shock pre-load on Dyna
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 1,739
Likes: 10
From: Suffolk, England
Rather than guess, you can do it a tad more accurately...
- Have a friend hold the bike upright (but not by sitting on it).
- Measure the height of the upper shock mount from the ground.
- Load the bike with you and your usual gear.
- Have your friend measure the height of the upper shock mount again.
- Subtract the second measurement from the first.
- The goal is to have between 1" and 1.5" of sag.
- If you have more, increase the preload on the shock. If you have less, reduce the preload.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,926
Likes: 56
From: Knoxville, TN
Or,if you don't have a friend nearby, read the owners manual....
Or read your buddy's, or just ask someone here. Then if you can't figure out how much you and your stuff weighs...well, I can't help you.
Or read your buddy's, or just ask someone here. Then if you can't figure out how much you and your stuff weighs...well, I can't help you.
Thread Starter
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 7
From: SE Illinois
4 is probably right for your weight. You really want it on 5 everytime you run two up. I was in the twistys one day with my wife on the back and swore I had a tire go flat. I pulled over and tire pressure was good but the shock I was in the turn on was still on 3.
I give you a year and you'll be upgrading the shocks...I finally broke down and put ricors on mine and it's a big difference. I can fly over railroad tracks and no more jolting. It's amazing how much difference the bike handles in the twistys and the on a windy day I feel I have much better control. I didn't expect a shock to make it better with wind....added bonus.
I give you a year and you'll be upgrading the shocks...I finally broke down and put ricors on mine and it's a big difference. I can fly over railroad tracks and no more jolting. It's amazing how much difference the bike handles in the twistys and the on a windy day I feel I have much better control. I didn't expect a shock to make it better with wind....added bonus.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 2,325
Likes: 7
From: SE Illinois
Well, went for a ride with shocks on "4" last night....even better. RR tracks and large bumps are even less noticeable than on "3". Bumps through sharp corners are better absorbed now also. Handling and ride in general are much improved.
I'm going to set them up to "5" and give that a test....that may be too much for solo but we'll see. With the wife on it would need to be on 5 anyway, so I may just set them there & forget it.
So, I've went from setting 1 to 3 to 4 so far and it has been an improvement each time. I'm expecting to like 5 even better but we'll see. Don't have time to ride tonight & out of town for work tomorrow, so it will likely be the end of the week before I get a chance to test it out.
For reference, the best my wife & I can roughly measure without getting too complicated, I have about 1 inch of sag with just me on the bike (without any gear or wife) on setting "4".
I would love to upgrade shocks to Ricor or Progressive sometime in the future, but it would be down the list after Pro Pipe & cams. I just don't know if I want to put that much more $ into my Dyna that I know I would never get back. By the time I add all that much more stuff to my Dyna to make it want I would like it do be I could just trade and have a Road King & do a stage 1 on it & be good to go. Doubt that will happen in the near future. I already have over $2,000 in upgrades to my Dyna as it is....gotta stop somewhere. Still planning on doing the Pro Pipe this winter though, but that will likely be it on the Dyna.
There's never an end up upgrades and improvements, especially performance and practical stuff.
I'm going to set them up to "5" and give that a test....that may be too much for solo but we'll see. With the wife on it would need to be on 5 anyway, so I may just set them there & forget it.
So, I've went from setting 1 to 3 to 4 so far and it has been an improvement each time. I'm expecting to like 5 even better but we'll see. Don't have time to ride tonight & out of town for work tomorrow, so it will likely be the end of the week before I get a chance to test it out.
For reference, the best my wife & I can roughly measure without getting too complicated, I have about 1 inch of sag with just me on the bike (without any gear or wife) on setting "4".
I would love to upgrade shocks to Ricor or Progressive sometime in the future, but it would be down the list after Pro Pipe & cams. I just don't know if I want to put that much more $ into my Dyna that I know I would never get back. By the time I add all that much more stuff to my Dyna to make it want I would like it do be I could just trade and have a Road King & do a stage 1 on it & be good to go. Doubt that will happen in the near future. I already have over $2,000 in upgrades to my Dyna as it is....gotta stop somewhere. Still planning on doing the Pro Pipe this winter though, but that will likely be it on the Dyna.
There's never an end up upgrades and improvements, especially performance and practical stuff.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 348
Likes: 0
From: Jensen Beach Florida
I ride on 5 all the time. I went down to 4 and did not notice much difference except it seems to bottom out on some rough bumps. I think it handles better at 5 and don't have to change them when I ride 2 up. I'll bet you find the same at 5.
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 508
Likes: 2
From: Idaho Panhandle
Mine have been set to 4 since just after first 1500 miles; I'm down to 170 now- like 'em firm. Springs are getting softer though, saving up to buy Works Black Trackers. Funny story- took bike in for 1K service, asked for tech to turn shocks up 1 click from what ever they were set at. OK, get bike back, seems to handle bit funny, but my "first Harley", so maybe that's the way they is. Go on 500 mile bum burner Hog ride, not doing so well, rear end doing wild stuff. Next week, bought shock spanner wrench, check shocks- you know- turn them down all the way before turning them up, counting clicks on each one. Lo and behold, left shock set 3, right shock still at 1, WTF, no wonder bike handled a little funny. Guess tech heard turn 1 shock up 2 clicks from service writer 
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 5,477
Likes: 5
From: New Braunfels, Texas
Hey sharkman,
If you see a roadking in your future...don't spend anymore money on your dyna. I love the road king classic but unless I could have both, I wouldn't trade my dyna in for it. I've riden all the models and the touring bikes are awesome on the freeway but kinda boaty around town. My brother had his dyna for 7 years and ended up getting a heritage springer and has actually dropped it 4 times in a year. (mostly at 1 or 2 MPH)
The draw back to buying a new bike is you will lose a lot of money if you trade up. I already have close to 20K in my dyna and would be lucky to get 10K on a trade in.
DON'T DO IT?
If you see a roadking in your future...don't spend anymore money on your dyna. I love the road king classic but unless I could have both, I wouldn't trade my dyna in for it. I've riden all the models and the touring bikes are awesome on the freeway but kinda boaty around town. My brother had his dyna for 7 years and ended up getting a heritage springer and has actually dropped it 4 times in a year. (mostly at 1 or 2 MPH)
The draw back to buying a new bike is you will lose a lot of money if you trade up. I already have close to 20K in my dyna and would be lucky to get 10K on a trade in.
DON'T DO IT?