Shocks
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 233
From: North East, MD
Easily done. Search the forum for instructions. If you have a leaker you can fix it with a seal kit for an older Honda Goldwing that uses basically the same Showa air shocks. The bodies are the same but the Honda's mounting eyes are a bit different.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 233
From: North East, MD
Is this based on your experience? You have done a shock fluid change on a stock pair and then compared them to Ohlins?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
From my experience,so far, I'm finding that all these shocks ride very similar.
They all copy from one another. There's only so much innovation they can build into these shocks with limited travel.
After all it is a 2 wheel vehicle. Not like a four wheel cage with independent suspension.
The roads are so bad in NJ my cage even rides rough. Lol
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 489
From: sunny florida
Yes I've changed fluid in stock shocks , it stiffened them up without having to add air , however stiffer doesn't mean better , what makes a shock perform is how fast it reacts to change , Ohlins reacts very fast to change , the stock shocks with heavier oil still are slow reacting shocks they just are stiffer and don't bottom out as easily
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 1,566
Likes: 55
From: Londonderry, NH
A shock fluid change is pretty straight forward and does make a difference. I used 7wt. shock fluid (hi Viscosity index) and reduced the pressure to 12lbs.and it made a noticeable difference. I know many others have used 10wt.
I'm sure premium shocks are better, but you will get an improvement for the cost of shock oil and a little time. I hated the stock set-up.
I'm sure premium shocks are better, but you will get an improvement for the cost of shock oil and a little time. I hated the stock set-up.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 876
Likes: 65
From: CT
I don't have Ohlins, but I have a set of JRI model B's I bought local from a guy who layed his bike down. These came from Howard, if that matters, and are the previous style that are rebuildable.
I bought these cause I got a great deal, and all the forum hype. I thought my stock air shocks were good. Was I wrong! These shocks are awesome. Bike feels glued to the road. I realized I was taking corners faster, love them. When I wear these out, I will try Ohlins.
I guess I'm trying to say you have no clue what you are missing until you try some high end shocks. Go for it, best money I spent on my bike
I bought these cause I got a great deal, and all the forum hype. I thought my stock air shocks were good. Was I wrong! These shocks are awesome. Bike feels glued to the road. I realized I was taking corners faster, love them. When I wear these out, I will try Ohlins.
I guess I'm trying to say you have no clue what you are missing until you try some high end shocks. Go for it, best money I spent on my bike
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,080
Likes: 1,957
From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Originally Posted by fullautomike
I thought my stock air shocks were good. Was I wrong! These shocks are awesome. Bike feels glued to the road. I realized I was taking corners faster, love them. When I wear these out, I will try Ohlins.
Former Sponsor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 5,360
Likes: 453
From: Davie, FL
I don't have Ohlins, but I have a set of JRI model B's I bought local from a guy who layed his bike down. These came from Howard, if that matters, and are the previous style that are rebuildable.
I bought these cause I got a great deal, and all the forum hype. I thought my stock air shocks were good. Was I wrong! These shocks are awesome. Bike feels glued to the road. I realized I was taking corners faster, love them. When I wear these out, I will try Ohlins.
I guess I'm trying to say you have no clue what you are missing until you try some high end shocks. Go for it, best money I spent on my bike
I bought these cause I got a great deal, and all the forum hype. I thought my stock air shocks were good. Was I wrong! These shocks are awesome. Bike feels glued to the road. I realized I was taking corners faster, love them. When I wear these out, I will try Ohlins.
I guess I'm trying to say you have no clue what you are missing until you try some high end shocks. Go for it, best money I spent on my bike
