Shocks
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
Shocks
Ok this is probably a dumb question, but I am going to ask it any way. Is the very cheapest Ohlins a little better, or a lot better, than ten year old stock touring shocks?
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 1,040
From: Seabrook, NH
Sorry Streetrunner. I strongly disagree with your statement. Still don't understand why your experience was not the same as mine. My baseline Ohlins are much better. Especially if you ride with a passenger. Doesn't cost a penny to talk to Howard.
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,191
Likes: 233
From: North East, MD
If your shocks aren't leaking and you want to get a suspension performance improvement on the cheap try changing the stock shock fluid to a 10W shock fluid. Doing that made a major difference in how the suspension on my '14 Limited performed.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 127
Likes: 1
From: Poynette, Wisconsin
+1 on changing the fluid, I would try this before dishing out the cake for the Ohlins. I have tried the Ohlins and progressives, are they better? Yes worth it? Depends if I had a fat wife and hauled a trailer I would say yea. But I never noticed such a great difference in the handling or the ride to justify the purchase. I'm sure many might disagree but that's just my take from it. Thicker oil and propper air pressure on the stock shocks satisfies my needs.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,899
Likes: 3,412
From: OH
Yes they are. The stock shocks sucks. It's not just the ride it's also the control of the bike.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 2,598
Likes: 52
From: South Jersey
As far as Howard, I have talked with him more than once and I felt like he was talking me in circles. I actually hung up thinking what the heck was that. Lol
Maybe my expectation level for spending $600 to $900 is too high because when I ask myself the question "was it worth what paid for" I always answer "no".
Don't get me wrong, all of the aftermarket shocks were a little better over stutter type bumps but when it came to the big bone crushers they were no better than stock. It's the bone crushers that I'm trying to remedy but I now believe that shock doesn't exist with only a few inches of travel. Keep in mind all shocks including stock that I have tried are 13".
I can see how there could be a major improvement going from 12" to 13". That may be why many love their aftermarket shocks.
Just my opinion.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
The very cheapest Ohlins shock is an outstanding damper. I've had mine for 7 years. I have had the piggy backs, the remote reservoirs, single shock remote Ohlins and these. Yeah they are good. I'd bet if you took the divided style and the emulsion Ohlins with same stack, same spring on the same bike and did a loop not knowing which was which, you couldn't tell them apart
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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 Streetrunner
I just took my legend Revo's off and found a pair of 13" HDPremium shocks. I haven't had a chance to dial them in yet....
Maybe my expectation level for spending $600 to $900 is too high because when I ask myself the question "was it worth what paid for" I always answer "no".
Maybe my expectation level for spending $600 to $900 is too high because when I ask myself the question "was it worth what paid for" I always answer "no".
