Air shocks
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Supporter
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,752
Likes: 2
From: Indianapolis
Air shocks
Hey guys and gals, a buddy of mine crashed in Kentucky the other day on his Ultra guide, and the question was brought up, He didn't have any air in his rearshocks.
His back end started to wobble and he overcorrected and struck a car head-on.
1. How important is maintaining the air in your shocks?
2. What is the air pressure should the shocks have in them?
3. I know NOT and I repeat NOT to use a compressor to fill the shocks, use a bikecycle pump to fill the shocks.
His back end started to wobble and he overcorrected and struck a car head-on.
1. How important is maintaining the air in your shocks?
2. What is the air pressure should the shocks have in them?
3. I know NOT and I repeat NOT to use a compressor to fill the shocks, use a bikecycle pump to fill the shocks.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,025
Likes: 2
From:
RE: Air shocks
Wow! Was he badly hurt?
I always run air in the shocks on my FLHTC. I like a firm ride so I run 20-25 psi solo and 35 with a passenger. I weigh 240 if I haven't eaten Chinese food the night before.
I always run air in the shocks on my FLHTC. I like a firm ride so I run 20-25 psi solo and 35 with a passenger. I weigh 240 if I haven't eaten Chinese food the night before.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 981
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Air shocks
sux about your buddy.
I wish him well.
Was the accident caused by the lack of air in the shocks, was it a contributing factor, or was the lack of air justsomething someone noticed about the shocks ina post-crash observation?
The manual should list a chart for your buddy's model.
The psi depends on your riding (ie, solo or 2-up).
I don't know about your buddy's model, but on my Road King:
I set my shocks up for2 up riding since I ride with my 7 yr old son alot.
He doesn't weigh much so my psi is right at about 30.
30 is about the midway point of what the manual recommends as possible setting for 2-up or maxed out gvwr.
I have had no problems that I can detect.
I wish him well.
Was the accident caused by the lack of air in the shocks, was it a contributing factor, or was the lack of air justsomething someone noticed about the shocks ina post-crash observation?
The manual should list a chart for your buddy's model.
The psi depends on your riding (ie, solo or 2-up).
I don't know about your buddy's model, but on my Road King:
I set my shocks up for2 up riding since I ride with my 7 yr old son alot.
He doesn't weigh much so my psi is right at about 30.
30 is about the midway point of what the manual recommends as possible setting for 2-up or maxed out gvwr.
I have had no problems that I can detect.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,015
Likes: 5
From: Alaska
RE: Air shocks
No air in shocks should not have been a major factor in the accident. If air were that critical they would not be plumbed together with plastic tubing.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From:
RE: Air shocks
What year is his dresser? They must have beefed up the air suspension in the newer bikes, my 98 dresser calls for a max of 25 for forks and 35 for the shocks. A 1 up rider at 200lbs.calls for 2 psi front and rear.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 1,807
Likes: 1
From: North Jersey
RE: Air shocks
Most of my riding is 2-up with my wife, so I keep the shocks at about 25 psi. I leave it there even when I ride solo.Use he H-D hand pump which is meant for the shocks. It works great.
Sorry about your friend. I hope he'll be OK.
Sorry about your friend. I hope he'll be OK.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 419
Likes: 1
From:
RE: Air shocks
I am running 15 up from the 10 it had in it from the dealer on a SG. I was amazed that the ride got so much better with just a small change. I don't see how no air could cause a rear wheel wobble, sounds like your friends bike had other issues.