Dump the stock air shocks!
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2016
Posts: 8,015
Likes: 6,909
From: NC
I am glad you are happy with your new shocks
I have been riding for over 50 years. Mostly touring bikes. All riding conditions, many long trips.
I have never had an issue with stock 13 inch air shocks. I love them. Good ride quality, good handling, etc... One must check the pressure regularly. The people that I know that complain about the air shocks usually dont check it. They want to set it and forget it
before I get jumped on I want to add that premium shocks, like ohlins, etc... that have been set up for a particular rider are excellent. They produce a great ride. I am just saying that my air shocks are great for me. I have a plate on my spine and I cant take hard jolts without feeling pain, I am fine with the air shocks..
i am commenting only only to say that the shocks due work well for some of us.
I have been riding for over 50 years. Mostly touring bikes. All riding conditions, many long trips.
I have never had an issue with stock 13 inch air shocks. I love them. Good ride quality, good handling, etc... One must check the pressure regularly. The people that I know that complain about the air shocks usually dont check it. They want to set it and forget it
before I get jumped on I want to add that premium shocks, like ohlins, etc... that have been set up for a particular rider are excellent. They produce a great ride. I am just saying that my air shocks are great for me. I have a plate on my spine and I cant take hard jolts without feeling pain, I am fine with the air shocks..
i am commenting only only to say that the shocks due work well for some of us.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 4,452
Likes: 798
From: Bear Flag, lower end
Don't do it, you will not have a much travel with the 12" shock.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,734
Likes: 9,242
From: Snow Hill, NC
I know this is a very old thread but new questions are asked. Lots of choices out there from premium brands like Proaction, Ohlins, JRI, Legends, Bitubo, Progressives, and also changing the fluids in existing air shocks...
Do your homework, buy the best ones you can for the money or maintain yours...The best shorter shocks are the premium ones.
Do your homework, buy the best ones you can for the money or maintain yours...The best shorter shocks are the premium ones.
Last edited by Notgrownup; Feb 1, 2019 at 06:47 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 142
I have read a few major complaint, of at least one is that you always have to check them because they always leak down. WRONG...…………...I put 17 psi, in my air shocks on my 2003 RKC September 29, 2015, the day I took possession of the bike and I just checked them today. 17 psi. I have no problem with stock air shocks, and 800 USD dollars give or take can be put to other things. Not knocking any of you guys who want a different ride, but Air shocks and the cost to develop and install stock air shocks by the MOCO, I think is tad more than some of these "premium" offers. Im sure ill get raked over the coals by this, but I worked in research and defelopment in the automotive industry for a couple of years as a design engineer and you don't just pop a set tubes with rubber seals and lines on an 850 lbs bike and say your good to go.
randy
randy
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 357
Likes: 39
From: illinois
the air shocks just pain out suck vs the newer stocks you can rave about your shocks all you want i cant tell you how to spend your money, im just telling you it really made my bike handle and ride way better much smoother and in curves its more connected and predicable
go to a dealer and ride a new or even newer bike and tell me if yours feels any thing like it? mines an '08 with 20k on it and was not even close still dont feel 100% like the newer bikes but its way closer now
Last edited by stroker87; Feb 1, 2019 at 01:38 PM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 56
From: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
You do have 13” air shocks as I did on my 2011 Road King.
My next bikes were a 2015 Street Glide and now a 2019 Road Glide. Both with the 12” hand adjustable premium shocks.
You might as well have a bike with two steel bars in place of those 12” useless pieces of crap. Any 13” shock, air or otherwise would offer a better ride than a 12” one, especially 2-up.
One clue as to how good they are is look on eBay and there are a million 12” on there and very few 13” (at 2x the cost).
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,734
Likes: 9,242
From: Snow Hill, NC
My shocks really never leaked that bad over 10 years but dayyymmm. The Ohlins perform sooo much better than stock... I let my wife be the judge... The thumbs up in the mirror was enough positive review for me...
Not saying the 13" premium shocks don't do good but the base 2-2b ohlins or HD159 I think is the Ohlins # are head and shoulder better than stock.
Not saying the 13" premium shocks don't do good but the base 2-2b ohlins or HD159 I think is the Ohlins # are head and shoulder better than stock.
Intermediate
Joined: Nov 2018
Posts: 29
Likes: 2
From: Aliance, NE
Ive put countless miles on both types of shocks youre mentioning.
You do have 13 air shocks as I did on my 2011 Road King.
My next bikes were a 2015 Street Glide and now a 2019 Road Glide. Both with the 12 hand adjustable premium shocks.
You might as well have a bike with two steel bars in place of those 12 useless pieces of crap. Any 13 shock, air or otherwise would offer a better ride than a 12 one, especially 2-up.
One clue as to how good they are is look on eBay and there are a million 12 on there and very few 13 (at 2x the cost).
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Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 142
Stroker, the only way someone can truly get an honest appraisal of different shocks is to test ride identical bikes. I have an 2003 road king classic., I would be lucky to find a dealer with one of those now so im testing a 2010 or better with the different frame, bars etc. Not a comparison at all but hey it is what it is. Im 225 lbs, 6 foot tall and 61 years old. I don't find the air shocks bad and my skoot suits me just fine. Most definitely not $800 fine.
randy
randy
Club Member
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 9,837
Likes: 8,745
From: Edmonton, Alberta
I have read a few major complaint, of at least one is that you always have to check them because they always leak down. WRONG...
...I put 17 psi, in my air shocks on my 2003 RKC September 29, 2015, the day I took possession of the bike and I just checked them today. 17 psi. I have no problem with stock air shocks, and 800 USD dollars give or take can be put to other things. Not knocking any of you guys who want a different ride, but Air shocks and the cost to develop and install stock air shocks by the MOCO, I think is tad more than some of these "premium" offers. Im sure ill get raked over the coals by this, but I worked in research and defelopment in the automotive industry for a couple of years as a design engineer and you don't just pop a set tubes with rubber seals and lines on an 850 lbs bike and say your good to go.
randy
randy
If you truly think Harley's stock air shocks are acceptable on a bike at this price point, all I can say is you must never have experienced a bike with a well-designed suspension.