I don't know a lot about the rear air shocks on the touring models so please school me.
I know you can increase and decrease the amount of air with a little hand pump, but my question has more to do with what the effects of doing this are? Is it like the adjustable air suspensions you can get for a softail where it raises and lowers the whole bike? For solo riding, does this adjust how soft or how firm the ride is?
I've taken a few touring bikes out for test rides. One Road King Classic was fairly soft and cushy and one was quite firm - almost jarring in fact. Possibly the second RKC was set up suspention-wise for riding two up. I'm not sure but it sure did feel different from the first one. The Street Glide I rode was equally firm although I realize these come with shorter shocks for that lowered look and this may be a consequence of that.
I may pick up a Road King Classic to add to my stable and was just curious how this all works. Thanks!

 

You've got it right. One of the RKs probably had more air in the suspension and the Street Glide will ride a bit stiffer with the shorter shocks.

 

Thanks nvsteve. Can anyone tell me if decreasing the air in the shocks lowers the bike at all or does it just soften the ride?

 

I can't tell that it lowers my Ultra Classic with low or no air in the rear shocks.

 

If it lowers at all it isn't much. Dropping the pressure will soften the ride some but also increase the chances of bottoming out.

 

Will soften the ride with the increased chance of bottoming out the suspension...will not actually lower the bike..

 

When I first got my 2010 RKC I was very disappointed with the ride. I kept bottoming out just going over railroad tracks. Very worrisome. Then I read the manual and checked my pressure. It was 0 psi.
Then I maxed it out (I'm 270 lbs and GF rides with me a lot), what a huge difference.
When you get your touring model, be careful, the air system fills quickly. Don't just use a compressor, use a hand pump!!!

 

Thanks everybody for the help. Yes rhino, I read that you need to use a hand pump and that Harley's version worked well.
I had seen the video below of an air suspension on a Deluxe a while back and wondered if this worked like the air shocks found on the tour models. Thanks again.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5BJ_muq2pY