Couple different shock questions
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Joined: Mar 2017
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From: Holly Mi
Couple different shock questions
So I've been digging through shock and suspension threads for weeks here. I've got answers to most of the questions I had, but I had a few more I've not seen answered. I've narrowed my choices down to the Pro Action and the Ohlins of course. Everything I see tells me as far as ride comfort I can't go wrong with either. In the Ohlins I'm looking at either the 2-2 or the 3-3, the 6's are just out of my budget and probably more than I need anyway. I don't really like the preload adjustment on the 2's, so that pushes more toward the 3's. The Pro Actions are still around $800 , and even though everyone is pretty tight lipped about Howards pricing, I get the impression the 3-3 are around that price. Has anyone actually used both of these shocks? I saw a post where a guy and his buddy traded similar bikes and both seemed to say the ride was pretty equally. My questions really boils down to value. Being that the Ohlins are a separated shock and the Pro Action are emulsified, it would seem the Ohlins have the lead there. Next is ease of adjustment. I like the split collar on the PA, and the fact they're hard anodized. The Ohlins are aluminum on aluminum from what I understand, and I'm a little concerned about galling the threads adjusting the preload. Yes I know to clean the threads and lube them, but lets face it, when you're working with aluminum sometimes **** happens. I guess the PA have the edge there. So my questions are these...
Has anyone ran both the PA and the 3-3 on the same bike? Which did you prefer and why?
As far as build quality of the shock itself, which is better?
Has anyone had issues adjusting preload or anything else on either brand?
Do you really not have to adjust preload on the PA going between 1 up and 2 up? How can that be?
For the money spent, do you think one is a better value than the other?
Has anyone ran both the PA and the 3-3 on the same bike? Which did you prefer and why?
As far as build quality of the shock itself, which is better?
Has anyone had issues adjusting preload or anything else on either brand?
Do you really not have to adjust preload on the PA going between 1 up and 2 up? How can that be?
For the money spent, do you think one is a better value than the other?
Last edited by chevy406; Feb 9, 2019 at 09:47 AM.
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From: in a cave at the foothills
What you seem to be asking is that someone else has made a pretty expensive gamble. Best of luck but whoever runs either shock is probably pretty much satisfied. I know that I am with Pro Action 13's. Much more so than I was with their 12's.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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From: North Carolina
Pro-Action
Made in America
Nice folks. Make a road trip like we did. They will set up a new set for you, install them and take you on a guided tour of the roughest roads in the area. If you are not 100% satisfied they’ll put your old shocks back on and you don’t owe them a dime. I would be extremely shocked if anyone ever had them take them off.
My wife asked me within 1/4 mile why we had not done this sooner. Now with over 20k miles with them I have actually forgot just how bad the stock air suspension was. We rode 200 miles last Thursday (79 degrees here!) and crossed over a raised railroad crossing with three tracks, never slowed down and the wife never readjusted her position in the saddle.
Good luck with you decision.
Made in America
Nice folks. Make a road trip like we did. They will set up a new set for you, install them and take you on a guided tour of the roughest roads in the area. If you are not 100% satisfied they’ll put your old shocks back on and you don’t owe them a dime. I would be extremely shocked if anyone ever had them take them off.
My wife asked me within 1/4 mile why we had not done this sooner. Now with over 20k miles with them I have actually forgot just how bad the stock air suspension was. We rode 200 miles last Thursday (79 degrees here!) and crossed over a raised railroad crossing with three tracks, never slowed down and the wife never readjusted her position in the saddle.
Good luck with you decision.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 532
Likes: 211
From: Armstrong, BC
I haven't tried both, so I cant answer your questions on comparison. However, I just went through what you did.... I did a ton of research and narrowed it down to the same two as you. I settled on the Pro-Action, but I won't be able to try them out until the spring. Like nobodyknowsme said, I'm sure that owners of either brand would be happy with their choice.
Your Q: Do you really not have to adjust pre-load on the PA going between 1 up and 2 up? How can that be?
This is why Pro-Action will ask a bunch of questions on rider/passenger weights, amount of time solo/two-up, style of riding etc. The will come pre-set more or less at a happy medium to keep an average butt happy at either 1 or 2 up. You are then free to adjust to either if you please or if your butt or riding style is more sensitive or majority of time is either 1 or 2 up. I'm not positive, but I believe it would be similar with the Olins.
Your Q: Do you really not have to adjust pre-load on the PA going between 1 up and 2 up? How can that be?
This is why Pro-Action will ask a bunch of questions on rider/passenger weights, amount of time solo/two-up, style of riding etc. The will come pre-set more or less at a happy medium to keep an average butt happy at either 1 or 2 up. You are then free to adjust to either if you please or if your butt or riding style is more sensitive or majority of time is either 1 or 2 up. I'm not positive, but I believe it would be similar with the Olins.
Last edited by Steve N,; Feb 9, 2019 at 11:01 AM.
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From: in a cave at the foothills
I am the epitome of lazy so have never adjusted my shocks. With that being said my bike rides SO MUCH better with with the wife on board. And the fact that she tops the scale at about 112 tells me that these shocks are quite sensitive, as well as precise. I did after all have them preset by PA prior to shipment to me.
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 532
Likes: 211
From: Armstrong, BC
I am the epitome of lazy so have never adjusted my shocks. With that being said my bike rides SO MUCH better with with the wife on board. And the fact that she tops the scale at about 112 tells me that these shocks are quite sensitive, as well as precise. I did after all have them preset by PA prior to shipment to me.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 3,522
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From: South Texas
I went with Ohlins 159, replacing 12” OEM on 2018 RG.
The 159s have same travel as 13” shocks, but overall length can be adjusted without sacrificing travel. So I set lhem to shortest length to minimize change in bike’s ride.
Ordered them to be setup for 2-up riding, and don’t make any changes for solo riding.
They work much better than the stock “premium” shocks.
No experience with PA shocks, people seem to like them too.
The 159s have same travel as 13” shocks, but overall length can be adjusted without sacrificing travel. So I set lhem to shortest length to minimize change in bike’s ride.
Ordered them to be setup for 2-up riding, and don’t make any changes for solo riding.
They work much better than the stock “premium” shocks.
No experience with PA shocks, people seem to like them too.
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Joined: Jul 2014
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From: The Great Midwest
I’ve owned both Ohlins and Pro Actions. Easy of adjustability between the two is a no-brainer, Pro Actions by far are so much easier to adjust. Plus, by design of the collar and thread profile, it’ll be hard to damage the threads on a Pro Action.
Ride quality was better on the Pro Action as well, but’s that’s with the Ohlins I had, which was an emulsion shock. I am going to test out the 772’s against the Pro Actions come springtime and report back.
Ride quality was better on the Pro Action as well, but’s that’s with the Ohlins I had, which was an emulsion shock. I am going to test out the 772’s against the Pro Actions come springtime and report back.
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Joined: Oct 2018
Posts: 95
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From: Long Island, NY
I just bought Ohlin's 159's 2 days ago. I called Ohlins and spoke to Joey 4 different times, and he gave me as much time as I needed on each call to ask my questions. Amazing support, and to me...that is gold. I'm sure any shock in the $700-$900 will make you happy. I chose the 159's for the setting control on rebound and height, should i need to tailor the setup. Good luck. FYI, if you go Ohlins...they referred me to an online distributor that is down the road, so Ohlins will setup the shock and they just mail it...and you save big.