Thinking of upgrading my upgraded suspension
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 3,684
Likes: 4,294
From: Northeast, NJ
Thinking of upgrading my upgraded suspension
Greetings,
My bike is a 2013 Dyna Switchback. I've modded it with Racetech single rate springs and Gold Valve and Emulator for the forks, and Hagon Nitro 13" shocks. The ride quality is vastly better than stock, but.........
I took a test ride on a 2020 114 Heritage recently and was blown away by how good the suspension was. Ate up road imperfections like no HD I've previous experienced....including mine. My guess is the additional travel in the fork (Heritage is 5.1" vs 4.1" in the FLD) and shocks (4.5" for the Heritage and 3.4" for the Hagon Nitro 13"), really makes the difference.
Since the rest of the Heritage didn't do "it" for me (tube tires are a deal breaker, the bags for the Heritage are far from designed well, and the frame vibrations specific to the counterbalanced Softail frame/engine are a turn off), I'm thinking of going a step further on my bike for suspension.
Thinking of a fully adjustable Andreani fork setup (since they actually make one for the Switchback) and a better shock with as much travel as I can get.
Would it be worth it though? I'm wondering if the Andreani fork kit actually make the fork better. Only advantage I see from the Andreani kit is the full adjustability, vs the with the Gold Valves, I literally have to tear down the entire fork to get to the GV/Emulator, and then cut new spacers and futz with oil height/volume. With the shock, any recommendations on a quality shock, offering at least preload and damping adjustment that will give 4"+ of travel and a quality ride? My sense of the Hagon Nitro is that it's good, waaaaaaaaaaaaay better than stock, but not great.
My bike is a 2013 Dyna Switchback. I've modded it with Racetech single rate springs and Gold Valve and Emulator for the forks, and Hagon Nitro 13" shocks. The ride quality is vastly better than stock, but.........
I took a test ride on a 2020 114 Heritage recently and was blown away by how good the suspension was. Ate up road imperfections like no HD I've previous experienced....including mine. My guess is the additional travel in the fork (Heritage is 5.1" vs 4.1" in the FLD) and shocks (4.5" for the Heritage and 3.4" for the Hagon Nitro 13"), really makes the difference.
Since the rest of the Heritage didn't do "it" for me (tube tires are a deal breaker, the bags for the Heritage are far from designed well, and the frame vibrations specific to the counterbalanced Softail frame/engine are a turn off), I'm thinking of going a step further on my bike for suspension.
Thinking of a fully adjustable Andreani fork setup (since they actually make one for the Switchback) and a better shock with as much travel as I can get.
Would it be worth it though? I'm wondering if the Andreani fork kit actually make the fork better. Only advantage I see from the Andreani kit is the full adjustability, vs the with the Gold Valves, I literally have to tear down the entire fork to get to the GV/Emulator, and then cut new spacers and futz with oil height/volume. With the shock, any recommendations on a quality shock, offering at least preload and damping adjustment that will give 4"+ of travel and a quality ride? My sense of the Hagon Nitro is that it's good, waaaaaaaaaaaaay better than stock, but not great.
HDF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 1,067
From: Ohio
Everyone and their brother will scream from the mountaintops “Ohlins! Legends!”..... the truth is even if you’re riding your dyna on a Mx course you won’t be able to tell the difference between any aftermarket system as long as it’s setup correctly.
I have bitubo front and rear and my bike eats corners all day long. I have $1000 in it total and I will bet you anything that it performs as well or better as the major bro brands.
I have bitubo front and rear and my bike eats corners all day long. I have $1000 in it total and I will bet you anything that it performs as well or better as the major bro brands.
Tourer
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 334
Likes: 40
From: Midland,Texas
Everyone and their brother will scream from the mountaintops Ohlins! Legends!..... the truth is even if youre riding your dyna on a Mx course you wont be able to tell the difference between any aftermarket system as long as its setup correctly.
I have bitubo front and rear and my bike eats corners all day long. I have $1000 in it total and I will bet you anything that it performs as well or better as the major bro brands.
I have bitubo front and rear and my bike eats corners all day long. I have $1000 in it total and I will bet you anything that it performs as well or better as the major bro brands.
Road Master
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 815
Likes: 292
From: Uptown Bay Area, Cali
What youre describing has little to do with the shocks and front forks when you were comparing your bike against the new Softails. Frame stiffness and having a swingarm solidly mounted to the frame is what youre really feeling. IMO, if you truly want to upgrade your suspension, get in touch with Howard at Motorcycle Metal and get some rear shocks and a cartridge system for your front forks from him.
Dave
Dave
Club Member
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 10,734
Likes: 3,755
From: SWFL
Everyone and their brother will scream from the mountaintops Ohlins! Legends!..... the truth is even if youre riding your dyna on a Mx course you wont be able to tell the difference between any aftermarket system as long as its setup correctly.
I have bitubo front and rear and my bike eats corners all day long. I have $1000 in it total and I will bet you anything that it performs as well or better as the major bro brands.
I have bitubo front and rear and my bike eats corners all day long. I have $1000 in it total and I will bet you anything that it performs as well or better as the major bro brands.
Dont assume, just because you cant, other cant.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 2,620
Likes: 1,091
From: Eastern IA
I can easily tell the difference between racetech emulators (had on my 08 FXD And a 00 FXR), Öhlins NIX22s (had on my 16 Low Rider S and currently on my 19 bagger) and GP 25mm carts, which are currently on my 17 Low Rider S
Dont assume, just because you cant, other cant.
Dont assume, just because you cant, other cant.
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 2,574
Likes: 1,067
From: Ohio
I can easily tell the difference between racetech emulators (had on my 08 FXD And a 00 FXR), Öhlins NIX22s (had on my 16 Low Rider S and currently on my 19 bagger) and GP 25mm carts, which are currently on my 17 Low Rider S
Dont assume, just because you cant, other cant.
Dont assume, just because you cant, other cant.