Anyone try putting these M8 shocks (2017-'21) on older Evo bagger? Don't know if they would work, especially with the adjustment **** interference. Asking for a friend.

 

Hey Colonel.
I'm thinking you could set it up with the **** facing the rear and it would clear the seat area ok.

Griz

 

I rode a ’95 Road King yesterday that I used to own. It has 10,000 miles and the original shocks, and rides better (IMO) than the 12” adjustable rear take-offs from a 2020 FLHX I recently sold, and a 2022 FLTRXS before I put Ohlins on it last week.

 

I have the shocks off my ‘17 Road Glide on my ‘90 glide, 12”, I have a later model swingarm on it, I that makes a difference.

 

Maybe I don't know stuff, but I just see a problem when you put shocks that dampen differently on each side on a swingarm that rides on rubber bushings. I would think that you might get a twisting of the rear end as it went up and down.

I know the factory does it, "so it must be ok", but .....

 

The newerswing arms are much more rigid than previous versions. That's why the shocks work on the newer models.

I do not think that these later shocks would work well on the older bikes because of the swing arm.

 

Kind of lost here, since the older air shocks are a snap to rebuild or just change the oil out, to what every weight oil you want to use to either soften or increase the dampening of the shocks.
Hence 15 weight fork oil in the forks, and 11 Weight fork oil in the rear shocks turns the bike from a marshmallow ride that is all over the place in the corners, to a bike that holds is line very well instead.
on the air pressure used on the forks and shocks, its used to set pre sag, not to increase the dampening of the forks or shocks.

Plus as noted, the newer model swing arms are a lot more stiffer, so they can get away with having one side set stiffer than the other side without fear of swing arm flexing.

 

Air pressure in the forks sets anti-dive, not height/sag. I've never seen the bike move when setting pressure in the back. I don't think it changes the dampening, but seems to add some spring.

 

I've heard of swingarms on evolution years cracking when using that type of shock.i know it's free but I would just change the oil on the stock shocks.

 

A couple of things that have got nothing to do with clearance, that is a separate issue depending on if you have bags or not . If you got both sides the same, ie: with adjusters, then you could dial in what preload you want, keep them both the same and there would be no flexing of the swing arm, if that is in fact an issue. The other issue is the spring rate of the adjustable shock. If it is too stiff to start there is no amount of adjusting that is going to make it work. I also assume these shocks are the same length eye to eye.

If you can get a hold of another pair for free then nothing wrong with trying it. That way you could match them up.