Touring Shocks
Road Warrior
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,912
Likes: 328
From: Arizona
I have Terry Cable shocks as well and I like them fine. When I ride two up I can change the preload in a few minutes.
Grand HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 4,624
Likes: 189
From: Newcastle, Ca.
Yes,some over pay for unnecessary bells and whistles also. These bikes are limited in suspension travel and travel is an important criteria if you want handing and ride quality. With, the added benefit of increased lean angle. When the front suspension is also upgraded with the correct spring rate, the bike will ride a little higher. Longer rear shocks also keep the geometry as designed.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 578
Likes: 522
From: Durango CO
These bikes are limited in suspension travel and travel is an important criteria if you want handing and ride quality. With, the added benefit of increased lean angle. When the front suspension is also upgraded with the correct spring rate, the bike will ride a little higher. Longer rear shocks also keep the geometry as designed.
A high performance motorcycle also has a very firm suspenion.
A motorcycle has an advantage for air flow. A sports car designer needs to worry about air flowing under the car. A motorcycle can sit high and still handle good. Look at sport bikes and motorcycle racers. They sit very high.
If you lower your cycle and have only 2 inches of travel and hit a dip your kidneys would be telling you that you should have crawled down that dip. On the other hand if you have 4 inches of travel you can also have soft suspension and still hit that dip at speed. You now have 4 inches before you bottom out.
If you have 4 inches of travel and want soft (luxury) suspension, you can still hit that dip at speed.
My point is if you have lots of travel you can have you suspension firm or soft and you are much less likely to bottom out. More travel will appease the performance riders and the smooth luxury touring riders.
Let me say this loudly: I agree there is more to suspensions than lots of travel but my point is that if you have more travel the shocks can be much more forgiving.
EDIT: Also let me add "forgiving" may not have been the correct word. There is A LOT more to suspensions that soft for cruisers and firm for fast sporty riders.
Last edited by Durango Dave; Dec 18, 2015 at 08:41 PM.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
As a simple example, bearing in mind that Howard's Ohlins have been mentioned already, when I discussed the options with him he recommended #3 for Mrs B and I, rather than #2 with longer travel, simply because the damping of the #3 is better than the #2. We ride close to the max weight of our Glide, yet we have never ever bottomed out with our #3s and enjoy a superior ride to all previous shocks.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
The spherical bearings allow the shock to function with no binding if the swingarm and upper shock mount aren't perfectly aligned. If you don't have spherical bearings, you should probably shim the mounts so it aligns. I would agree that a premium product ought to include the spherical bearings.
Road Captain
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 578
Likes: 522
From: Durango CO
shocks can not and should not ever be expected to prevent sideways movement of the swing-arm. If the swing arm moves side to side your problem is the swing arm bearings and shocks can never be expected to alleviate or even cover up the problem.
Tourer
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 302
Likes: 6
From: Tulsa,OK
There are two views on this subject: for and against! Some consider that shocks without spherical bearinga and also without rubber bushings can provide improved rear end stability, by supporting the swingarm to reduce sideways movement. My shocks have plain metal bushings, however I also believe in providing separate lateral support to the swingarm. The shock mounts should indeed be shimmed if necessary, so they can move smoothly on both mountings.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Sounds great until the bike has to lean. At that point, your "improved rear end stability" just became my "shock binding". The solid mount theory would make some sense on lighter, high performance bikes. Don't see it on our 900 lb pigs with an antiquated rear suspension design.
