Ohlins
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 581
Likes: 28
From: Sunbury, PA
How are the #6 when adjusting from solo to two up riding? The only negative i can find on ohlins is some seem to have issues with adjusting the spring preload without the collar galling. Is this a real issue with the ohlins? I assume I will need to adjust the spring when I have a passenger.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,144
Likes: 11,219
From: San Diego, CA
I'm both a little bit lazy, and not "princess & the pea" sensitive to how the bike rides. I set my Ohlins up for when the Mrs and I are riding, which is well over 50% of the time. When she's off the bike, I just leave it at that set up. While it may be a little firmer for just me, it's still waaaay better than the OEM air shocks set up everyway I tried. (and better than the other premium shocks I tried on my old bagger)
I'm both a little bit lazy, and not "princess & the pea" sensitive to how the bike rides. I set my Ohlins up for when the Mrs and I are riding, which is well over 50% of the time. When she's off the bike, I just leave it at that set up. While it may be a little firmer for just me, it's still waaaay better than the OEM air shocks set up everyway I tried. (and better than the other premium shocks I tried on my old bagger)
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,144
Likes: 11,219
From: San Diego, CA
I got the damping perfect for two up and leave it there also..... I guess I could drop it a few clicks between 1 up & 2 up, but that's where the lazy part comes in...
By the way, I should add...my wife only weighs 110lbs, so the differences between 1 up & 2 up are not major changes and I kinda like the slightly firmer ride when solo....
Last edited by hattitude; Jun 16, 2019 at 07:00 PM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,144
Likes: 11,219
From: San Diego, CA
To get the perfect ride both ways, that would be my recommendation.
Some people will dial in the solo ride, both pre-load and damping. They will then note what the delta is between that, and the perfect settings for two-up.. Then they just move the pre-load & damping back & forth between those adjustment settings. It's not really an involved process going back and forth between two known settings.
Again, my wife is only 110lbs so the adjustments were not large changes anyways....
And to answer another question posed.... I clean my bike often, to include the shocks. I've never had an issue adjusting my shocks, but they're only a year or so old....
Last edited by hattitude; Jun 16, 2019 at 06:56 PM.
I got the damping perfect for two up and leave it there also..... I guess I could drop it a few clicks between 1 up & 2 up, but that's where the lazy part comes in...
By the way, I should add...my wife only weighs 110lbs, so the differences between 1 up & 2 up are not major changes and I kinda like the slightly firmer ride when solo....
By the way, I should add...my wife only weighs 110lbs, so the differences between 1 up & 2 up are not major changes and I kinda like the slightly firmer ride when solo....
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 19,899
Likes: 8,005
From: poway
I've got Howard's #3-#3 shocks and they are excellent...
I thought seriously about the #6 shocks, but I was afraid they would be "too tall" for me....
If the #6 shocks are better than the #3-#3s (as they should be based on their technical design), you'll be thrilled...!!!
I thought seriously about the #6 shocks, but I was afraid they would be "too tall" for me....
If the #6 shocks are better than the #3-#3s (as they should be based on their technical design), you'll be thrilled...!!!
What's your weight? Did you adjust the shocks any? What did they go on?
Novice
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 20
Likes: 8
From: Illinois
I just recently installed the #6’s from Howard. What a difference a proper set of shocks can make! My Road Glide rides smooth as glass and I feel confident leaning into turns. Completely transformed the handling of the bike. Easily worth the price of admission. Call Howard and he will set you up. It’s refreshing to talk to someone that really knows what he is talking about. Now I have to save up for his front fork cartridges.
