Touring Models Road King, Road King Custom, Road King Classic, Road Glide, Street Glide, Electra Glide, Electra Glide Classic, and Electra Glide Ultra Classic bikes.
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Shock Question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Sep 12, 2018 | 04:43 AM
  #1  
6 gun's Avatar
6 gun
Thread Starter
|
Seasoned HDF Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 9,384
Likes: 1,776
From: Central Texas
Default Shock Question

What would be the stock shock length for an 07 Road King Classic, and would a fat couple need longer than stock length?
 
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2018 | 05:36 AM
  #2  
harleyrider4300's Avatar
harleyrider4300
Tourer
Veteran: Army
Joined: Mar 2015
Posts: 359
Likes: 100
From: Florida
Default

Originally Posted by 6 gun
What would be the stock shock length for an 07 Road King Classic, and would a fat couple need longer than stock length?
length is 13 inches. As far as your other question, I will pass
 
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2018 | 08:41 AM
  #3  
Cogswell's Avatar
Cogswell
Road Captain
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 514
Likes: 263
From: Appalachia
Default

Originally Posted by 6 gun
What would be the stock shock length for an 07 Road King Classic, and would a fat couple need longer than stock length?
No, but you may want a higher rated spring to compensate for the weight.
 
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2018 | 08:47 AM
  #4  
jp0469's Avatar
jp0469
Tourer
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 297
Likes: 180
From: SE Mass
Default

In addition to a higher spring rating, a popular option is to run a longer shock with lowering brackets. For example, a 14" long set of shocks with 1" lowering brackets on your bike will result in the same ride height as stock but will give you an extra inch of shock travel.
 
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2018 | 10:31 AM
  #5  
hattitude's Avatar
hattitude
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Community Builder
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 10
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,143
Likes: 11,218
From: San Diego, CA
Default

Originally Posted by jp0469
In addition to a higher spring rating, a popular option is to run a longer shock with lowering brackets. For example, a 14" long set of shocks with 1" lowering brackets on your bike will result in the same ride height as stock but will give you an extra inch of shock travel.

I know they are popular, but just to offer another opinion... I am not a fan of lowering brackets.....

Yes, Yes, Yes, before all you that use them start spouting all your anecdotal proof of their absolute worthiness, I have no doubt they have been improved over the years...... but I'm not ready to re-engineer part of the suspension, when many options exist within the OEM design parameters, that will greatly improve the ride...

JMHO....... FWIW.......
 

Last edited by hattitude; Sep 12, 2018 at 12:21 PM.
Reply
Old Sep 12, 2018 | 11:26 AM
  #6  
ohioflhs's Avatar
ohioflhs
Road Warrior
Veteran: Air Force
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 1,485
Likes: 232
From: Ohio
Default

My vote is in for increasing viscosity of the shock oil. I used type F ATF and couldn't be happier. Only need about twenty or thirty PSI riding 2 up and I am not small.
 
Reply
Old Sep 14, 2018 | 11:48 PM
  #7  
OLD 96's Avatar
OLD 96
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 5,149
Likes: 2,975
From: WACO
Default

Originally Posted by ohioflhs
My vote is in for increasing viscosity of the shock oil. I used type F ATF and couldn't be happier. Only need about twenty or thirty PSI riding 2 up and I am not small.
If I am not mistaken . He is talking about the rear shock absorbers on his bike. And. If I am not a complete dumbass. The rear shocks do not take type F ATF or any other fluid. But. I am just a dumbass .What do I know?
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2018 | 07:35 AM
  #8  
Cogswell's Avatar
Cogswell
Road Captain
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 514
Likes: 263
From: Appalachia
Default

Originally Posted by OLD 96
If I am not mistaken . He is talking about the rear shock absorbers on his bike. And. If I am not a complete dumbass. The rear shocks do not take type F ATF or any other fluid. But. I am just a dumbass .What do I know?
The shocks do in fact contain fluid to provide damping action for the suspension. The air acts as the spring to provide preload and carry the weight of the bike and passengers. ATF is a great substitute for suspension fluid, I have been using it for years.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

 Verdad Gallardo
story-2

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-3

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Sep 15, 2018 | 07:51 AM
  #9  
Notgrownup's Avatar
Notgrownup
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Loved
Top Answer: 1
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,712
Likes: 9,218
From: Snow Hill, NC
Default

A properly built shock for the weight and purpose will perform without longer lenght and lowering blocks 8n my opinion but that is just my layman opinion.
 
Reply
Old Sep 15, 2018 | 08:02 AM
  #10  
foxtrapper's Avatar
foxtrapper
HDF Community Team
Veteran: Navy
Veteran: National Guard
10 Year Member
Top Answer: 3
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 6,189
Likes: 2,419
From: USA
Community Team
Default

Originally Posted by OLD 96
If I am not mistaken . He is talking about the rear shock absorbers on his bike. And. If I am not a complete dumbass. The rear shocks do not take type F ATF or any other fluid. But. I am just a dumbass .What do I know?
Shocks have been hydraulic for a long time now.


 
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 05:50 PM.

story-0
7 Times Harley-Davidson Chucked Tradition Out the Window

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson built its reputation on nostalgia, but every so often, the company took a hard left turn into the future.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-20 11:18:19


VIEW MORE
story-1
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles

Slideshow: The bar-and-shield logo shows up on far more than motorcycles, some of the company's most unexpected products have nothing to do with riding.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-29 16:50:35


VIEW MORE
story-2
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: Not every Harley gets it right, but these are the ones that genuinely earned their reputation.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-15 14:23:21


VIEW MORE
story-3
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

Slideshow: From the troubled AMF years to modern misfires, these bikes earned reputations for reliability issues, questionable engineering, or disappointing performance.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-01 20:01:09


VIEW MORE
story-4
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In

Slideshow: Killer Custom's "Jail Breaker" build focuses more on stance and visual aggression than mechanical overhaul.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-18 19:20:32


VIEW MORE
story-5
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?

Slideshow: The Swiss custom shop has taken a Harley Softail and stretched it into something so long and low that it looks closer to a rolling sculpture than a conventional motorcycle.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-07 16:15:30


VIEW MORE
story-6
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's new RMCR concept revives the café racer formula with modern hardware-and it may be exactly the reset the company needs.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-04 12:23:37


VIEW MORE
story-7
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

Slideshow: A standard cruiser becomes an intricate metal canvas in the hands of a Swiss custom house known for pushing Harley-Davidson platforms far beyond their factory brief.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-02-24 18:19:44


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There is no shortage of great motorcycles to buy, but we would avoid these ten.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-02-19 14:50:51


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

Slideshow: Harley-Davidson's challenges aren't abstract; they show up in dropping shipments, shrinking dealer traffic, and strategic decisions that aren't yet translating into growth.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-13 18:33:17


VIEW MORE