When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
This is probably a stupid question but I am not sure about setting up the suspension on my 89 FLHS.
The ride feels really rough when hitting any bumps. Is it better to increase air pressure or decrease it? Does there need to be any air in the suspension at all?
And finally when do you know you need to rebuild or replace all of the suspension? If I do replace parts any good suggestions on brands? Sounds like a good winter project doesn't it.
1990 FLHS here. I spent a lot of time on this! Stock shocks, even when new, are at best poor quality. So you have two choices IMHO, after deciding to thrown them away, as they are probably shot. You can either do as I started to do, which is to try umpteen (that is a large indeterminate number!) 'affordable' alternative brand shocks, waste a lot of time and spend a lot of money - or phone Howard at HDF sponsor Motorcycle Metal and buy a pair of his custom-built Ohlins. Within a very short time you will be in dream land, wondering why your bike is riding so well......
I eliminated the air front suspension and went all Revtech in the front with gold emulators. on the rear I'm running 09 Ultra factory Showa's (there cheap and easy to find) they work 1000 times better than the dead stockers, at least till I can afford some Ohlins.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.