Suggestions needed for front suspension on FatBoy
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 225
Likes: 62
From: East Coast
Got the shotguns installed yesterday. Took about 4 hours with figuring out the puzzle of moving swingarm and moving the J&S jack around a few times for access. Pinched my airline in one of the front bolt cushions and had to drop it again to fix. All in all an easy install. Would have been easier in warmer weather. It must have been 30 degrees in the shed and no heat. Will take it for a ride in the next few days to see if it was money well spent or a waste. Thanks for all the suggestions on the front suspension. I will be doing the 30/70 pulley upgrade in the next month and after that will decide on the front.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 225
Likes: 62
From: East Coast
Monotubes are a good improvement, however, for close to the same $ you can get a better improvement. Check out the Report on Front Suspension at this LINK.
The better results (in that price range) will come from Springs and Intiminators that can be seen HERE.
Here is a chart of testing results from the above linked report.
The better results (in that price range) will come from Springs and Intiminators that can be seen HERE.
Here is a chart of testing results from the above linked report.
Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 225
Likes: 62
From: East Coast
DK Customs,
How much of a difference does the choice of ride make? Aggressive or soft.
When choosing the springs and intiminators, a choice to add oil is selectable. Are both oils needed? Do you offer seals and everything needed to install or do I need to get oem seals or anything else?
Thanks!
How much of a difference does the choice of ride make? Aggressive or soft.
When choosing the springs and intiminators, a choice to add oil is selectable. Are both oils needed? Do you offer seals and everything needed to install or do I need to get oem seals or anything else?
Thanks!
Road Master
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,158
Likes: 788
From: Louisiana
I did the progressive montubes, and as others have mentioned the brake dive was considerably better. I also found that the bike felt more planted. A few months later I did the shotgun shock. Now that thing is killer. I weigh about 290 and I couldn’t be happier with both of these upgrades.
Road Master
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 953
Likes: 954
From: Daytona Beach
09' Fatboy.
About 2 years ago I installed Progressive front springs and Ricor valves along with the Progressive 422 RAP shocks on the rear. I was NOT impressed with either. It cost like $800 to do it all and the improvement was minimal at best.
I would save my money for other things. The ride is still harsh and the front end dive is almost as bad as stock. It's a softail and its just not gonna improve that much no matter how much money you throw at it. The Ricor valves are supposed to distinguish between chassis and suspension movement, they don't. Every bump in the road feels just like it did when it was stock. I still feel it in my back and arms just like before. Save your money!
About 2 years ago I installed Progressive front springs and Ricor valves along with the Progressive 422 RAP shocks on the rear. I was NOT impressed with either. It cost like $800 to do it all and the improvement was minimal at best.
I would save my money for other things. The ride is still harsh and the front end dive is almost as bad as stock. It's a softail and its just not gonna improve that much no matter how much money you throw at it. The Ricor valves are supposed to distinguish between chassis and suspension movement, they don't. Every bump in the road feels just like it did when it was stock. I still feel it in my back and arms just like before. Save your money!
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 225
Likes: 62
From: East Coast
I did the progressive montubes, and as others have mentioned the brake dive was considerably better. I also found that the bike felt more planted. A few months later I did the shotgun shock. Now that thing is killer. I weigh about 290 and I couldnt be happier with both of these upgrades.
Thread Starter
|
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 225
Likes: 62
From: East Coast
09' Fatboy.
About 2 years ago I installed Progressive front springs and Ricor valves along with the Progressive 422 RAP shocks on the rear. I was NOT impressed with either. It cost like $800 to do it all and the improvement was minimal at best.
I would save my money for other things. The ride is still harsh and the front end dive is almost as bad as stock. It's a softail and its just not gonna improve that much no matter how much money you throw at it. The Ricor valves are supposed to distinguish between chassis and suspension movement, they don't. Every bump in the road feels just like it did when it was stock. I still feel it in my back and arms just like before. Save your money!
About 2 years ago I installed Progressive front springs and Ricor valves along with the Progressive 422 RAP shocks on the rear. I was NOT impressed with either. It cost like $800 to do it all and the improvement was minimal at best.
I would save my money for other things. The ride is still harsh and the front end dive is almost as bad as stock. It's a softail and its just not gonna improve that much no matter how much money you throw at it. The Ricor valves are supposed to distinguish between chassis and suspension movement, they don't. Every bump in the road feels just like it did when it was stock. I still feel it in my back and arms just like before. Save your money!
Road Master
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 953
Likes: 954
From: Daytona Beach
Let me add this, your forks are no more than an oil filled shock, which is old technology.
The Ricor valve is just changing the way the oil flow reacts to different impulses, its still just an oil filled shock.
All modern shocks are now gas charged, because oil filled shocks suck. Now, had I installed the progressive gas struts instead, I might have seen a nice improvement. But I didn't, and I now regret that. When you hear guys say "My front end dive is now vastly improved" well yea, you just installed heavier springs, that's why. "My front end feels more stable and planted" well yea, once again due to heavier springs. This can also be accomplished with a heavier compression shock or heavier fork oil. Look at race cars, they use a heavier spring or heavier compression shock on the right front to help with the car diving over on the right front in a corner. Same applies to a motorcycle.
The trade off however is harshness. Increase spring rate or the weight of the oil and you get less dive and the tire is more firmly planted to the road. This also helps in cornering. The reason the Shotgun shock works so well, is because your basically riding on air. Being able to increase or decrease the air pressure "spring rate" at will, is very beneficial to the way the bike reacts to rider weight and riding conditions, can't do that on the front end. Until Shotgun comes out with an air system for the front, the Harley front end will always be just so-so.
If your going to redo the front suspension at least go with the Progressive gas strut inserts. I wish I had
. I may still do it at a later time.
The Ricor valve is just changing the way the oil flow reacts to different impulses, its still just an oil filled shock.
All modern shocks are now gas charged, because oil filled shocks suck. Now, had I installed the progressive gas struts instead, I might have seen a nice improvement. But I didn't, and I now regret that. When you hear guys say "My front end dive is now vastly improved" well yea, you just installed heavier springs, that's why. "My front end feels more stable and planted" well yea, once again due to heavier springs. This can also be accomplished with a heavier compression shock or heavier fork oil. Look at race cars, they use a heavier spring or heavier compression shock on the right front to help with the car diving over on the right front in a corner. Same applies to a motorcycle.
The trade off however is harshness. Increase spring rate or the weight of the oil and you get less dive and the tire is more firmly planted to the road. This also helps in cornering. The reason the Shotgun shock works so well, is because your basically riding on air. Being able to increase or decrease the air pressure "spring rate" at will, is very beneficial to the way the bike reacts to rider weight and riding conditions, can't do that on the front end. Until Shotgun comes out with an air system for the front, the Harley front end will always be just so-so.
If your going to redo the front suspension at least go with the Progressive gas strut inserts. I wish I had
. I may still do it at a later time.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 225
Likes: 62
From: East Coast
I think I am going to go with the Progressive monotube and different oil. I just need to decide on the kit. I would like to lower the front end by as much as 1". I believe I would purchase the 2" lowering kit and simply use the spacers to lower only 1". Can anyone verify this? Also my FBS is already a lo model, so does this mean I am now at 2" lowered and will end up with a back breaking ride? Any oil suggestions as to brand and weight that have been paired with the monotube? Thanks!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 4,997
Likes: 2,083
From: Newport,TN area
I would like to hear from someone that has installed the Ohlins NIX 22 Blackline cartridge inserts.
They were "announced" in 2015, but I've never heard anyone say that they actually have
a set installed in their Sportster or Softail....
https://www.ohlins.com/2015/12/ohlin...r-shock-range/
and (pasted wrong link earlier) these are only for the 2018+ Softails
https://www.ohlinsusa.com/parts/2018...l=softail-slim
T.
They were "announced" in 2015, but I've never heard anyone say that they actually have
a set installed in their Sportster or Softail....
https://www.ohlins.com/2015/12/ohlin...r-shock-range/
and (pasted wrong link earlier) these are only for the 2018+ Softails
https://www.ohlinsusa.com/parts/2018...l=softail-slim
T.
Last edited by WKNDS; Dec 31, 2019 at 08:19 AM.