When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
Ok picked up some washers, and a couple tank valves from local ACE Hardware. Valves were $3.59 each. Not bad. Got the shocks installed today, finally and took em for a test run. Factory shocks must have been worn out or junk. The old shocks would try to launch me off the bike in a bumpy curve, AND made the rear end wobble enough to be worrisome, so I had to slow a lot more than I liked.
New shocks, while not buttery smooth, handle rebound much better. No telling how good a set of real good gas shocks would do. The bike now almost points itself into turns, much nicer. I didn't do a freeway run to see if it is twitchy though. No issues up to 60 mph. I can still flat foot when on the seat too, so that is good. Old shocks were 12" new ones are RK 13".
I did have to add 3 washers to clear my belt guard though. The rubber on the shock was slightly rubbing the guard with only 2 on there. Lean on the jiffy stand is slightly more, but may get a longer one when I upgrade front end. Don't want it leaning too much.
The best possible rear suspension on the Sporty is the 14" shocks WITH lowering blocks. This keeps it at the height of 13" shocks, & puts more leveraging on the shocks for improved articulation.
The only issue I see is the LB's list a weight limit of 220#. I alone weigh 180 and we wont discuss mommas weight, but she sure weighs more than 40#. So 2 up riding would be out of the question with those.
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.
Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.
Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.
