Guy I have a question about shock support. My wife and I are heavier, and I set the air at 50psi when we ride 2 up on my 2005 Ultra. I am leaking air slowly somewhere.....I am thinking about switching out to a set of the premium HD hand adjustable shocks. My question is....will the hand adjustable shocks support our weight better or worse compared to the 50psi on the air shocks? Thanks

 

Yes. But don't get the short 12s. Get the 13s. Or even see if anybody will give u a set of new air ride shocks they took off. They are different than what u had. Higher pressure and work ok if on a budget. Save up and bite the bullet buy ohlins if u ride a lot. They say Howard will get u close. I do a lot with springs and shocks in race cars. A guy that knows what he is doing is invaluable when it comes to spring rates and shock valuing . I ain't that guy on bike shocks.

 

I already changed my 05 shocks out to the newer air shocks that hold more air. They work fine and the ride is good, my concern is ever loosing air pressure and I would be stuck.

 

The HD premium shocks are crap.There are plenty of aftermarket shocks that does a way better job.Ohlins or Progressive maybe?

 

Budget don't allow aftermarket, I can pick up premier s for $200-$240

 

You need to find the source of the leak. It's a pretty simple system.


Use soapy water and pump the system up and look for bubbles. If the shocks aren't leaking it has to be the Schrader valve or the lines and fittings.


I had a similar problem after changing the oil in the shocks. System wouldn't hold air pressure. It turned out to be a loose fitting where the air line enters the shock. Make sure the air line is pushed all the way in or it will leak.


it shouldn't be hard to find the leak.

 

Find & fix the leak if possible. But if you buy the HD Adj. shocks make sure they're 13". Good luck.

 

I don't know about crap--they're head and shoulders above the air shocks that come on the base models. I test rode them back to back, and after setting preload (that's the only adjustment the premiums have) and air (on the base models), there was a distinguishable difference. The premium didn't bottom-out harshly the way the air ones did over sizeable bumps, and the rear felt a bit more composed. I opted for the base Vivid Black with air shocks (didn't want ABS nor need a touchscreen system), and will upgrade to the premium shocks until I'm ready to do premium aftermarket shocks and a front end.

 

I had one leaking as well on my '06. I disconnected the lines at the shocks, took the brass fittings out. Wrapped the fittings with teflon and reinstalled. Then put the lines back in carefully and made sure they were fully seated. That did the trick.

No big concern though if you do leak out. These shock's aren't like true air shocks on cars. They won't drop you down to where you're rubbing the tire and fender. You'll bottom out some on bad bumps until you get them sealed and not losing air. My wife and I ride two up all the time. I'm the heavy culprit in the pair and certainly have us overloaded.

Head

 

05 ultra should be 35# max. 50# were the early 12 inches(sg rkcustom) or the 09^.