CVO ST Suspension Tuning
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,809
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From: UK
CVO ST Suspension Tuning
Can any of you with CVO ST Road Glides (or, I guess Street Glides now) tell me anything about suspension tuning?
On my previous HDs, the owner's manual has basically given a "number of turns" for rear suspension preload for different rider/passenger/luggage weights and that was about it. I have previously replaced the stock suspension with fully adjustable Ohlins, which gave me a more complex set of adjustments - mainly in "clicks" from fully wound in.
With this, and the help of a friendly local suspension shop, I was able to get my optimum setup dialled in just how I like it, and could just adjust preload a bit from the remote adjuster if I was carrying a heavy load, then reset back to normal when solo again just by dialling in a set number of clicks.
So with the fully adjustable Showa setup on the CVO ST bikes, is it basically the same? I presume to change preload if I am going to be two up touring, I need to take the bags off and adjust a collar on the spring - but are there any index points or anything like that? Then compression/rebound is set with the red **** on the remote reservoirs? Do these have click stops, or are they just smooth turning?
Same question for the fronts - I presume a wrench to adjust preload, then a hex key for the comp/rebound setting? Again - click stops or just free turning? Is it compression at one end of the fork and rebound at the other - it's difficult to tell from the HD pics.
Finally, does anyone know if the rear shocks and the front cartridges are fully independently adjustable for rebound and compression - a lot of HDs had one shock cartridge doing rebound and the other compression IIRC. I presume not on this bike....
Basically anything anyone can tell me about the Showa setup on the CVO ST bikes will be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance!
On my previous HDs, the owner's manual has basically given a "number of turns" for rear suspension preload for different rider/passenger/luggage weights and that was about it. I have previously replaced the stock suspension with fully adjustable Ohlins, which gave me a more complex set of adjustments - mainly in "clicks" from fully wound in.
With this, and the help of a friendly local suspension shop, I was able to get my optimum setup dialled in just how I like it, and could just adjust preload a bit from the remote adjuster if I was carrying a heavy load, then reset back to normal when solo again just by dialling in a set number of clicks.
So with the fully adjustable Showa setup on the CVO ST bikes, is it basically the same? I presume to change preload if I am going to be two up touring, I need to take the bags off and adjust a collar on the spring - but are there any index points or anything like that? Then compression/rebound is set with the red **** on the remote reservoirs? Do these have click stops, or are they just smooth turning?
Same question for the fronts - I presume a wrench to adjust preload, then a hex key for the comp/rebound setting? Again - click stops or just free turning? Is it compression at one end of the fork and rebound at the other - it's difficult to tell from the HD pics.
Finally, does anyone know if the rear shocks and the front cartridges are fully independently adjustable for rebound and compression - a lot of HDs had one shock cartridge doing rebound and the other compression IIRC. I presume not on this bike....
Basically anything anyone can tell me about the Showa setup on the CVO ST bikes will be gratefully appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2014
Posts: 161
Likes: 39
From: huntington beach
I am still tinkering with mine, I got the rear dialed in and it's very stable, exactly like the ohlins were on my street glide. The front however, still feels stiff. I am 6 foot 200 lbs and ride solo, anyone happy with the front wish to share their settings?
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