2015 Road Glide Special
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 134
Likes: 1
From: waldwick new jersey
2015 Road Glide Special
I would like to know why I spent all this money on a bike that has shitty suspension , I bottom out with my self on it , and forget about when my wife wants to come with me, I dialed the adjustment 17 turns myself at 245 my wife 120 , I contact my dealer and they tell me if I am 250 plus 50% of the time I should upgrade really ? it doesn't sit well with me , my friend just bought a 2015 triump thunderbolt and what a difference ! you don't feel the dips or bumps in the road and your bike stays to rode not jumping over bumps, I do love the bike I just wish the suspension was better!
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 326
Likes: 5
From: Wilmette, Illinois
The RG Special has the 12" shocks, so you only have 2.1" of travel to start with. I think they are the hand adjustable shocks now, which are a big step up from the old/crap air shocks, but with only 2.1" of travel and heavy weight on the bike (no offense meant) you have to crank them down to avoid bottoming out, and then you have a stiff ride.
If you go to a 13" shock you get an additional 1" of travel, which is a 33% increase, a lot on these bikes. The lower shocks basically trade off travel and better ride for looks. It is the old function follows form!
Any good coil over shock will be a big improvement, whether 12" or 13". On my RGU I went with the Ohlins 2.5 from Motorcycle Metal, in the 13", no way I was going to give up an inch of travel. They made an incredible difference. The OEM air shocks bottom out regularly, even with 40+ lbs of air, and this is with me at 200 and my wife at 107 lbs. Put some luggage on and they were really bad. With the Ohlins we have never bottomed out, even with luggage and the handling, ride, etc. is much improved.
Should you get a better ride stock, sure. But it is a Harley so any buyer should know that they have very little suspension travel, and when you buy the lowered suspension you further compromise this.
If you go to a 13" shock you get an additional 1" of travel, which is a 33% increase, a lot on these bikes. The lower shocks basically trade off travel and better ride for looks. It is the old function follows form!
Any good coil over shock will be a big improvement, whether 12" or 13". On my RGU I went with the Ohlins 2.5 from Motorcycle Metal, in the 13", no way I was going to give up an inch of travel. They made an incredible difference. The OEM air shocks bottom out regularly, even with 40+ lbs of air, and this is with me at 200 and my wife at 107 lbs. Put some luggage on and they were really bad. With the Ohlins we have never bottomed out, even with luggage and the handling, ride, etc. is much improved.
Should you get a better ride stock, sure. But it is a Harley so any buyer should know that they have very little suspension travel, and when you buy the lowered suspension you further compromise this.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 2
From: MKE, WI
I had a 2014 SGS and loved features of the bike but HATED the ride. The coil spring "premium" suspension that it came with in my opinion was FAR from what I'd call PREMIUM... I weigh 145 lbs and ride solo 99% of the time and for the life of me I just couldn't make the stock suspension comfortable. Even going over little bumps my bike sounded like it was going to fall apart with how rough it rode. I've ridden hardtails before that felt a lot like my SGS did. I couldn't make the ride a lot better without spending some big money on new suspension which I didn't want to do after buying the SGS so I traded for an Ultra. It's a TOTALLY different look than the SGS was BUT I'm loving the ride. My next step is to get the detachable tourpack hardware to get that trimmed down look as the SGS was. Good luck with your bike. Hope you can get the ride to your satisfaction. It is truly and amazing motorcycle. It's too bad the MOCO put the suspension with the coil spring on it. They claim it's adjustable which it is, I just could never adjust it for a good ride for me.
T
T
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 331
Likes: 0
From: East Texas
I probably have nothing useful here, I'm only 11 days and a tick over 500 miles into my 2015 RGS. With my weight of 227 and with the setting that came from the factory, I find it just right for myself. I've yet to bottom out but that could be because of the really good roads we have around here. Hope you get things lined out to your liking though. I find this RGS to be a wonderful bike, then again what I think or feel might not be the same for another.
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Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 2,265
Likes: 935
From: Clearwater, Fl
We're all different and expect different things.
I had the 12" Premiums on my '14 SGS. I liked them so much I installed the same 12" Hand Adjustable shocks on my '15 Ultra as soon as I bought it.
25,000 miles in the last 11 months on the two bikes. I bottomed out once that I can remember! I would have bottomed out on that hole if I would have have 24" shocks. lol... I'm the same weight as the OP.
I'm thinking you might have a issue with the shocks if you are bottoming them out. Hope you find the ride you want.
I had the 12" Premiums on my '14 SGS. I liked them so much I installed the same 12" Hand Adjustable shocks on my '15 Ultra as soon as I bought it.
25,000 miles in the last 11 months on the two bikes. I bottomed out once that I can remember! I would have bottomed out on that hole if I would have have 24" shocks. lol... I'm the same weight as the OP.
I'm thinking you might have a issue with the shocks if you are bottoming them out. Hope you find the ride you want.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
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From: Sacramento, CA.
My buddy has the same shocks on his 2015 SGS. At the lowest setting it rides like a rigid framed bike. I'm 230 lbs & I can't get the shocks to move much. I ride a 2011 RG & after 1 year of bottoming out & poor handling, I went with a longer 13" shock which have the DRS/ARS style. I can understand why you're unhappy, just bite the bullet & upgrade. Good luck.
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Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 134
Likes: 1
From: waldwick new jersey
roadglide
Thanks for the input I ended up going with the progressive 944 shocks awesome! why Harley Davidson doesn't recognize these issues is beyond me , its like you buy a car and the salesman says you can only put three people in the car , otherwise you must get the heavy suspension, doesn't make any sense!