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:

Air Shock Issues

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old May 27, 2019 | 08:29 PM
  #1  
PapaHux's Avatar
PapaHux
Thread Starter
|
Stage III
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Springs, MS
Default Air Shock Issues

2013 FLHP. Shocks had no air and road like a log truck. Added 20 lbs. and still rides bad. Had an Ultra Classic (97) with no issues. Any thoughts?
 
Reply
Old May 27, 2019 | 09:08 PM
  #2  
OldEnuf2NoBtr's Avatar
OldEnuf2NoBtr
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,155
Likes: 1,903
From: Doghouse... mostly
Default

Try 30 lbs. How much do you weigh?
 
Reply
Old May 27, 2019 | 09:23 PM
  #3  
caulk04's Avatar
caulk04
Road Master
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 870
Likes: 245
From: Transfer, PA
Default

Keep trying. I run 30lb in mine usually and will still hit the stops on the right dip. 290lb rider with tour pak.
 
Reply
Old May 27, 2019 | 09:43 PM
  #4  
PapaHux's Avatar
PapaHux
Thread Starter
|
Stage III
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
From: Crystal Springs, MS
Default

190 lbs.
 
Reply
Old May 27, 2019 | 11:43 PM
  #5  
OldEnuf2NoBtr's Avatar
OldEnuf2NoBtr
Seasoned HDF Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 9,155
Likes: 1,903
From: Doghouse... mostly
Default

Originally Posted by PapaHux
190 lbs.
Go up to 30 #'s, then 35 #'s if need be.
 
Reply
Old May 28, 2019 | 06:05 AM
  #6  
alarmdoug's Avatar
alarmdoug
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,271
Likes: 246
From: Columbia SC
Default

I inflate to 50 Lbs in my 14 RK.

Me - 180LBS, Wife 120.
 
Reply
Old May 28, 2019 | 07:16 AM
  #7  
TheGrandPoohBah's Avatar
TheGrandPoohBah
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 14,731
Likes: 2,535
From: Mountain Top, Alabama
Default

Spray soapy water solution on air lines and connections, look for leak.
Is the bike lifting any at all when you add air?
Do not exceed max psi for your system.
As you know, goal is 1" of sag (Drop) in suspension as you and yours sit on the bike.
Trial and error, you will find what works for you and your system.
Using the HD Shock pump?
Here's a simple video:
 
Reply
Old May 28, 2019 | 07:17 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

As others have said, increase the air pressure gradually until you find your happy spot. Changing the oil in the air shocks helped improve the ride on mine significantly as well.
 
Reply
HD Forum Stories

The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders

story-0

8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-1

10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

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

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy

 Joe Kucinski
story-7

10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

 Verdad Gallardo
story-9

The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

 Verdad Gallardo
Old May 28, 2019 | 08:33 AM
  #9  
caulk04's Avatar
caulk04
Road Master
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
Joined: Jul 2016
Posts: 870
Likes: 245
From: Transfer, PA
Default

Originally Posted by Cogswell
As others have said, increase the air pressure gradually until you find your happy spot. Changing the oil in the air shocks helped improve the ride on mine significantly as well.
I forgot to mention this as well, I do have heavier oil in my shocks. I forget off the top of my head the weight, but it's done quite a bit to slow down the motions of the suspension since we're so heavy. It does nothing for ride height and travel, but it lets the shock absorb more in its short travel.
 
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
drmccarty
Air Suspensions
0
Apr 27, 2016 08:39 AM
Raxus
Tri Glide, RG3 & Freewheeler Models
5
Aug 12, 2013 02:36 PM
prezflyr
Touring Models
8
Apr 14, 2013 11:29 PM
FL-kruzen
Touring Models
61
Jan 4, 2012 01:05 AM
Thunderchild
Touring Models
22
Mar 17, 2008 10:52 AM




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:10 PM.

story-0
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-1
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-2
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-3
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-4
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-5
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-6
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-7
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
story-8
Southpaw Super Glide: A Left-Hand-Drive 1979 Harley FXE Built to Fit the Rider

Slideshow: Graeme Billington's left-hand-drive Shovelhead is as much about problem-solving as it is about classic Harley form.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-30 11:27:08


VIEW MORE
story-9
The Best and Worst Harley-Davidson Moves of 2025

Slideshow: A clear-eyed look at what actually worked for Harley this year, and what quietly undermined its progress.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2025-12-29 17:10:48


VIEW MORE