Road King Shock Lowering
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 164
Likes: 0
From: Chicago
I grabbed some 12" shocks from a Street Glide and in all honestly the rear does not sit very much higher than before. The comfort difference is night and day. I'd imagine shortening them to 10.5" wouldn't make a huge difference and would still look and ride great.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 2,591
Likes: 68
From: Big Bear City, CA
I'm gonna give these RK air shocks a shot myself. In searching these threads, I've read a couple of posts saying that using lowering blocks will make for a much harsher ride. Well my bike with stock shocks & lowering blocks does ride like ****. So I removed the lowering blocks to give it a try. IMO, it rides just as bad with the blocks, then without. I honestly notice no difference at all. I was hoping it would improve the ride, but it didn't. So I'm not personally sure if there's any validity to that claim, or not. I'll try it both ways when the RK shocks arrive. Who knows, maybe if you have a good ride, then install the blocks, you'll notice the difference. I should know within the next week or two.
Air shocks will ride smooth, air shocks with lowering blocks will ride smoother...but you do have to adjust the PSI. Simple physics.
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Thread Starter
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
Thanks for the responses guys. Any idea what a good psi would be for the 13" RK shocks with 3" Lowering kit. I'm 209.5 today lol, but will probably be getting close to 200 when I ride in Spring.
Not too sure, it's something you'll have to figure on your own. It's one of those subjective things. A good many of us ride the air shocks with no air simply because the sporty just isn't a heavy bike. I myself am 190lbs/6ft and ride with no air and it's comfortable as hell. + i do the unthinkable and run a spring seat AND have shocks...OH MY!
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 1
From: Kingston, Ontario
I for one have to wonder why would you use bagger shocks and especially HD ones. The "air shocks" are for heavy loads and the air is used as a preload only you are not ridding on air, at my weight of 205lbs I run from 6-12 lbs preload on a bike that weighs twice as much as my sporty. Is it because these shocks are often available due to people upgrading or something else? Would it not be easier to go with a 11" "quality" shock and drop the inch if you want. Not hating on this just curious. And yeas I know the burly is stuff is named wright as mentioned feels like struts.
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
From: Wisconsin
DK, do your saying the rk's ride better with lowering blocks than just using the rk's by them selves
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I would get some 12" take-offs and use the 1.75" lowering block, that way you are not sacrificing stability or safety.
I for one have to wonder why would you use bagger shocks and especially HD ones. The "air shocks" are for heavy loads and the air is used as a preload only you are not ridding on air, at my weight of 205lbs I run from 6-12 lbs preload on a bike that weighs twice as much as my sporty. Is it because these shocks are often available due to people upgrading or something else? Would it not be easier to go with a 11" "quality" shock and drop the inch if you want. Not hating on this just curious. And yeas I know the burly is stuff is named wright as mentioned feels like struts.
When I was running 13" and no lowering blocks I was running 5 PSI for a smooth ride. When I added these 1" lowering blocks I played around with the PSI and found 18-20 PSI gave an even smoother ride than any PSI and no lowering blocks.
Tourer
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 259
Likes: 1
From: Kingston, Ontario
Thanks DK,
My brother has a Burly kit and let's just say its about the same as my rigid. I am changing the bager shocks and will look at sending them in to have them lowered and rebuilt for his bike.
Cheers
My brother has a Burly kit and let's just say its about the same as my rigid. I am changing the bager shocks and will look at sending them in to have them lowered and rebuilt for his bike.
Cheers