What am I missing
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 268
Likes: 53
From: NE Ohio
What am I missing
Shocks? So I hear all of this talk and see people investing some serious coin on new shocks. I have a 2012 street glide with stock air shocks and I think I am happy. The ride seems smooth enough and the terrible roads around here seem to be absorbed by the stock shocks or at least I think so, but I have noting to compare them to. Surely there must be a huge benefit. Rode the tail of the dragon this year and seemed to handle the twisting just fine. It's probably one of those situations where I don't realize how bad it is. So those of you that have went from stock to say Ohlins what am I missing?
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 268
Likes: 53
From: NE Ohio
Lol that's funny but exactly what I'm looking for. I really am curious. People are spending some serious coin and are really pleased with the outcome but I need to know what that outcome is.
Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 86
From: Centeral Coast, California
Well, Lotaluck......if you like to screw up a prefect state of contentment, you're on the right path. Keep asking! I find that contentment is too hard to grasp, and even harder to hang on to, so again.....wishing you a Lotaluck! :-)
Seriously....are you having back problems after riding? Is your bike wobbling or snaking in big sweeping corners? If you hit a pothole does your bike bottom out and do you feel your molars rattling at the same time? Can you put your finger on a problem that you'd attribute to bad suspension? If not....many will be envious of you (including me).
I put Progressive 940's on my 2012 Road glide 4.5 years ago when it was pretty new. I got better handling in corners, and less bottoming out. The biggest difference for me was and is noticed when riding with a load, be it luggage or a passenger. They shine most when I have extra weight on the bike, and in corners while riding solo.
That being said, I firmly believe that there are better shocks out there, and you named a couple. I've just found a place where I am content, and am not willing to spend any more money on my suspension, so beyond joking a little with you I am going to be limited in what I can offer in response. There are more than a couple though, that will likely chime in with first hand knowledge of top notch options that will certainly make you question how content you are with your stock shocks!
Seriously....are you having back problems after riding? Is your bike wobbling or snaking in big sweeping corners? If you hit a pothole does your bike bottom out and do you feel your molars rattling at the same time? Can you put your finger on a problem that you'd attribute to bad suspension? If not....many will be envious of you (including me).
I put Progressive 940's on my 2012 Road glide 4.5 years ago when it was pretty new. I got better handling in corners, and less bottoming out. The biggest difference for me was and is noticed when riding with a load, be it luggage or a passenger. They shine most when I have extra weight on the bike, and in corners while riding solo.
That being said, I firmly believe that there are better shocks out there, and you named a couple. I've just found a place where I am content, and am not willing to spend any more money on my suspension, so beyond joking a little with you I am going to be limited in what I can offer in response. There are more than a couple though, that will likely chime in with first hand knowledge of top notch options that will certainly make you question how content you are with your stock shocks!
Last edited by gipper; Sep 1, 2017 at 12:27 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 902
Likes: 227
From: Mississippi
The bike as sold by Harley is not perfect for everyone. The shocks on my FLTRX beat me pretty badly and would not adjust to where I enjoyed the ride as much as possible. Perhaps you are the physique that the shocks were designed for. Congratulations, you should have bought a lottery ticket the same day you bought that bike...
Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2016
Posts: 201
Likes: 57
From: Gorham NH
If you are happy with your shocks keep them. I was content with mine until one started leaking oil. I put some "cheap" $269 Progressive 412s on my 16 Ultra. They are much stiffer and the bike handles better, but I feel the bumps more so I guess it's a trade off. Much less sag if any with a passenger..I like that. No more checking and adjusting the air pressure anymore-that's a plus. I agree with the other guys..the more you read the more you will second guess.
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 268
Likes: 53
From: NE Ohio
No back problems, wobbling, or anything else I can think of. 12,000 miles so far this year and just checked my pressure, still at 12 psi where I set it at the beginning of the season. I weigh about 190 and only ride solo, have a nice Corbin which probably helps a little. Every now and then a pot hole will give me a good jar. I guess what I really am interested in is how is the handling affected? I hear a lot of "made a huge difference in handling around corners" can this be explained or is it one of the must experience scenarios?
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Road Master
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 1,042
Likes: 86
From: Centeral Coast, California
No back problems, wobbling, or anything else I can think of. 12,000 miles so far this year and just checked my pressure, still at 12 psi where I set it at the beginning of the season. I weigh about 190 and only ride solo, have a nice Corbin which probably helps a little. Every now and then a pot hole will give me a good jar. I guess what I really am interested in is how is the handling affected? I hear a lot of "made a huge difference in handling around corners" can this be explained or is it one of the must experience scenarios?
If you're a really mild rider (NOTHING wrong with that), it's likely that you would never notice the need for a better suspension where handling is concerned. If you're on the other hand a really aggressive rider, I suspect that wobbling and or snaking would have already shown itself in your cornering. And believe me....you'd know you had an issue; it can be unnerving.
I think you may have gotten really lucky in this case, but again....there's no way to impart an experience through explanation. And it's made even more difficult because you're relatively happy with what you have. You're just going to either have to borrow someone's bike with high end shocks on them, or dive in and and purchase a set in order for you to "know". There will definitely be a difference, and you'd likely find yourself even happier with your ride, and a few bucks lighter in the wallet if you took the plunge. On the other hand, if you borrow a bike with high end shocks, your contentment WILL HAVE vanished.
Good luck!
Last edited by gipper; Sep 1, 2017 at 01:19 PM.
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Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 268
Likes: 53
From: NE Ohio
As with anything that's experiential, you have to do a comparison yourself to KNOW. I am sure you understand that.
If you're a really mild rider (NOTHING wrong with that), it's likely that you would never notice the need for a better suspension where handling is concerned. If you're on the other hand a really aggressive rider, I suspect that wobbling and or snaking would have already shown itself in your cornering. And believe me....you'd know you had an issue; it can be unnerving.
I think you may have gotten really lucky in this case, but again....there's no way to impart an experience through explanation. And it's made even more difficult because you're relatively happy with what you have. You're just going to either have to borrow someone's bike with high end shocks on them, or dive in and and purchase a set in order for you to "know". There will definitely be a difference, and you'd likely find yourself even happier with your ride, and a few bucks lighter in the wallet if you took the plunge. On the other hand, if you borrow a bike with high end shocks, your contentment WILL HAVE vanished.
Good luck!
If you're a really mild rider (NOTHING wrong with that), it's likely that you would never notice the need for a better suspension where handling is concerned. If you're on the other hand a really aggressive rider, I suspect that wobbling and or snaking would have already shown itself in your cornering. And believe me....you'd know you had an issue; it can be unnerving.
I think you may have gotten really lucky in this case, but again....there's no way to impart an experience through explanation. And it's made even more difficult because you're relatively happy with what you have. You're just going to either have to borrow someone's bike with high end shocks on them, or dive in and and purchase a set in order for you to "know". There will definitely be a difference, and you'd likely find yourself even happier with your ride, and a few bucks lighter in the wallet if you took the plunge. On the other hand, if you borrow a bike with high end shocks, your contentment WILL HAVE vanished.
Good luck!
