Im almost positive that other than the neck, the frames are the same from 09 up and the only change for the m8s was just enough to get the motor in.

 

I thought that they changed the rear sub frames during the Rushmore years from what the dealer told me. In any event the OP would get further with his decision from talking directly to the shock vendors. They will setup the shocks based on your needs.

 

They did to fit the wider wheel and tire assembly and put on a beefier swing arm

 

That was in 09, not 14.

 

I'm buying a new Road glide special for my 50th birthday in March and after a lot of research I have decided to get the Fox shocks in the 13inch size. Being 6'3 and have had back surgery I believe these are the way to go.

 

I'll add another factor....where do you live and how bad are the roads. I've run a ton of after market shocks and currently run JRI B's 13" set up from Howard with all the custom springs and valving. The shocks have performed well but never really lived up to my expectation. And believe me they're dialed in perfectly. Broken in, sag properly set, all the damping.

However we relocated down to North Carolina for almost all of 2018. And I have to tell you the shocks performed awesome. Like glass, planted, and all the MINOR road imperfections down there sucked up like nothing. Recently moved back to Rhode Island and have to say I never really realized how bad the roads up here are. Not sure any company is going to make a product to comply with the roads up here on the machines we ride. Maybe an air ride or the top of the line Ohlins?

Best advise is go with a 13" shock as others have mentioned.

My two cents......

 

yep agreed

 

lol, mine done me the same with a leather vest.

 

I put Ricor shocks and fork Intiminators on my last FLH. When I got this one I realized how good the old bike rode. I need an upgrade too.

So for a start how about a set of 13" shocks and a lowering kit to get the inch back? I know they send the bottom of the shock farther to the rear but that shouldn't matter.

 

Where bike shocks are concerned there is only a one-line graph of quality, so we each have to decide how far along that graph we would like to be. The further along we target, the fewer brands there are that can supply the goods. So you can either experiment with the less expensive end of the range available, probably spending out more than once and wasting time - or reach for the sky and get there in one stride. I suspect you already know the answer - the brand and source have already been mentioned....