lmao..... I've ridden almost 100,000 miles the last five years. Most of those miles were on the 12" OEM hand adjustable shocks!

I use them on my dressers. I set them at about 4 and probably don't bottom out once every couple thousand miles. I'm 220lbs. The 12" on the rear are no harsher than the newer frt end. Just my opinion and experience.

 

Were any of your dressers Street Glides? Depending on the year, the shocks aren't the same length. Another issue is the condition of your back.

 

the stock shocks thing makes sense. H-D's are sold needing upgraded parts... i feel your pain every time I go out on my Sportster, but your bike isnt a Sportster...

 

Maybe try swapping with oem road king shocks?

 

All by design. This way, HD can sell owners add'l parts...

 

I don't doubt that at all.

 

Got 7,600 on my 2019 and have never bottomed out. Got some bad roads here too. I like my stock shocks. Maybe you have a defective shock? Maybe a trip to the the dealer to check it out?

 

I'm 280 passenger is 165 have only bottomed out once on my stock shocks

 

I put 12" SGS/RGS/RKS hand adjustable shocks on my dressers. The newer dressers that aren't the low model come with 13" from the factory!

My back isn't great either. I wear a back brace for anything more than 200 mile rides. Been wearing one since I was 35. I'll be 68 in a couple months.

I can sit in the seat without getting off for 4-4-1/2 hrs at a time riding backroads. Everyone is different. There's nothing on a Harley that can't be improved if you want to throw money at it. Again it's just my opinion and experience.

 

My 2017 Street Glide rode like a buckboard, it was horrible. I changed out the rear shocks for Ohlins and it was an improvement, rode more like a lumber wagon.
I finally found the fix, I traded it for a 2019 Heritage 114. The new Softail line is truly amazing! I have always been on the FL/touring chassis and while I liked the look of the Softail, they were never something I’d ride. Times have certainly changed! The lowered Harleys truly suck! And if you notice, the guys that like them are in the south where the roads are smooth. Up in the great white north you need suspension that works and the stock Softail (2018 and up) is truly wonderful.
Memorial Day weekend the bride and I did 930 miles, when we got home she said “ I love this motorcycle, I never took a back pill”
So, you guys know, if the bride’s happy...........