
Reply
Old Feb 8, 2026 | 03:20 PM
  #10  
GalvTexGuy's Avatar
GalvTexGuy
Seasoned HDF Member
Veteran: Navy
10 Year Member
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 10,070
Likes: 5,321
Default

Originally Posted by morooster
I am pretty sure it just got slowly worse over time. I did change out the bars and risers and triple tree. Could be some bolts that need to be retorqued
Triple tree? Did you increase the rake angle?
 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:34 PM.

story-0
6 Weirdest Harley-Davidsons Ever Sold to the Public

Slideshow: From military-inspired singles to scooters and three-wheel utility vehicles, these Harleys took the company far outside its comfort zone.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-06-02 18:34:10


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-2
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-6
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-7
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-8
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.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE