lower rear shocks
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2012
Posts: 2,011
Likes: 5
From: Macomb, MI
lower rear shocks
My stock shocks r 12in, what brands are people using for 11in lower rear shocks,,,,,,or how low do people go
I do ride with my girl so i don't wanna scrape
I do ride with my girl so i don't wanna scrape
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,283
Likes: 1,140
From: southeast PA
I think the shortest shocks I've seen are 10.5 in. Even with 11 in. if you want to do 2 up riding, to set them up without scraping they are going to give you one hell of a harsh ride.
Your girlfriend probably won't be happy, either.
Your girlfriend probably won't be happy, either.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 9,283
Likes: 1,140
From: southeast PA
My stock shocks were 12's and I went to 11.5 in. Progressive 440's. I only ride solo so I was able to go with the standard springs. The ride was harder, as I suspected it would be, but the bad part for me was scraping stuff in what I thought were not hard corners.
Since I didn't care how the bike looked sitting still I went with longer than stock Ohlins which worked out to be the best fix for me.
Since I didn't care how the bike looked sitting still I went with longer than stock Ohlins which worked out to be the best fix for me.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 1,206
Likes: 1
From: Nomad
Because you have a passenger keep your stock ( Height ) ones , when you lower it it's all for looks and not for comfort , BEEN THERE DONE THAT !
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,919
Likes: 3,724
From: Hill Country, TX
Anybody that "slams" their bike down with 10.5" or 11" shocks is going to give up two very important things. Those two things are called ground clearance and suspension travel.
Without adequate suspension travel, every time that you hit a nasty little bump or pothole, your shock will run out of room to absorb that hit, and bottom out. When your shock bottoms out, the force of that impact gets absorbed by the tire, the frame, your back, your ***, and your kidneys. Not a very pleasurable experience for you or your girl.
For anyone that says that their 10.5" shocks never bottom out, that's because they've probably got their sag adjusted to near zero. I'd venture to say that the ride quality of said bike would be similar to a rigid frame, or a strutted bike. A miserable experience IMHO, especially if you're riding long distance or two up.
Without adequate ground clearance, you are limiting your ability to lean the bike into a turn…sometimes drastically. Going over any kind of speed bump isn't any fun either.
You haven't really lived until you are cruising along at 80mph down the interstate and enter a nice big sweeping turn, and then hit a nice bump or road/overpass seam. When your shock bottoms out and your rear wheel impacts your fender, that strange sensation running down your leg will either be a bodily fluid or some other waste byproduct, from being bounced airborne out of your seat and almost losing control of the bike. If your old lady is still on the bike after that, she will need a change of clothes also.
Form over function, or vice versa…the choice is ultimately yours to make. Good luck.
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 564
Likes: 11
From: Long Island, Suffolk County
I weight 175lbs... WG is my ride. Never ride two up. I went with Progressive 430 11". I think the bike rides and handles better. My 2 cents.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 421
Likes: 1
From: Stafford VA
I ride solo and have the burly 10.5. I did notice it was a little bumpier but not intolerable. After a few thousand miles I couldn't remember what it felt like before. As for turns, I ride it like a cruiser and don't bomb into turns. Havent scraped yet, except for when I went down haha
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Tourer
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 371
Likes: 8
From: South Carolina
I ride solo and have the burly 10.5. I did notice it was a little bumpier but not intolerable. After a few thousand miles I couldn't remember what it felt like before. As for turns, I ride it like a cruiser and don't bomb into turns. Havent scraped yet, except for when I went down haha