2009 XL 1200L 110 pound rider, no passenger......bike was set at the highest setting. That setting felt close to riding a rigid/hard tail.... I used to set my Aero 750 at the 1st setting unless I was pilling on gear for a trip, then I bumped it up to the second setting. I was planning on trying the same with the sportster. Are there any written guidelines from Harley about weight and preload settings??

Thanks

 

Do you have the Owner's manual for your bike? There should be guidelines for shock adjustment in it. If not, at 110 Lbs. I'd try the lowest setting and if the rear suspension buttoms out on bumps go to the second notch, and so on.

 

i dont have stock shocks, but my recollection is that you want the setting that looks like the most spring travel (for the least weight on the bike). the setting that looks like the shortest spring travel is for most weight (2 up or big folks).
and as sixpack says, start at one end of the settings and ride for awhile. then change it by one setting... and so on - until you find the one you like.

 

You just set them how you like them.
If you want it soft, set them soft. Want a stiffer or sporty ride, you stiffen them up.

You wont break anything adjusting them...

Its like the seats in your car, you set them how you like, not where ford tells you to set them....

Brett

 

I thought I could spread some illumination on the subject. The shock settings are:
1) too hard and bottom out a lot;
2) much too hard and bottom out fairly often;
3) way too hard and bottom out occasionally;
4) entirely too hard and rarely bottom out; and
5) strut-like ride, but almost never bottom out.

 

pretty funny... i think he is telling you to get new shocks, like i did !! i have works and they do !

 

Thanks. Yes, the intent was primarily humor. If you want a soft ride... get a soft ***. That's what I did, and it really works well.

Seriously, though, Progressive 412s are a great option if you want a better ride. I bought the bike because I like the ride. Yup, I actually like the ride. I have no need for a road sofa, and this is probably my last chance to have a bobber/chopper/cafe racer/brutal riding bike, as I'm getting old, and will have to start babying my back pretty soon. But for right now, I'm still riding a cool-*** little bike. Keeping it minimal, might even go with struts or a hard tail conversion, really ruin my back before I have to get a Road King or something like that. Wait, what was the question???

 

I bought the bike used, and no user's manual came with it. I was hoping that somebody here might have a owner's manual and be so kind as to look up the guidelines from HD on weight and preload settings for the shocks.

I just got the bike, and I'm pretty used to bikes with little shock travel and "not-so-great" rides. Being short, petite and not willing to spends gobs of money limits my options. This is my 5th motorcycles, but my first HD.

I'm going to ride it at the softest one for now and see how it goes. I might bump it to one setting harder....we'll see.

Thanks

 

Most Important !!
Suspension "Sag" should be 1/4 to 1/3 total shock travel.
HD's Sportster's base line Is for 185lbs rider's gear and all. Including mounted extras.
I'm about 230 and doing fine on the most preload,,But Mines not a low model.
Make shure tire pressure Is correct for that rider,,,,,
Never go a few pounds low for ride comfort, Tire's can fail due to exessive flexing
and you will wear the middle out real fast.
BTW the owners manual may be off for a rider that light.
Mine calls for 36 rear and 30 psi front,,that gives tire wobble up front
and no real feedback in the rear for me at my weight.
I'm at 38 rear 33.5 front,,,Perfect,,,For Me,,

 

My sides are hurtin,,,Road sofa,,,Dammit Man !!!!
Roflfrigginmao,,Lmao,,Pmsl,,,

Ya gotta face the facts here,,
A sportster is a real motorcycle,,a bit raw.
Yep, If yer a wuss,,stay on the porch,,

But seriously folks,, with a little knowledge and help
a sportster,,any sportster can be tuned to give a pretty
decent ride,,,
With progressive shocks, spring choice is everything,,they will
work with ya btw,,,,