Possible Suspension Issues (or am I just nuts?)
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
As far as the whine in turns, as mentioned, its probably tire cupping. Run your hand both up and down on the tire off center. Should be smooth both ways. but I bet you feel drops one way and ridges that catch your hand the other. If they are cupped, do you need new tires? Not really. Now you know what it is, it's not going to hurt anything other than the ride and you will feel a big difference when you do decide to put new tires on it. Replacing worn tires with new makes a huge difference in the handling. Like you, I hardly ever check inflation and commute daily on my bike. My front tire is cupped and I'm a cheap bastard. There is too much tread left for me to cough up the money for a new tire that I will probably cup the tires on in a couple of thousand miles anyway. I can feel and hear it in sweeping turns but since I know what is causing it, I ignore it. I average around 15K to 18k on the back and get about 25 to 30,000 miles on the front.
As far as the suspension, make some big swings in the adjustments and see if you can even tell. You might be able to dial it in a little better but as people have mentioned, stock shocks suck and the after market options are growing and getting better.
Personally, if you can't adjust your shocks to your liking, I'd replace the rears first and you can do the front later if you decide it still needs it. They are extremely easy to change your self if you have a motorcycle jack. You can buy the shocks on line. Make sure they are asking your weight and if you want firm or cushy. They will come preset for you and then you can make minor tweaks if you like. Your tires probably have some life left in them as long as you don't mind the sound and ride and keep air in them.
If you do both shocks and tires at the same time, it should ride even better than the bikes you rented.
As far as the suspension, make some big swings in the adjustments and see if you can even tell. You might be able to dial it in a little better but as people have mentioned, stock shocks suck and the after market options are growing and getting better.
Personally, if you can't adjust your shocks to your liking, I'd replace the rears first and you can do the front later if you decide it still needs it. They are extremely easy to change your self if you have a motorcycle jack. You can buy the shocks on line. Make sure they are asking your weight and if you want firm or cushy. They will come preset for you and then you can make minor tweaks if you like. Your tires probably have some life left in them as long as you don't mind the sound and ride and keep air in them.
If you do both shocks and tires at the same time, it should ride even better than the bikes you rented.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 503
Likes: 75
From:
The stock suspension sucks, no doubt! Flash1034, why did you go with RWB over Legend, Super Shox, Progressive, etc?
On a bike, does the tire brand/style/compound make as big of a difference as it can on a car? What I mean is, on a car you could go from an all-season tire to a summer performance tire and completely transform the handling/ride. When I go from my 17" winter tires/wheels to my 19" summer set, it feels like a completely different car. Can the same be true for tires on a bike? I've honestly never given the bike tires that much thought.
On a bike, does the tire brand/style/compound make as big of a difference as it can on a car? What I mean is, on a car you could go from an all-season tire to a summer performance tire and completely transform the handling/ride. When I go from my 17" winter tires/wheels to my 19" summer set, it feels like a completely different car. Can the same be true for tires on a bike? I've honestly never given the bike tires that much thought.
Last edited by Lightngsvt; Aug 16, 2019 at 07:46 AM.
Thread Starter
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Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 503
Likes: 75
From:
Man, you guys are good! The tires sure seem to be cupped, both front and rear. On the rear it is actually visible looking at the grooves in the rubber the "back" side of the groove is noticeably taller than the front of the groove. There is a distinct shape there, not just flat, smooth tread. Is this common on new HD Touring bikes? I didnt have that problem on my 09 Street Glide.
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 237
Likes: 25
From: St Louis
I am 165 lbs and couldn't get the stock shocks to budge. The ride improved when the wife jumped on but the switch to Ohlins helped a lot. Seems like you found the primary problem with the tires but a shock upgrade will go a long way
Road Warrior
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 1,800
Likes: 307
From: Houston, Texas
Tires can make a huge difference by brand and compound. Some are good and sticky but don't last as long. Some have the harder compound in the middle for longer wear and a softer compound on the sides for better grip in the curves/corners. You will have to decide what's the most important to you as they are all give and take. Do you want a tire that has a ton of grip but doesn't last as long or something with a harder compound that lasts longer but maybe doesn't grip as well or something in between.
Do your research on what will fit you best, Ton of options and a ton of tire threads here.
Do your research on what will fit you best, Ton of options and a ton of tire threads here.
Advanced
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 89
Likes: 21
From: Upstate New York
Shocks
I have a 2018 Road Glide special. Total weight between myself and backseat rider 320 lbs. I tried using Harley's chart for preload and the shocks did not ride well. Started playing with the preload on my own and ended up running the preload two up at 16. Ride is quite tolerable. Doesn't bottom out and absorbs the bumps. Corner handling is very stable. When I ride solo I adjust the preload down to 13. Find a road that has some bumps and railroad tracks and do some experimenting. It only takes a couple minutes to change the settings. Are there better shocks out there? Absolutely! Can you be happy with the Harley shocks? That's up to you.
Last edited by roadrydr; Oct 30, 2019 at 05:27 AM. Reason: Oops
Thanks Guys.
Bad Tappets- I set the rear suspension according to my weight using the guide in the owners manual. I tried to adjust it a little each way, its better than it was, but still rides like a brick
grbrown- I'm going to make to make an appointment to get it into the dealer. See what they say before I do something crazy like trade it in. I've ridden a bike with Legend Suspension and it is already on my to-do list, but what surprised me is how much better the bone stock 2019 bikes were (there werent any big changes between 18-19).
My biggest concern is the loose/tight feeling in the steering. I really hate to have an issue while riding.
Bad Tappets- I set the rear suspension according to my weight using the guide in the owners manual. I tried to adjust it a little each way, its better than it was, but still rides like a brick
grbrown- I'm going to make to make an appointment to get it into the dealer. See what they say before I do something crazy like trade it in. I've ridden a bike with Legend Suspension and it is already on my to-do list, but what surprised me is how much better the bone stock 2019 bikes were (there werent any big changes between 18-19).
My biggest concern is the loose/tight feeling in the steering. I really hate to have an issue while riding.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 809
From: Ormond Beach, Florida
Do you wonder why such a new bike with low milage was traded in?
Kinda makes you think of the perveribial LEMON.
Might have been put together on a Friday before a holiday. It happens.
Kinda makes you think of the perveribial LEMON.
Might have been put together on a Friday before a holiday. It happens.
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