944 vs Air ride suspension
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 351
Likes: 27
From: in a place with no Drama.
944 vs Air ride suspension
Hello all,
I'm running 944's and wondering if an air ride will deliver a better quality of comfort. I know that the stock setup had to go.
What are your thoughts, advice and recommendations on systems. Also, what to avoid?
Thanks in advance.
PS, Running a 2012 FLHX.
I'm running 944's and wondering if an air ride will deliver a better quality of comfort. I know that the stock setup had to go.
What are your thoughts, advice and recommendations on systems. Also, what to avoid?
Thanks in advance.
PS, Running a 2012 FLHX.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
For a while there was a Canadian air system that had top quality damping as well as the ability to be lowered like a custom air system, but it was darned expensive and I haven't seen any mention of it for quite a while now. I don't recall the brand. What influences ride comfort most is the design of the damping mechanism, not the spring - air is simply a wireless spring. So look for good quality dampers first, the spring medium will follow. Penske are darned expensive and Ohlins are as good or better, for less - both are available from HDF sponsor Howard at Motorcycle Metal.
Last edited by grbrown; Jul 13, 2018 at 07:46 AM.
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 76
Likes: 17
From: UK
I recently switched from 944 Ultra Lows to 12" Pro Actions with 1" lowering blocks, and the difference in the ride is unbelievable. The bike is not as low as it was with the progressives, just, but the ride has improved so much, especially at motorway speeds, that I will never go back!
Advanced
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 76
Likes: 17
From: UK
I never had air shocks so I can't comment on that. From what's been said in the forums, my understanding is that anything's better than air shocks. The 944s were really hard and I never managed to find a good settings for them. They are not a bad shock by any means, but the pro-actions ended up giving me a far better ride (and they came already dialed in). By the way, I had the Ultra Low 944s (with standard springs), the regular length ones might be better.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 9,193
Likes: 494
From: Richmond, VA
Can you be more specific?
Air ride is a very generic term. Do you mean the Monroe style air shocks with onboard air compressor system? Like the ones all over eBay?
Air ride is a very generic term. Do you mean the Monroe style air shocks with onboard air compressor system? Like the ones all over eBay?
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Novice
Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 21
Likes: 0
From: Kansas City
I went from 944's to DIY air ride, when fully aired up I would say stiffness is the same, how ever the 944 are really stiff if you ride solo a lot.
With the air ride it's way more comfortable for me, handling is fine, I just a 1900 mile trip and even loaded down the Gabriel shocks worked great for me.
Either way you go I wouldn't recommend the 944's unless your getting a hell of a deal on them.
With the air ride it's way more comfortable for me, handling is fine, I just a 1900 mile trip and even loaded down the Gabriel shocks worked great for me.
Either way you go I wouldn't recommend the 944's unless your getting a hell of a deal on them.
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Road Master
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 886
Likes: 89
In my opinion, No. Tried all sorts of settings of the Air shocks but nothing worked. I switched from the Air to 944 Heavy Duty and much better. Since I'm losing weight this summer, I might need to switch down to the 944.Standard. I have a '13 FLHX.