i have a 99 sportster. thinking of selling because it hurts my back when it bottoms out in a pot hole at 60 mph. the pain actually makes me scream out, serious vertebrae grindage.

i am a big guy at 250..... any suggestions for rear shocks that will give even me a cushy ride?

thanks

 

My friend has a '06 1200 Sporty,and he put air shocks from a Ultra Classic on his. He need's to twin the air inlets together so if it loses air, the rear will drop equally. He put schrader valves in each one, and fills each one seperately now. He says it rides nice with them over the Stock Sporty shocks.,,

 

If your shocks have preload adjustment, crank it up to the max and give it a try

 

As Big Cahuna mentioned, you can use some air shocks of a touring model...these are a big improvement over the stock shocks, which suck.

You can also get some real shocks, that will give you a very nice ride. See them HERE.


Here is an informative REPORT on rear suspension on Harleys...you may find it interesting and useful.

 

If your shocks are original, they weren't very good when new and could be shot by now. Frankly the more you spend the better your ride will be, within reason. If you plan on staying with Sporties you can swap them over when you change bikes, or remove them and sell separately in the future. Best of all is to buy shocks from a decent dealer who will install springs matched to your weight. We have HDF sponsors who do that. Don't buy 'one size fits all' shocks!

 

I put air shocks from a bagger on my Sporty several years ago. You need a spacer for the right shock as it will hit the belt guard. I am around 250 and run 10 pounds in them. I up it to 13 when the bike is fully loaded.

One word of caution with air shocks. Be sure your swing arm bearings are good as the air shocks cannot take much of a side load. I let mine go and ended up snapping the bottom mount off one and the other had a crack and was leaking oil



Keep in mind that shock probably had 150,000 miles on it when it broke

 

250?? You guys are way too big for a Sportster.

John

 

Now you tell me after 11 years and 228,000 miles!!!!

 

Came true in the end!

With that mileage it really would be worth buying good quality custom shocks, as I referred to earlier.

 

That is one of the upgrades I plan on doing over the winter. No idea what just yet.