Rear shock help.
Thread Starter
|
Stage IV
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
Rear shock help.
My wife and I just got back from a weekend ride. Being two up and having luggage, I aired up the rear (stock) shocks to 50#'s. We went on a group ride without any luggage and it seemed that every time we hit a bridge seam or a "small" pot hole, the bike bottomed out. It felt like there wasn't any shocks at all on the bike. I went to my local dealer and told the service rep what was going on and he suggested that there was too much air in the shocks. The air caused the shocks not to have any room to dampen the road. My bike is a 2012 FLHTCU with 21000 miles on it. Need advice please. I'm leaning on getting new rear shocks anyway. But I don't understand why the dealer would suggest taking air out because they are too stiff.
Thread Starter
|
Stage IV
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
From: Louisiana
I have seen a mark on the swing arm. I have Rinehart 4 inch exhaust. The bike is standard height. There are scrapes on the tips of the exhaust. Could the tips be scraping? It really sends a jolt up my back when it occurs.
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,768
Likes: 8,641
From: Edmonton, Alberta
Per my '13 owner's manual, 50# is the max recommended pressure. But it's not too much.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 8,054
Likes: 8,077
From: Canada
I don't doubt the suspension is bottoming out. Mine did it riding solo, you could hear a metallic clack when the arm hit so in my case I decided to buy a pair of new take off shocks from a 2017 touring bike for a couple hundred bucks. Problem solved.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 498
Likes: 28
From: Iowa
Did you take some air out, go for a ride and see if it got better. Thinking that might be next step.
Trending Topics
Ok, here's what you do to fix the issue. First check to see how much air is still in the shocks. Then let a little out. Then little a more out. Keep doing this until there is no more air in the shocks. At which point take them off your bike and throw them away. Install a good set of coilovers and be forever happy that you ditched the crappy stock air shocks.
Garrett
Garrett
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider
Verdad Gallardo
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 17,684
Likes: 6,061
From: Niagara, Ontario, Canada
That's what all dealers say about these shocks. I've tried adjusting mine to every pound of pressure there is two up, and my wife said, fix or she's not riding again. Go to the back of the bike, and pull down, if the bike stays down, it could be the check valve inside the shock itself, but I'm sure the dealer checked it !!!! I'm in the process switching out, even though it's under extended warranty, hell with replacing with same. Good luck, keep us posted.