Dump the stock air shocks!
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,252
Likes: 142
Dynamic, I ride a Harley not a couch. Ride what you will and if you got the coin to dump 8 or more bills on a set of shocks, go for it. But not everyone here wants to fall asleep on a ride. Not me anyway. Im no kid and all day rides don't bother me at all with those substandard, MoCo conspiracy shocks. 
randy
randy
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 357
Likes: 39
From: illinois
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
also i can tell you the 08 rides better then the 02 RK i had before it, this one is an EG but i had the fairing on my RK so the bikes are pretty close to each other
you have a couple years on me young man im 45 240lb
02 RK 19k miles (when i sold it)
08 EG 21k miles changed up a little (better riding then the RK)
Last edited by stroker87; Feb 1, 2019 at 09:25 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,733
Likes: 9,242
From: Snow Hill, NC
only premium shocks because one shock has different functionality than the other. On coil over shocks they both have the same functionality so it doesnt matter.
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 89
Likes: 3
From: Arizona
EDIT: Wait, now I'm confusing myself because Harley calls everything "premium." The hand adjustables are called "Premium" by Harley but I was told that's a no go. Are there "premium" and "standard" hand adjustables?
Last edited by s13steve; Feb 2, 2019 at 04:43 PM.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 357
Likes: 39
From: illinois
Advanced
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 89
Likes: 3
From: Arizona
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...-question.html
Not the only time I've seen his said either. I'm wondering if there are 2 kinds of hand adjustables. I have a buddy who runs some on his 2000 EG and hasn't had any problems (yet). I do ride 2 up though and don' wan to kill my wife, me and my bike because I made a bad decision on buying shocks. IIRC there is a video in that thread that shows how the adjustable side doesn't actually have any resistance in the shock and is basically just a spring.
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Tourer
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 357
Likes: 39
From: illinois
A few comments about it in a thread I started back in December.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...-question.html
Not the only time I've seen his said either. I'm wondering if there are 2 kinds of hand adjustables. I have a buddy who runs some on his 2000 EG and hasn't had any problems (yet). I do ride 2 up though and don' wan to kill my wife, me and my bike because I made a bad decision on buying shocks. IIRC there is a video in that thread that shows how the adjustable side doesn't actually have any resistance in the shock and is basically just a spring.
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...-question.html
Not the only time I've seen his said either. I'm wondering if there are 2 kinds of hand adjustables. I have a buddy who runs some on his 2000 EG and hasn't had any problems (yet). I do ride 2 up though and don' wan to kill my wife, me and my bike because I made a bad decision on buying shocks. IIRC there is a video in that thread that shows how the adjustable side doesn't actually have any resistance in the shock and is basically just a spring.
i think the swingarms are plenty strong since the air shocks do not have any type of one way valve to hold air pressure evenly in each shock that means in turns one shock is seeing more air the then other "if" the swingarm is flexing, now if each shock had its own air inlet it be different but they dont, i learned this by installing air ride on a truck i had to keep the air in the suspension even i had to have air valves on each bag with out them when in turns the bags that was under the most pressure would loose air it was being pushed to the unloaded side, i would think harley would of designed the swingarms knowing since only one air inlet that would be a problem if it was weak and flexing
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,733
Likes: 9,242
From: Snow Hill, NC
I think the problems are isolated, I guess if you push the bike to its limits in the twisties you might notice...they say the swing arm is stiffer on the newer bikes....Meh!!!!. Without trying both bikes equipped differently in the same situation, it’s hard to know the diff...
i also don’t know how much better my HD159 are compared to Premium adjustable 13” on my 07. All I know is when properly adjusted these Ohlins are so much better than stock or stock with fresh fluids using 7 or 10 or mixed weight fluids in them. Going into a curve solo or 2up un the mountains, I am so much more confident in the bike.
i also don’t know how much better my HD159 are compared to Premium adjustable 13” on my 07. All I know is when properly adjusted these Ohlins are so much better than stock or stock with fresh fluids using 7 or 10 or mixed weight fluids in them. Going into a curve solo or 2up un the mountains, I am so much more confident in the bike.