Front suspension upgrade
Advanced
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 50
Likes: 5
From: Roswell
I was riding on 26s south from Johnson City to Asheville, and entered a curve from the left lane doing 60. I ended up in the right lane after hitting some choppy pavement, needless to say, out of control. Second incident. Blood mountain Georgia, arriving from the north. As I was approaching the summit I leaned into a left turn but the bike 2014 FLHTK (with 44,000 on the odometer) had different ideas and drifted right. Thankfully the ABS brakes functioned properly and I was able to stop quickly before running off into the trees.
At this point I started looking for a solution to the suspension quirks before it killed me. I live in Roswell Georgia - next town over is Woodstock, GA and if you don't know where I'm heading yet, it's Traxxion Dynamics.
There are certainly less expensive solutions available, but I didn't want to screw around with a suspension that could possibly save my life, vs. experimenting with less expensive alternatives. Do it right the first time and save yourself from having to replace it.
I've only put about 500 miles on the new suspension AK-20's and Bitubo rears, dbut I find myself looking for all the bumps to see how the new setup performs. The bike is completely different, completely tight around turns with no front end dive during braking.
When my better half is riding shotgun, she's ready to kill me when we hit a back breaker without warning. So far no complaints.
At this point I started looking for a solution to the suspension quirks before it killed me. I live in Roswell Georgia - next town over is Woodstock, GA and if you don't know where I'm heading yet, it's Traxxion Dynamics.
There are certainly less expensive solutions available, but I didn't want to screw around with a suspension that could possibly save my life, vs. experimenting with less expensive alternatives. Do it right the first time and save yourself from having to replace it.
I've only put about 500 miles on the new suspension AK-20's and Bitubo rears, dbut I find myself looking for all the bumps to see how the new setup performs. The bike is completely different, completely tight around turns with no front end dive during braking.
When my better half is riding shotgun, she's ready to kill me when we hit a back breaker without warning. So far no complaints.
Last edited by ottomatics; Apr 24, 2017 at 06:14 AM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I agree entirely. My solution is Ohlins at both ends, FKC101 for 41mm forks, FKC102 for 49mm.
Novice
Joined: Mar 2017
Posts: 23
Likes: 0
From: Boiling Springs, SC
Since it was raining I got some progressive monotube shocks installed in the front forks of my ultra. Had a brief break in rain and was able to test ride for a couple miles. Man, I thought it rode much better with the new shocks in the rear but now the ride is ridiculously smooth! Oh and with the combination of the 944's and the monotubes the whole bike sits one inch lower!
Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 1,344
Likes: 173
From: Watertown, CT
My experience was a little different with the mono tubes by Progressive. I installed Ohlin's in the rear and mono's up front and felt the ride was too harsh without any clips installed so I changed over to Axeo mono's and man what a world of difference. Both Progressive and Axeo's controlled the front end dive well the Axeo's are a lot softer hitting ruts and I'm satisfied with them.
Tourer
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252
Likes: 50
From: Georgia
+1 for Ottomatics' post. My experience is similar with Traxxion Dynamics.
I bought a '14 FLHTK in September '13. Quickly concluded the suspension was wanting. Searched for then-available options, but Progressive, Ohlins, and other after-market suspension companies had not adjusted their products to the new specs on the front forks of the then-new Rushmore bikes.
I found out about TD from some Gold Wing guys. TD had long sold suspension upgrades for Gold Wings before offering HD upgrades. I found their website, and since I also lived near their location, I went by to visit them. They didn't offer an installation set-up for the new Rushmore forks, but offered to take my bike to use for measurements for modifying their AK-20's installation set-up and put them on my bike. I also had Bitubo WME003's installed in the rear.
Immediate and significant improvement in handling. I put 65,000 miles on that set-up before selling the bike, and never had any regrets.
I bought a '14 FLHTK in September '13. Quickly concluded the suspension was wanting. Searched for then-available options, but Progressive, Ohlins, and other after-market suspension companies had not adjusted their products to the new specs on the front forks of the then-new Rushmore bikes.
I found out about TD from some Gold Wing guys. TD had long sold suspension upgrades for Gold Wings before offering HD upgrades. I found their website, and since I also lived near their location, I went by to visit them. They didn't offer an installation set-up for the new Rushmore forks, but offered to take my bike to use for measurements for modifying their AK-20's installation set-up and put them on my bike. I also had Bitubo WME003's installed in the rear.
Immediate and significant improvement in handling. I put 65,000 miles on that set-up before selling the bike, and never had any regrets.
Last edited by GaJayhawk; Apr 24, 2017 at 09:57 AM.
Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 102
Likes: 6
From: Manitoba, Canada
Progressives are great! There's a lot of hate on them on this forum, but I went with them on both ends, and will never look back.
Tightened up the ride up front so much. Rides WAY better and ridiculously easy to install.
+1 for progressive monos.
Tightened up the ride up front so much. Rides WAY better and ridiculously easy to install.
+1 for progressive monos.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 341
Likes: 168
From: Vancouver
HD's cartridge system (02FLHT, single cartridge)
Pros: Damping can be dialled in damn near perfect with the right viscosity fork oil. One cartridge design means you don't have to dick around with both forks.
Cons: Cost of specialty tool, you still have to change fork oil at reg intervals it's a pain in the ***, for inner/outer faired bikes.
Progressive Susp
Pros: Easy install, works well in most cases, the fork oil is only there to lube internals, changes are easy and not frequent.
Cons: Non adjustable damping (other than the spring spacers provided)
Over 100,000 miles on the stock cartridge, got the viscosity right early on. Switched over to PS, 20,000 miles on them, no real complaints, they damp well at high speeds not as well as the stock cartridge, at low speeds they're more supple over harsh pavement.
Otoh all this may not be relevant, Glide is 14 years old
Pros: Damping can be dialled in damn near perfect with the right viscosity fork oil. One cartridge design means you don't have to dick around with both forks.
Cons: Cost of specialty tool, you still have to change fork oil at reg intervals it's a pain in the ***, for inner/outer faired bikes.
Progressive Susp
Pros: Easy install, works well in most cases, the fork oil is only there to lube internals, changes are easy and not frequent.
Cons: Non adjustable damping (other than the spring spacers provided)
Over 100,000 miles on the stock cartridge, got the viscosity right early on. Switched over to PS, 20,000 miles on them, no real complaints, they damp well at high speeds not as well as the stock cartridge, at low speeds they're more supple over harsh pavement.
Otoh all this may not be relevant, Glide is 14 years old
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 416
Likes: 7
From: Tillsonburg, Ontario
For those of you that switched to the Progressive cartridge, did you change or replace other seals in the forks. I am thinking of installing these in my 06 Ultra and would like to have everything I need before starting the job.