What am I missing
HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
Don't fix what's not broken!
If you're happy with the ride and handling, that's terrific. Ride and enjoy.
Only if you find yourself going "hmm" should you start thinking about improvements.
I can tell you that I found myself going "hmm" with the shocks because of the way the bike would bottom out. Once I got things improved with the shocks enough to satisfy me and stop making me go "hmm" I quit improving them. That was close enough for me.
If you're happy with the ride and handling, that's terrific. Ride and enjoy.
Only if you find yourself going "hmm" should you start thinking about improvements.
I can tell you that I found myself going "hmm" with the shocks because of the way the bike would bottom out. Once I got things improved with the shocks enough to satisfy me and stop making me go "hmm" I quit improving them. That was close enough for me.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 6,386
Likes: 900
From: Columbus, Ohio
You're going to find a lot of people telling you how much he the stock shocks suck. I'm like you - I'm perfectly happy with them. I've ridden bikes with all of the Ohlins and this and that, but I wouldn't pay much more than $17 for them.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 3,832
Likes: 127
From: Coastal Carolina
I've got 55,000+ miles on my 2011 air shocks with no complaints. I'm not petite, but at 6'2 225, there are alot of guys that are bigger and heavier than I and my wife is a buck ten. My guess is that heavier riders are less happy with them. No offence intended.
Road Warrior
Joined: Apr 2016
Posts: 1,399
Likes: 307
From: Salem IN
I get caught up in this kind of stuff all the time. My last weekend ride with my wife on the back I am trying to feel the suspension......for lack of a better term. Everything feels fine. I do bottom out more than I would like.....But it's not like I cant ride another mile without new shocks.
I am going to replace them just to see what I am missing....
I am going to replace them just to see what I am missing....
Peculiar. When I had the stock shocks on, IMO, they felt better riding two up (175 +135). What got me to HATE the shocks was hitting a bump or pot hole and flying off the seat as there is no rebound damping. I have the Premium adjustable shocks set on the lightest setting and whether by myself or two up, the bike has never bottomed out since, handles sweepers fine and I can ride all day..... and they are 12" shocks. Caveat: I made my stock seat more plush and also use a Hammock......
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 5,803
Likes: 7,830
From: SE Louisiana
Peculiar. When I had the stock shocks on, IMO, they felt better riding two up (175 +135). What got me to HATE the shocks was hitting a bump or pot hole and flying off the seat as there is no rebound damping. I have the Premium adjustable shocks set on the lightest setting and whether by myself or two up, the bike has never bottomed out since, handles sweepers fine and I can ride all day..... and they are 12" shocks. Caveat: I made my stock seat more plush and also use a Hammock......
Somebody's just trying to convince themselves that the premiums were a good investment.
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 76
Likes: 21
From: Michigan
My experience:
Back in July I got 13" Pro-Action shocks installed on my 2016 FLTRU. My wife and I rode to Beaver Falls PA, had them installed the next day and rode on to Niagara Falls. We were loaded for a weekend trip and this gave us a good comparison between stock shocks and the Pro-Actions and we both agree the upgrade was an improvement. I noticed a modest handling improvement and we both noticed a definite improvement in the ride. My wife said she was no longer pitched up off the seat by most bumps. They were expensive but I would have to say they were worth it, just not as big an improvement as we had hoped for. Here in Michigan many of our two lane blacktop roads have raised expansion joints. These are not just the joint material protruding, but amount to a 4' to 5' "ramp" raised as much as 4" to 5". When you hit one of these at 60 mph it's like a mini Evel Kneivel jump and the Pro-Action's don't seem to be much better than the Harley shocks in this scenario. They feel like they "bottom" and "top" within a split second. BAM! I would also say that the more weight I have on the bike the better the ride in almost any conditions with the Pro-actions. Not so with the stock shocks, the ride got worse as the weight increased.
Back in July I got 13" Pro-Action shocks installed on my 2016 FLTRU. My wife and I rode to Beaver Falls PA, had them installed the next day and rode on to Niagara Falls. We were loaded for a weekend trip and this gave us a good comparison between stock shocks and the Pro-Actions and we both agree the upgrade was an improvement. I noticed a modest handling improvement and we both noticed a definite improvement in the ride. My wife said she was no longer pitched up off the seat by most bumps. They were expensive but I would have to say they were worth it, just not as big an improvement as we had hoped for. Here in Michigan many of our two lane blacktop roads have raised expansion joints. These are not just the joint material protruding, but amount to a 4' to 5' "ramp" raised as much as 4" to 5". When you hit one of these at 60 mph it's like a mini Evel Kneivel jump and the Pro-Action's don't seem to be much better than the Harley shocks in this scenario. They feel like they "bottom" and "top" within a split second. BAM! I would also say that the more weight I have on the bike the better the ride in almost any conditions with the Pro-actions. Not so with the stock shocks, the ride got worse as the weight increased.
Last edited by Vibeman; Sep 2, 2017 at 07:20 AM.
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Unlike you, I don't own a motocriss bike, ride on dirt roads and don't hit speed bumps at 50. The shocks were free. Wonderful install.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 887
Likes: 30
From: Queen Creek, AZ
Same here. I haven't noticed any issues with the stockers either.