Shotgun shock height
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,158
Likes: 68
From: Martinsburg, WV
Depends on the bike. My Deuce with a 200 will rub the fender when slammed. I usually ride with the axle about 1 1/2 - 2" above the exhaust when I'm running through town. You just have to be careful and drive it like an extremely low car.
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 98
Likes: 0
From: Delaware
Stop me if you for this one before… about the guy who installed shotgun shocks, and RSD fender, and the tire kept rubbing the fender even when the bike was close to stock height and he couldn't figure it out... So why were you down working on his bike to try to figure it out, he looks over and across the floor kind of hidden behind a trashcan is his bump stop....
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,908
Likes: 19
From: Dayton
I set mine firm and low. I scrape the duals pretty easily going around a corner, but that's the way I like to ride it. I park slammed, then pump both switches up until the bike rises a couple inches. then I let air out of the front switch until I can barely hit the stops when I bounce my weight on the seat.
Makes for a hard ride, but if I wanted it all cushy, I wouldn't have saved all that money and left it stock. I only raise it up to stock when the wife's on so we don't bottom the bike out.
Makes for a hard ride, but if I wanted it all cushy, I wouldn't have saved all that money and left it stock. I only raise it up to stock when the wife's on so we don't bottom the bike out.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 227
Likes: 1
From: Omaha, NE
I have a chrome spike that sticks outta my back fender with the bottom of the spike about 1/2" inch into the fender. The spike isn't permanent. If the tire was to hit, or the bike bottomed out, the spike would pop out.
I ride mine about 1-2 inches off the bump stop, everywhere I go. When I'm slowing down, or cruising slow, I slam it all the way down.
Even when I hit a rough bump while it's slammed my spike has never popped out.
I'd say you have a definite problem with your installation, or you are missing a bump stop.
I ride mine about 1-2 inches off the bump stop, everywhere I go. When I'm slowing down, or cruising slow, I slam it all the way down.
Even when I hit a rough bump while it's slammed my spike has never popped out.
I'd say you have a definite problem with your installation, or you are missing a bump stop.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 4,719
Likes: 60
From: Los Angeles
I ride about 1.25 to 1.5 inches lower than stock. The SS allows it to ride more comfortable at that lowered height than it rode at the stock height with the stock suspension.
I think the trick is finding the sweet spot between the air pressure in the SS and the amount of lowering. People have tried various ways to explain how to achieve this. This is the most simple explanation I've come across:
With your bike running, so you won't drain any battery. Let the air all the way out, both switches. Really let it all the way out, holding down both switches even past the point where it hits the bump stops. This kinda gives you a blank slate to find your sweet spot.
Still with bike running, use both switches to raise the bike all the way up. When it's all the way up keep holding both switches for 10 to 15 seconds. (Should be completely rigid when you push down on the seat hard at this point.)
Then use the rear switch to lower the bike to where you want it, but be reasonable unless you want to ride slammed. (I like about 1.25 to 1.5 inches lower than stock. On my Slim, that is about where the tire sidewalls line up with the edge of the rear fender. YMMV.)
The ride should be pretty nice at that point. But if it's too soft, use the front switch up (to add air pressure to the shock). Just a few blips will firm it up.
If it's too hard, use the front switch down, this time just a single instant of a blip (to release pressure.)
Hope that helps. Anyone with further insights, feel free to add something. I kinda went off the cuff here.
I think the trick is finding the sweet spot between the air pressure in the SS and the amount of lowering. People have tried various ways to explain how to achieve this. This is the most simple explanation I've come across:
With your bike running, so you won't drain any battery. Let the air all the way out, both switches. Really let it all the way out, holding down both switches even past the point where it hits the bump stops. This kinda gives you a blank slate to find your sweet spot.
Still with bike running, use both switches to raise the bike all the way up. When it's all the way up keep holding both switches for 10 to 15 seconds. (Should be completely rigid when you push down on the seat hard at this point.)
Then use the rear switch to lower the bike to where you want it, but be reasonable unless you want to ride slammed. (I like about 1.25 to 1.5 inches lower than stock. On my Slim, that is about where the tire sidewalls line up with the edge of the rear fender. YMMV.)
The ride should be pretty nice at that point. But if it's too soft, use the front switch up (to add air pressure to the shock). Just a few blips will firm it up.
If it's too hard, use the front switch down, this time just a single instant of a blip (to release pressure.)
Hope that helps. Anyone with further insights, feel free to add something. I kinda went off the cuff here.
Last edited by SoCalSoftailSlim; Aug 19, 2014 at 07:37 PM.
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 2,912
Likes: 73
From: Pittsburgh, PA
Sounds like a bad battery...
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 3,158
Likes: 68
From: Martinsburg, WV
The battery is fairly new. I think my stator is working on dying.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...ly-cooked.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/gener...ly-cooked.html
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 3,986
Likes: 709
From: San Diego
I ride mine about an inch up from the lowest point 90% of the time I would say. I lift it up a little more when hitting twisty roads. Although, on my road trip last weekend, I rode it a little higher and softer as it was just a long *** freeway ride with few real curves.