I think others are confusing preload with spring rate.
Put another way, lets say you have the preload on your touring bike set up for solo riding. Then you load it up and a passenger hops on. You head down the road and bottom out on the first bump you hit. So you pull over. You increase your preload so once again your suspension is compressed only 25% to 30% when sitting still. Your spring is now under more force (as you said). This raises up your bike to the height it was before it was loaded down. Your spring rate has not changed but preload is now set for the load you are carrying.

A rider will not notice his preload is set wrong unless he realizes that he bottoms out more often than he tops out (or vise versa).
And yes bottoming out and topping out are significant ride issues. The suspension suddenly stops doing what it was meant to do.

Even manufacturers mark preload settings as more "firm" or "soft" only because the spring is under more or less tension. But the preload does not really make the suspension more firm or soft. The spring rate can do that but not the preload.

 

Originally Posted by scottt View Post

No offense but, just because a gentleman from Ohlin says there mounting system is the best does not make it so for all brands. I take exception to making it sound like anything Ohlin does is always the best way and all other brands are second or third rate. It may be the best for there shocks and it might be the best in some peoples opinion, I respect that. The brands that use spherical bearings state that they are doing it best, I never buy that claim either. It's all about the overall package, how it rides and handles and the warranty should anything go bad. There is a long list of components that go into the buying decision process, easy installation with spherical bearings is just one of them. Ohlin is a great suspension product from what others say but so are some other brands.

Response from FastHarley

What is the matter with you? I have never referred or tried to start or enter any part of a post you are participating in. There is no offense because I ignore your posts and what you have to say. You come on this site and on every post you are jamming your/this product down every post concerning suspension there is. Now please do not think I am offending you as I want nothing to do with you and never have. This is not my site and it is the powers who be run it the way they like. Please remove everything out of your mind that you think pertains to you from me. If you can actually read, you will see this aforementioned post is directed directly to Bmusg and has absolutely nothing to do with you. I do not wish to go over this again so move on with absolute confidence that whatever I post either after this single post will have nothing to do with you. Thank You


My new reply

As you can see; I never address Howard in the reply that started his "whatever". I simply stated that a " gentleman from Ohlin" Did not post anything nasty at all. The fact that I questioned something was the issue. The second issue is that I have posted information about an American competitor. While I respect the fact that FastHarley is a sponsor, I do not see that as giving him any special rights over post. Those that really like this vendor, great. I'm happy for ya, I simply don't as others have said, drink the coolaid. In the end, we are just a bunch of Harley riders with at times, differing opinions.

 

Scott I'm sick of your drink the cool aid BS . Let's get it right , I'm sure you are happy with your Legends , and I'm sure they are a huge improvement over stock. When I ran Progressive Monotubes and 940 rear shocks I was happy with them and they were a huge improvement over stock . But neither is on a level with Ohlins , do you ever wonder why all the Legend propaganda you put on here everyone in it says it is way better than Progressive or better than Harley Premium . Because that is their target and what they are better than. They never say better than Ohlins. What does race technology have to do with touring bike ? Many of our cars or trucks have race technology in them , you learn things on a track that help in everyday real world . Motorcycle shocks on the track they learn about , durability, shock fade , and shock reaction time to change . Durability helps your shock hold up , lack of fade keeps your shock performing under long trips and heavy load and reaction time to change helps you maintain traction and control while delivering a smooth ride . Currently Ohlins , Pro Action and Fox shocks are all being built from race technology. I prefer Ohlins. Why ? They have been in the Harley game longer and have it perfected , the others are new in it and it will take them awhile to get it perfected. Next Ohlins has a complete line of shock choices , emulsion , emulsion with a sweep valve , separated with a sweep valve and remote resivour . The others have a limited line . And lastly Ohlins also offers a front end solution that the other 2 don't. Many of you question rather Ohlins is worth the money , I question rather Legends is that much better than Progressive and worth the money. I hope everyone is happy with what ever they buy and anything is an improvement over stock air suspension , but many people who post on here have no real knowledge of suspension and are simply repeating what they've read or been told . I've said many times a basic emulsion shock (Ohlins #2) is the best shock for the majority of riders , you set your sag and go . Not that everyone is not capable of reading and understanding the literature on shocks with more features , I think everyone can do that . What many riders can't do is understand what your bike is telling you while riding it to help make the right choice of adjusting compression or rebound . That is why it is hard to help someone adjust their suspension over the phone without being able to watch it . If you don't totally understand what it is doing you can't relate it in a conversation. A shock compressing to slow or fast , or rebounding to slow or fast will handle terrible and not ride smooth.

 

For christs sake! I am sick of you being sick of Scott being sick of Howard!
Everyone has opinions. How about some Harley Cool Aid? This being HDForums.com is it safe to say Harley's are the greatest?

 

Dam - I should have been a Fortune Teller! It was even better than I expected.

 

Well hell. I haven't posted here in forever. I was going to throw out Legend with adjustable rebound just as another option because when I read this thread yesterday I hadn't seen them mentioned. But after all the fighting I think I'll just say that I was going to replace my stocker air shocks on my 2012 RK with Legends. I no longer know what I want to put on it LOL

 

Have never put down another brand, including Ohlins. For one reason. I don't have third party documentation showing the results. Nor have I owned a bike with Ohlins. It all comes down to expectations and or use. Have been riding Harleys for over 25 years, at this point I know what I like. Not concerned if I have the fastest bike, not looking to drag my floorboards anymore, simply want a nice riding and handling bike with American made suspension if at all possible. My whole point has been, the best is extremely subjective. Some could say that Harley's are not the best, again, subjective.

For the sake of all I will only respond to posters asking suspension questions. I also want to compliment you on some of the information you just posted. I found it educational. Well stated.

 

That wasn't my quote about cool aid. Pretty funny to hear people whine about mindless shilling for one brand of product as they're mindlessly shilling for another brand.

Hell, I'm still trying to figure out how a compressed spring isn't stiffer than an uncompressed spring.

 

Bsmug , it is stiffer , while adding or reducing preload will not change the spring rating it will stiffen or soften your suspension. When you add preload it will take more initial force to compress the spring , the spring will also then rebound faster , when you decrease preload it takes less initial force to compress the spring and like wise it will rebound slower , this doesn't change the spring rating but adding tension (preload) does change the way your shocks react . FYI regardless of brand of shocks the softess spring you can use with extra preload will always ride smoother than a stiffer spring with less preload , so if you are boarder line between two spring rates with your weight go lighter.

 

Sir, you mentioned Howard in this thread in one of your posts. He then responded. If somehow you missed what your own digits were typing I can copy and paste that for you in a future post should you care to reply to my response to you. I don't know whether this was an accidental memory lapse or something more deliberate on your part but in this thread, the only one that said anything derogatory between you and Howard was initiated by you. With respect to your suspension preferences, I can't comment on Legend suspensions given the fact I've never used them nor have I encountered anyone that has. Likewise, you've never used Ohlins suspension products on your Harley. If you've had a happy experience with a product you've used and wish to share that, go for it Starting drama in this thread akin to what one might find with a group of adolescents at your town mall certainly creates a question to either your motivations or judgement.