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If you've found a deal on a set of used Ohlins, you may need to change out the spring based on the weight of the rider who originally purchased them.
Front suspension is okay. Some guys change it out once they see how good the improvement is on the rear. My HD dealer said change the fronts if you want more performance. If you're after comfort, leave them stock.
I got a deal on a new pair ( About $350 less than the MSRP). These are set up for 275 pounds rider, while I am 300.
I checked Ohlins site and they recommend 28 N/ mm springs, while these have 26 N/mm . But they do have the recommended settings for 26 N/mm spring on their site to make it work ( Solo and Two up).
Thanks for your feedback on Front Suspension - This is reassuring. I think I will leave them be, for the timebeing.
This is the same model I test road, which stayed in my head until last year (2022), when I pulled the trigger!
What an awesome bike!
I've been debating between Screamin Eagle pipes & Rinehart. Any thoughts on that?
Hope you're still enjoying that ride!
That's the model/color I was originally looking for, but never found one. Ended up with the Midnight Crimson.
Like the touch of the dog & flag! Giving me ideas.
I have the Ohlins HD772 on my 17 Road King Special. I've had them for about 10K miles now. I had Progressive 444's on my previous touring rig, an 05 Electra Glide, and I have Progressive 430's on my slammed 07 Dyna. I can't speak on the topic of the specific shocks you are looking at but I can say just about any quality aftermarket suspension will be better than stock.
As for my HD772's, change was HUGE. I did front and rear on my 05 Eglide and noticed a big difference at the rear but not so much at the front.
As to weight, I am 6'1" tall and 200 lbs in full riding gear. Per the online Ohlins calculator, I chose the 26NM spring. BUT, I did not account for the fact that when touring two up, I carry the luggage on rear rack. The additional weight of a 5 day trip worth of luggage with the missus, when on the rear rack, essentially ends up being very similar to the "with tourpak' calculation. Had I used the "with tourpak", I likely would have chosen a 28NM spring. That being said, my wife only travels with me at most once a year. So being at the very close to the outside of adjustment, but still within the calulator's acceptable range, I am okay with it. I tour two or three times a year solo and two up no luggage many times a year so the 26NM is fine.
The ride quality is far better with Ohlins as is stability and overall control of the bike. I found the tool for adjusting the Ohlins better than the gorilla grip I had to use wearing gloves on the Progressives. Setting sag, solo/two up/with and without luggage is paramount, regardless of the suspension you choose. My shocks changed the length from 12 to 12.5 inches, I barely notice it.
Well I just dropped off the second brand new HD chrome riser cover at the powder coater. The first cover warped under sand blasting and the subsequent heat from the oven during the PC process. This time they are going to hand sand it only then apply the gloss black coating and bake it. Still on hold from installing the Kraus risers. More to come.
Finally in the process of installing the Kraus 10" kickback risers and FM Motobar. The cover the risers are passing through was the powder coating nightmare I've been dealing with. It's done and installed.
Finally in the process of installing the Kraus 10" kickback risers and FM Motobar. The cover the risers are passing through was the powder coating nightmare I've been dealing with. It's done and installed.
Nice cornpipe, glad you were able to get started! Looking forward to see your progress! Tying your hand controls up that way seems quick and easy, especially if you have open rafters in garage.
Nice cornpipe, glad you were able to get started! Looking forward to see your progress! Tying your hand controls up that way seems quick and easy, especially if you have open rafters in garage.
Thanks CJ so far so good I will finish it today. I found out you have to start the right Kraus provided riser bolt first because they are alot longer than the stock bolts and you need the riser assy loose to work the right bolt in. Of course I found this out after I had installed the left bolt so I had to remove it lol. There's no instructions provided by Kraus but I told their Tech department this tid bit yesterday on the phone. They also don't tell you that you do away with the ground cable that's attached to the left stock riser. It's not needed on this setup. No one really knows why HD even has that ground on Road Kings since our ignition switch is console mounted.
Supposedly that ground is for the Street and Road Glides but I don't know that for sure. As far as hanging the controls I use those vinyl covered bycicle hooks folks use to hang a bike upside down.
Thanks CJ so far so good I will finish it today. I found out you have to start the right Kraus provided riser bolt first because they are alot longer than the stock bolts and you need the riser assy loose to work the right bolt in. Of course I found this out after I had installed the left bolt so I had to remove it lol. There's no instructions provided by Kraus but I told their Tech department this tid bit yesterday on the phone. They also don't tell you that you do away with the ground cable that's attached to the left stock riser. It's not needed on this setup. No one really knows why HD even has that ground on Road Kings since our ignition switch is console mounted.
Supposedly that ground is for the Street and Road Glides but I don't know that for sure. As far as hanging the controls I use those vinyl covered bycicle hooks folks use to hang a bike upside down.
Thanks for the tips! I am still on the fence about what I'm going to do with my bars.. but for sure the stockers need to go. I'm gonna hold off and make this a winter project though.
Thanks for the tips! I am still on the fence about what I'm going to do with my bars.. but for sure the stockers need to go. I'm gonna hold off and make this a winter project though.
I understand completely and as you know these Kraus risers are high dollar and I thought long and hard about pulling the trigger or going with a lower priced setup. I hope like hell I like them lol. I can't comment on the stock RKS bars but I hate the 14" apes the original owner had installed on my bike. I've been riding with them since May of 2021 when I got it. They had to go. Apes look cool but for slow speed riding and overall comfort they are not ideal.
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