Consequences of shorter shocks
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 603
Likes: 14
From: So Texas
Consequences of shorter shocks
Recently I blew the seals on my factory air shocks so I went shopping for replacements. My 06 Ultra should be a 13" (12.75"?) shock but I have secured a set of 12" HD premium adjustable shocks from the classifieds here. I don't really need the bike lower but at over half the price of Progressive shocks I made the decision to purchase them. How much will this ~1" affect my ride? I would think that the upgrade in shock would offset the decrease in travel. I'm 235#, ride 50/50 2up. She is a conservative 170 plus luggage. These shocks are from a 2015 CVO RG, any suggested settings to start off with? Thanks!
Grand HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,612
Likes: 1,606
From: Eastern Ohio
I don't have those shocks, however I do have Progressive 944's. I ride an 11 Electra Glide Classic. They lower the bike 1" too. No matter what, anything is better than the stock air shocks. The lower stance gives a little more stability at low speeds. I think you'll be happy. Someone will chime in on settings for those shocks I'm sure.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,216
Likes: 102
From: Central Illinois
I went from stock tall shocks to the Profile Low shocks (Street Glide shocks-12") and eventually had them lowered another 3/4". I never noticed any real difference in the ride at any of those heights.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1,064
Likes: 405
From: Cedar BC
I read in another thread that those shocks on a pre 2009 bike could throw you into an uncontrollable death wobble so fierce it would possibly injure your entire family,likely destroy the road you are riding on and possibly knock the earth off its axis,others say they are a reasonable alternative and a big improvement to the standard air shocks...
Road Captain
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 660
Likes: 27
From: Southern Illinois
I read in another thread that those shocks on a pre 2009 bike could throw you into an uncontrollable death wobble so fierce it would possibly injure your entire family,likely destroy the road you are riding on and possibly knock the earth off its axis,others say they are a reasonable alternative and a big improvement to the standard air shocks...
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9,850
Likes: 220
From: Sacramento, CA.
Most guys I've talked to that run the HD Premium Adj on there Street Glides, complain about them being too stiff. Maybe they'll be okay on your Ultra.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 140
From: NY
Shorter shocks with less stroke bottom out quicker then shocks with longer stroke so,it's as simple as that .
I had the stock airshocks on my 09 shortened 1" and it didnt really change tha way they felt and or rode in general which isnt that good but the noticable change was they bottomed out much quicker/easier.
And if you ride with bags full ,bike loaded and or ride 2 up at times it makes the bottoming out issue even worse with shortened shocks that have a shorter stroke.
scott
I had the stock airshocks on my 09 shortened 1" and it didnt really change tha way they felt and or rode in general which isnt that good but the noticable change was they bottomed out much quicker/easier.
And if you ride with bags full ,bike loaded and or ride 2 up at times it makes the bottoming out issue even worse with shortened shocks that have a shorter stroke.
scott
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Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 1,703
Likes: 909
From: SE Michigan
I just got done with this experiment.
Me, 270ish. Probably 60/40 1 up/2 up.
Passenger, 130ish.
I got a set off a buddy's Road Glide CVO that has about 15K on the clock.
I ended up putting fresh oil in the air shocks and putting them back on.
I tried every setting, it was either too soft and bottoming, or too hard and it felt like it topped out too fast over bumps, etc., like I was getting bucked off.
But...it ended up getting me a 1500lb bike jack for Father's Day to swap them back out...so it's all good in the end. LOL.
Next up is some mid priced Ohlins once I knock a few more items off the list.
It was well worth the try, and my buddy said try them as long as you like...so it was win win.
Me, 270ish. Probably 60/40 1 up/2 up.
Passenger, 130ish.
I got a set off a buddy's Road Glide CVO that has about 15K on the clock.
I ended up putting fresh oil in the air shocks and putting them back on.
I tried every setting, it was either too soft and bottoming, or too hard and it felt like it topped out too fast over bumps, etc., like I was getting bucked off.
But...it ended up getting me a 1500lb bike jack for Father's Day to swap them back out...so it's all good in the end. LOL.
Next up is some mid priced Ohlins once I knock a few more items off the list.
It was well worth the try, and my buddy said try them as long as you like...so it was win win.