Shock Advice please
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 93
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From: York, PA
Shock Advice please
I'm going for surgery on my neck in 3 weeks and really know nothing about what i can do to soften the ride of my 2012 Fatboy.
I have read a lot here in respect to lowering but really have not seen much on how different shock upgrades will soften the ride. I'm looking for numbers as to what % of difference i can achieve with an upgrade.
Up until now i thought the bike rode very well but with the pending operation i feel the need to do anything i can do to make it easier on my neck. I would be interested in lowering it 1" from stock but that would not be a requirement.
I land on the bike at 250 lbs and the wife at 150 lbs. she is just a casual rider, just short leisure rides in the evenings after work.
Thanks for your help.
Craig
I have read a lot here in respect to lowering but really have not seen much on how different shock upgrades will soften the ride. I'm looking for numbers as to what % of difference i can achieve with an upgrade.
Up until now i thought the bike rode very well but with the pending operation i feel the need to do anything i can do to make it easier on my neck. I would be interested in lowering it 1" from stock but that would not be a requirement.
I land on the bike at 250 lbs and the wife at 150 lbs. she is just a casual rider, just short leisure rides in the evenings after work.
Thanks for your help.
Craig
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,855
Likes: 3
From: North Carolina
Good luck with your surgery! I've had two at C5-C6 and now I have no disc left at C4-C5. I get to go in next week and get the facet joint nerves deadened.
I found with my injury it's been more about the reach with the handle bar setup which pushed me towards the beach bar setup I have...and plus I've just always liked the style. But I found even with the minimal reach running my stock bars my right arm would go numb within a few miles. Of course it doesn't help with the nerve damage I've already suffered in my right arm from the C5-C6 injury.
I didn't have much trouble pain wise from my stock shock setup, she rode pretty smooth. But since adding the Shotgun Shock system I have noticed a much improved ride quality and of course with that the ability to adjust both ride height and firmness on the fly.
I found with my injury it's been more about the reach with the handle bar setup which pushed me towards the beach bar setup I have...and plus I've just always liked the style. But I found even with the minimal reach running my stock bars my right arm would go numb within a few miles. Of course it doesn't help with the nerve damage I've already suffered in my right arm from the C5-C6 injury.
I didn't have much trouble pain wise from my stock shock setup, she rode pretty smooth. But since adding the Shotgun Shock system I have noticed a much improved ride quality and of course with that the ability to adjust both ride height and firmness on the fly.
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,523
Likes: 312
From: Out of Commiefornia!
Shotgun Shock is the way to go... absolutely the best mod I've ever done. I have back issues also, and being able to adjust the damping on the fly to accommodate whatever road conditions I'm on at the moment is priceless for me. Nice to also be able to raise it or drop it on the fly as well is cool, but the independant damping is the real key.
If you do decide to check it out, call JD and tell him tunaman sent ya... he'll take care of you!
Roger
EDIT - do some searches here for shotgun shock and you'll see how many satisfied customers there are.
If you do decide to check it out, call JD and tell him tunaman sent ya... he'll take care of you!
Roger
EDIT - do some searches here for shotgun shock and you'll see how many satisfied customers there are.
Last edited by tunaman; Mar 9, 2012 at 11:00 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 302
Likes: 4
From: Edmonton, AB, Canada
I don't think you want to lower the bike. Lowering sacrifices some of the suspension's travel in compression so it either needs to be stiffened (as can be done with the Shotgun Shock system) to prevent bottoming, or it bottoms. Neither is what you want.
You should look at optimizing the rear suspension by getting as much compression travel as possible.
My measurements show that there is 4"+ total travel in the Softail swingarm. If you set sag to 1" (rather than the OEM 2") you will gain an inch of compression travel and have enough rebound travel.
Also, a compliant suspension handles best.
You should look at optimizing the rear suspension by getting as much compression travel as possible.
My measurements show that there is 4"+ total travel in the Softail swingarm. If you set sag to 1" (rather than the OEM 2") you will gain an inch of compression travel and have enough rebound travel.
Also, a compliant suspension handles best.
Last edited by BrianG; Mar 10, 2012 at 11:37 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 1,855
Likes: 3
From: North Carolina
Brian I'd agree with you, however, it depends on the method used to lower the rear suspension. If you were lowering with lower bolts, I'd agree completely with you.
However, as tunaman and I mentioned using the Shotgun Shock system. The beauty of Shotgun system is that it can be completely slammed and you still have the ability to adjust the dampening to as firm or as soft as you like.
However, as tunaman and I mentioned using the Shotgun Shock system. The beauty of Shotgun system is that it can be completely slammed and you still have the ability to adjust the dampening to as firm or as soft as you like.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,035
Likes: 5
From: near Buffalo, NY
I personally would NOT play with softening tire pressures.
I agree with the guys on the Shotgun Shock. I can adjust that thing to give me a full travel, cadillac ride very easily..
I agree with the guys on the Shotgun Shock. I can adjust that thing to give me a full travel, cadillac ride very easily..
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 992
Likes: 20
From: Arizona
In Dec 2009 I had a two level fusion at C 5/6 & 6/7 with hardware. Trying to soften the ride of my 2010 Fatboy Lo I went with Shotgun shock although if you have ABS on your 2012 I don't believe you can go with the Shotgun shock. Give JD a call at 323-359-4914 and ask him, great guy. The Shotgun shock helped a great deal but now I'm having problems with C 3/4 & 4/5, they want to do another two level fusion and I'm not ready for that yet..4 levels fused $#%#@%. I now can only ride about 20 minutes before my right hand is completely numb and I'm in severe pain. I'm now at the point I'm going to sell the Fatboy Lo and go with the more comfortable ride of the Road Glide. Good luck with the surgery, you'll love wearing that hard collar.
Last edited by NorCalFBLO; Mar 11, 2012 at 12:55 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 93
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From: York, PA
Wow i never would have guessed that i had so much company with the neck issues. I'm getting C5-6, C6-7 to T1 done. It has me a bit rattled!! You know the fear of the unknown.
I never thought about the bars but that makes perfect sense. I will be looking into the shotguns as well.
Thank You! and good luck friends.
Any other thoughts keep them coming .
hey guys good luck with the neck issues
Craig
I never thought about the bars but that makes perfect sense. I will be looking into the shotguns as well.
Thank You! and good luck friends.
Any other thoughts keep them coming .
hey guys good luck with the neck issues
Craig
Last edited by Fhatboy; Mar 10, 2012 at 04:38 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 302
Likes: 4
From: Edmonton, AB, Canada
NC D'LUXE, the Shotgun Shock system is the best way to lower for sure, but you still lose travel. The swingarm can only go so far.
Adding damping helps but that means a stiffer ride. That's all I was getting at.
Adding damping helps but that means a stiffer ride. That's all I was getting at.