Front suspension upgrade
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
I've installed Ohlins cartridges, but replaced everything in the way of seals and bushings when rebuilding my forks. You may be surprised how dirty they are inside, if you strip and clean them first.
Club Member
Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 303
Likes: 21
From: Ravenna, OH
Speaking of it....my Progressive FST mono tube for my 16 Limited was delivered today from DK Customs. Bitubo shocks delivering tomorrow.
I don't have any experience on those cartridges, so I will have post my thoughts after I get them on and ride.
I don't have any experience on those cartridges, so I will have post my thoughts after I get them on and ride.
Advanced
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 92
Likes: 12
Traxxion Dynamics
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.
The Traxxion are certainly not cheap, but are well worth the money IMHO. I was ready to trade-in the bike for a Victory, solely to get a decent suspension, before I found the AK-20's.
Also, here's some good info on front suspension from DK Customs (they didn't carry the AK-20's when I bought mine a few years ago, but looks like they came to the same conclusion about them performing the best) --
http://www.dkcustomproducts.com/DK-C...S-TST-RP-I.htm
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,962
Likes: 140
From: NY
[QUOTE=fordhd2005;14309206]I changed the fluid and used a 50/50 mix of Type E and SE... I don't have any complaints...[/QUOTE
=======================================
Agree,he should 1st try a couple diff mix's of fork oils because he may find that alone may be enough to satisfy him costing only a few bucks for fork oil if he does oil swap himself.
But if trying diff fork oil mix doesnt satisfy him then it's time to think about spending significant bucks,time & effort required to upgrade the front suspension @ that point.
It seems more then just a few guys are happy with improvement they get from doing fork oil swap and i am once of them for sure though i am currently in the process of dialing in front fork oil mix to get just the ride/handling perf i am looking for which is diff for every person out there.
I 1st tried going to 100% SE HVY WT FORK OIL and bike handled considerably better with almost no more fork dive when braking which i went with for past 10k miles or so.
But it was a bit stiff feeling and once in a while when hitting a lrg bump the tire would actually leave the road surface fror a spkit second which isnt good.
So with that in mind for safety sake just yesterday i drained the hvy fork oil and installed a mix of 8oz se hvy fork oil & 2.8-3oz HD type E fork oil in each fork tube of my 09 flhtcu to see how that does.
I hope this new mix thinned out the fork oil just enough to remove the sharp edge of stiffness so the front wheel doesnt leave the ground on lrg bumps and dont feel every little crack or abnormality on road surface too.
I choose to not go with a 50/50 because the stock all type E fork oil setup was so mushy i thought it would be a bit on the light/too thin side going back to more fork dive when braking etc.
I hope the current mix i just installed does the trick but if its still a bit too firm and front tire still leaves the road surface at times when hitting lr bumps the fork oil is easy to change on my 09 FLHTCU so i can drain current oil and install a 50/50 mix like you did to see how that does,takes me appox 1hr to do.
Cant wait to try out my the 70% SE HV & 30% HD type E fork oil mix sometime next wk because weather here in upstate NY currently sucks but is forecast to finally improve getting out of 50's that are supposed to be 70+ deg!/YAHOO!!!
Happy motoring.
Scott
=======================================
Agree,he should 1st try a couple diff mix's of fork oils because he may find that alone may be enough to satisfy him costing only a few bucks for fork oil if he does oil swap himself.
But if trying diff fork oil mix doesnt satisfy him then it's time to think about spending significant bucks,time & effort required to upgrade the front suspension @ that point.
It seems more then just a few guys are happy with improvement they get from doing fork oil swap and i am once of them for sure though i am currently in the process of dialing in front fork oil mix to get just the ride/handling perf i am looking for which is diff for every person out there.
I 1st tried going to 100% SE HVY WT FORK OIL and bike handled considerably better with almost no more fork dive when braking which i went with for past 10k miles or so.
But it was a bit stiff feeling and once in a while when hitting a lrg bump the tire would actually leave the road surface fror a spkit second which isnt good.
So with that in mind for safety sake just yesterday i drained the hvy fork oil and installed a mix of 8oz se hvy fork oil & 2.8-3oz HD type E fork oil in each fork tube of my 09 flhtcu to see how that does.
I hope this new mix thinned out the fork oil just enough to remove the sharp edge of stiffness so the front wheel doesnt leave the ground on lrg bumps and dont feel every little crack or abnormality on road surface too.
I choose to not go with a 50/50 because the stock all type E fork oil setup was so mushy i thought it would be a bit on the light/too thin side going back to more fork dive when braking etc.
I hope the current mix i just installed does the trick but if its still a bit too firm and front tire still leaves the road surface at times when hitting lr bumps the fork oil is easy to change on my 09 FLHTCU so i can drain current oil and install a 50/50 mix like you did to see how that does,takes me appox 1hr to do.
Cant wait to try out my the 70% SE HV & 30% HD type E fork oil mix sometime next wk because weather here in upstate NY currently sucks but is forecast to finally improve getting out of 50's that are supposed to be 70+ deg!/YAHOO!!!
Happy motoring.
Scott
Last edited by wscott; May 11, 2017 at 10:48 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
WOW! You perisher! Jolly well done, now show off the rest of your bike. I have Ohlins cartridges and shocks, but nothing quite so sophisticated or up-market. 
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 2,368
Likes: 14
From: Yokohama
I put the HD hand adjustable premium shocks on the back and HD's duel fork cartridge kit up front. Really improves the ride and great bang for the buck.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
