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If you "never" bottom out on shocks with ~3" of travel, ~2" after setting sag, ~1 1/2" not including the bump stop, your shocks are either too stiff or, you do not know you are bottoming out. Hence, bump stops. Bump stops are designed to be part of the stroke, absorbing the impact prior to bottoming out. A correctly designed shock will make use of all travel, including the bump stop, as bottoming out is normal and expected. Even without railroad tracks as part of the equation. The fact that you do not believe you ever bottom out says that Ohlins has a well designed bump stop. The same can be said for my Works Performance shocks and others. Bump stops, bottoming out and rebound damping - good stuff!!
If you are in doubt of what I say, and believe you never bottom out, remove the bump stops completely from your shocks and hit those railroad tracks again. Ah, a true test of ones convictions. Gotta love the biblical references on Easter Sunday.
Ok, all kidding aside, how about this. Rather then remove the bump stops, put a zip tie around the shock shaft and hit those railroad tracks again. Then look and see where the zip tie is.
You've plainly never ridden on decent shocks with top quality damping!
If by bottoming out we're talking about that spine jarring jolt from my **** to my head, That feels like your tire has no air pressure and the rim was just dented/destroyed, By a 1.5 inch deep manhole or an expansion joint on one of our many bridges or just pulling into my driveway with the wife on board. Then My Ohlin's are doing their job well, As that has not happend since. And yes I/we hit the bump stops.
Last edited by Smokey Stover; Mar 27, 2016 at 11:32 AM.
By the end of this week I will be posting an ad for a brand new, never installed pair of 13" Legend Revo-A shocks with 90 (standard) spring rate at a reduced price if you are interested.
That could be a real "buy", I run Legend Revo's and are very happy. They are American made. Not sure how the warranty would be effected as the buyer would not be the original owner. Important because they come with a Lifetime warranty. Another important thing about Legend and something to look for on other brands is the mounting system. Legend comes with spherical bearings top and bottom for easy installation.
Thankz guys. .. but can we save the who's better and just share what we use... thanks
Just installed ohlins hd159 (equivalent to howard's 3-3 shocks) on my 14 sgs last week. About 200 miles on them so far and they ride fantastic, definitely happy I went with ohlins.
I running pro action last year was a bit disappointed, but after changing the Cleve blocks on my 99 to solid bearings(so more like the 02 & up). I'm more happy with them. I also changed isolaters, first couple rides seamed stiff but broke in nicely, along with vibes settling down.
I am running pro actions on my 10 and the 16i have is stock. I have used ohlins for years in non Harley applications. They are too of the line. My american made with barrel bushing top and bottom pro actions have adjustable damping and are very good shocks. Lots of real world experince over several decades with them.
If you read/follow enough shock threads, you'd see no rear shocks he has bought/used has been to his liking.
Originally Posted by hemi1300
Just installed ohlins hd159 (equivalent to howard's 3-3 shocks). About 200 miles on them so far and they ride fantastic, definitely happy I went with ohlins.
My 3-3s from Howard are driving around town in a UPS truck, taunting me.
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