If you surf the net and find out what customers are saying about these shocks. Yes they start at $420 each. I never intended for these shocks to compete price-wise with e-bay.

These shocks were designed for the discerning rider who requires the absolute best ride available. Another great shock is made for your bike called Öhlins. It is distributed Parts Unlimited which owns Drag Specialties. As with any race the winner is contested daily. You may not require the control and comfort level produced with this unequaled equipment. Whose are better, only you can decide! You owe it to yourself to at least learn and experience them for yourself before passing judgement. By the way, those are carbon fiber wheels that are on there. Again, if accelerating fast, stopping very quickly, unreal lightnes in lane transitioning, and a much improve ride quality are not of interest, these are not for you either. They are expensive.


[IMG]local://upfiles/29413/293ACE4B7021417F9B1F9A769E0CEFA4.jpg[/IMG]

 

$820 for a pair of shock of that quality doesn't sound too bad actually. Heck, guys spend that much for a set of pipes & a tuner, or a gazillion chrome doo dads and WAY more than that on engine mods. Good suspension is something that will be noticed every single time the bike is ridden. Me, I'm too cheap to do much of anything to my HD at this point, but if I were in the mood to spend some money, Suspension and aftermarket braking components would be at the top of my list.

 

I can assure you, you have never experienced this type of product on a Harley. Not like the shocks that are on the market for general use. On this similar type of shock (same technology but different valving, shim packs and dimensions that do not fit a Harley), we usually get them back for rebuilding after ¼ million miles. This is usually done by customers who do not wish to rebuild them themselves. They are component in build which means if you ruin something as in an accident, you can buy the parts and put it back together. Parts are sold by unit each. The same said if you buy a Dyna and sell it than buy a bagger, just buy the necessary parts to make it fit, re-spring, re-valve & you are good to go. With all of that said, which is cheaper; A poor performing chrome spring on a stick that you throw away after one year or an investment, something you pay for once?

 

Thanks FastHarley. I didn't know Ohlins made shocks for the Dyna. I have Ohlins on 2 bikes and Wilbers on a third. I've heard that Penske makes a great shock but have no direct experience.

 

Coming from the world of go fast track days I can back up what Fast Harley says about Ohlins.
Aint nothing better out there.
If you have a GOOD suspension guy set up your shock and forks you will not believe the difference. Money well spent.
Our local hot shoe lowered his track record by 2 seconds at Pacific raceway (the road course not the drag strip) will a redo of his Ohlins equiped GSXR by the factory reps.
2freakin seconds with just a adjustment!!
Dont really apply to Dynas but does show what a difference a quality well set up suspension will make.
I will look you up Fast Harley when I turn my ZX-14 into a Dyna.
Later Dudes, TC

 

Again,it is not about the track. That is a bi-product of the technology learned at the track. Your HD will be a far more enjoyable bike with any quality suspension. As far as Öhlins being the best, we debate that every weekend on the track. Now for the important part.

Your bike does not have to be a Jap bike to be better. I push them things around for a living. I have never ridden one in my life. I love all kinds of bikes including these but I do not want to catch anything from them. I ride only Harleys, that is just me. Again, I can appreciate these fine pieces of machinery; I just do not ride them. Ducati’s are very fine pieces of machinery also, I love looking at them, but I will not ride one of them either. We have one right now that costs over $100K in components. $10.5K for the Öhlins front forks alone.

As far as a Harley not needing great suspension, that is BS. I have 5 bikes in my garage (all Harleys) and the most enjoyable is my 113 ci FXR than my faster 124ci FL. I like the smaller bike for around town but the bagger for highway on an extended trip. I own both and if you feel your HD does not need a better way of going around corners and could use a much smoother ride, you do not know what a for real suspension can do for your riding experience.

The track bike is not comparable to a road bike but both can benefit in entirely different but the same ways. If your wheel is planted and transverses over bumps without loosing contact, you have a better situation. On a FL that means it is a much smoother and much more comfortable ride. On the track, you win but not because you are comfortable. Safety and control are a given. Turn your bike into a Jap bike to use this technology? Read and think for a while. You also can wait, not thinking than wait until everyone is doing it. It will come because it works. One ride and you will understand.

I am one of the first to bring this greatly improved suspension technology to you. On FL’s I am the first. I read some members comments about this subject and can offer this advice, expand your horizons and learn about a better way. Just because these un-ridable bikes you see in magazines do not offer this technology does not mean it is not significant. This is a forum that is to discuss new ideas and not for someone telling you what you should think is in style.

I would get great satisfaction if you learn for yourselves. You do not have to buy anything but PLEASE Just read.

 

I have a pair ofÖhlins S36Eshocks http://www.ohlins.com/Motorcycle/Pro...9/Default.aspx on my 2006 St. Bob. They were orinally ment for FXDX but with a few spacers they fit also to Bob. The handling is now much better! These shocks are firm but not hard. So they are as comfortable as the originals but they work much better on corners and with a heavy load. Only thing was that the front end felt even worse... But after I changed to a little bit stiffer fork oil, it got better. I'm sure that progressive front fork springs would make the front much better.

 

You should check out the Steel Tracker DRS &ARS from http://www.worksperformance.com.
They ride like you are on a cloud but handle like your bike is made too. They make them to order
what lenght, weight of you and your ride, the type of bike you have and what type of riding you do.
So they are a bit pricie $500.00 for the set.


[IMG]local://upfiles/36835/34DFB7C07D184B94A8E0116E6E5BB0E7.jpg[/IMG]

 

When you say “So they are as comfortable as the originals but they work much better on…..� You need to get to someone who can set up your shocks for you. I have the Penske/motorcyclemetal.com on my bike and the rear does not move. Your high quality shocks should do the same. You have something not correct. You probably need some type of adjustments to make them work right.

The front end on my Dyna as is with all Harleys are 1940’s technology. Of course the front will feel horrible. You will find all of the weak links. GMD owns Race-Tec. (our franchised company) and I can assure you, with the gold emulators, the front end would get better, with tweaking from someone knowlagable in your area, they get much better (doing the stuff they do not tell you about & we sure are not going to give up our trade secrets).

The next step up is a set of cartridges, toss that junk out inside of your fork tubes and replace them. Your ride will get much better. Your next step up is a set of real forks. Inverted is the only way to go. We buy our outer shell (uppers, stanchion tubes, and lugs for what ever calipers the customer wants) than we manufacturer the inside but buy the seals and shims (valving) from Öhlins. They are nothing but super Road and Tracks in a different shell and made to fit a Harley. The bumps disappear and you can use either a pair of 6-Piston calipers or radial mount calipers. At last, a comfortable Harley that stops. Good luck and check into what I said. Your shocks will work much, much, much better than you discribed. Worth the extra time and expense.

 

those would look great on my Banshee.
I'm sure they are of the highest quality, but they sure don't look "right" on a Harley. Resevour shocks, carbon fiber wheels, and the like belong on sport bikes, not cruisers. Sure, they may make your Harley more comfortable and modern, but so would a liquid-cooled engine, and a heater/ac unit. Hell, you could add two wheels and a climate controlled cab for the ultimate in comfort and control!

There comes a point in which you have to realize that you bought a Harley because you want it to look and feel like a Harley.