Shock questions/comparisons... with a twist!
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 255
From: Over Yonder
Shock questions/comparisons... with a twist!
Ok, here's another shock question... but with a twist!
I just recently upgraded to proAction shocks and although they are better than the stock air shocks.... I honestly expected better.
My bike: 2009 Road King
My latest interest is looking more into compressor/air ride shocks, ...Legend, Arnott, and even looked at cheaper "eBay/Amazon" kits including remote control set ups.
They definitely caught my attention with the adjustability and a "cool factor" too.
Ok... the question:
Will any of these air ride with compressor set ups ride even better? The same... or worse?
Has anyone have any similar comparison and/or experience they'd like to share?
Sorry... not interested in Ohlins (or "Howard Fanboyz") as I'll simply stay with the PA shocks, since they are improved over stock... again looking for the Air Ride and compressor systems knowledge and experiences from anyone on here.
Thanks!
I just recently upgraded to proAction shocks and although they are better than the stock air shocks.... I honestly expected better.
My bike: 2009 Road King
My latest interest is looking more into compressor/air ride shocks, ...Legend, Arnott, and even looked at cheaper "eBay/Amazon" kits including remote control set ups.
They definitely caught my attention with the adjustability and a "cool factor" too.
Ok... the question:
Will any of these air ride with compressor set ups ride even better? The same... or worse?
Has anyone have any similar comparison and/or experience they'd like to share?
Sorry... not interested in Ohlins (or "Howard Fanboyz") as I'll simply stay with the PA shocks, since they are improved over stock... again looking for the Air Ride and compressor systems knowledge and experiences from anyone on here.
Thanks!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 3,903
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From: 48.067222,12.863611
Ok, here's another shock question... but with a twist!
I just recently upgraded to proAction shocks and although they are better than the stock air shocks.... I honestly expected better.
My bike: 2009 Road King
My latest interest is looking more into compressor/air ride shocks, ...Legend, Arnott, and even looked at cheaper "eBay/Amazon" kits including remote control set ups.
They definitely caught my attention with the adjustability and a "cool factor" too.
Ok... the question:
Will any of these air ride with compressor set ups ride even better? The same... or worse?
Has anyone have any similar comparison and/or experience they'd like to share?
Sorry... not interested in Ohlins (or "Howard Fanboyz") as I'll simply stay with the PA shocks, since they are improved over stock... again looking for the Air Ride and compressor systems knowledge and experiences from anyone on here.
Thanks!
I just recently upgraded to proAction shocks and although they are better than the stock air shocks.... I honestly expected better.
My bike: 2009 Road King
My latest interest is looking more into compressor/air ride shocks, ...Legend, Arnott, and even looked at cheaper "eBay/Amazon" kits including remote control set ups.
They definitely caught my attention with the adjustability and a "cool factor" too.
Ok... the question:
Will any of these air ride with compressor set ups ride even better? The same... or worse?
Has anyone have any similar comparison and/or experience they'd like to share?
Sorry... not interested in Ohlins (or "Howard Fanboyz") as I'll simply stay with the PA shocks, since they are improved over stock... again looking for the Air Ride and compressor systems knowledge and experiences from anyone on here.
Thanks!
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 255
From: Over Yonder
Originally Posted by rhuff
Air shocks will almost certainly not ride better. That's just the nature of them. Are you sure you PA are set correctly? Sag, comp, rebound? I'd look to doing a little front end work before I went buying a subpar system for my rear after buying a quality shock.
I'm hearing contradicting ride quality between the two, so that's what got me thinking.
I honestly did not have a bad ride from my OEM air shocks. PA is better... but again, I did expected better.
Note: I'm 50/50 riding solo vs 2-up.... so trying to get a happy-medium without having to adjust back & forth each time, may also be the latest obstacle.... so the "air on the fly" is what mainly got me thinking.
Last edited by Lethal Weapon; Aug 25, 2019 at 10:29 AM.
Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2017
Posts: 1,294
Likes: 255
From: Over Yonder
Originally Posted by sanman4ever
What do you have against the Ohlins set up?
Already have a quality shock (ProAction) on it already.
I've had Progressive 444's & 944's. Had the 944's set up with both standard and HD springs. Also had both the 12" & 13" versions of the HD hand adjustables, and lastly 13" JRI B shocks. None of those compare to the Ohlins. Also as others have mentioned consider looking into your front end set up.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 17,684
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From: Niagara, Ontario, Canada
I've just put on PA's also this year, and trying to dial them in, but only because of not riding enough with the wife on the back (she has broken ribs this season). I'd take a ride over to PA seeing you're that close.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2017
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From: Over Yonder
Originally Posted by kel03
I've just put on PA's also this year, and trying to dial them in, but only because of not riding enough with the wife on the back (she has broken ribs this season). I'd take a ride over to PA seeing you're that close.
I'll be going to a bike rally (Thunder on the strip) at Geneva on the Lake, Ohio... and I believe they may be there coming up in a couple weeks... so I may wait until then if I have to.
Yes.... if I can get that middle of the road setting, I'd be golden because they are nice shocks.
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Thread Starter
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2017
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Likes: 255
From: Over Yonder
Originally Posted by sanman4ever
I'm similar to you, riding 50% of the time 2up VS solo. I also had no interest and taking the bags off every time to adjust. Others can flame on me for that but I've got speakers and LED's built into the lids. So my Ohlin's were built and valved with all this in mind. I never adjust the spring preload when riding 2up vs 1up. Sometimes I play with the damping but I can just reach up underneath and adjust the clicks.
I've had Progressive 444's & 944's. Had the 944's set up with both standard and HD springs. Also had both the 12" & 13" versions of the HD hand adjustables, and lastly 13" JRI B shocks. None of those compare to the Ohlins. Also as others have mentioned consider looking into your front end set up.
I've had Progressive 444's & 944's. Had the 944's set up with both standard and HD springs. Also had both the 12" & 13" versions of the HD hand adjustables, and lastly 13" JRI B shocks. None of those compare to the Ohlins. Also as others have mentioned consider looking into your front end set up.
yes, I really don't want to take the bags off each time I ride solo vs 2-up.
This winter I am planning on changing out the fronts and will consult my Indy who is damn good in my area.
Again, not knocking on PA or Ohlins...
I do like the PA (still better than stock!) and still trying to dial it in, so that may change.
The air ride and ability to raise and lower (which also means dialing in as you need) just looks like an attractive alternative, especially if ride quality is also better.... that's the main reason of my post.
Very possible I may finally get the good "sweet spot" setting I'm after.
I'll definitely still go to PA to also see what they say.
I appreciate all the feedback!
Last edited by Lethal Weapon; Aug 25, 2019 at 11:52 AM.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,165
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From: San Diego, CA
I looked into an air suspension a few years ago. I did a lot of searching and reading, trying to decide if an air suspension was on par with a good coil over shock.
I found most air suspension v coil suspension debates/comparisons almost always ended with a summary close to the following...
"When compared to traditional suspension systems, there are pros and cons of air suspension. The advantages of air suspension are that it provides tuning almost instantaneously, and has an ability to adapt its handling for the given situations. Some of the disadvantages include it is vulnerable to air leaks and can go flat, the cost of buying and maintaining is greater than with a traditional suspension system, and it takes longer to install because of the complexity of the design and network. So, there are advantages and disadvantages to each kind of suspension system."
Since I was searching specifically for my bike... the complexity, namely the entire compressor system, just wasn't worth it to me... I just don't need to adjust on the fly...
FWIW.... I have a set of Ohlin shocks from Howard (his #3-#3 shocks) on my '16 bagger. I set them up for comfort, while riding 2-up. The wife loves them..!!!! When I'm solo, I leave them in the perfect set-up for my 2-up riding... they are a little firmer than when the wife is aboard, but she's only 110lbs so the difference isn't major. I tend to ride a little more aggressively when alone, so the firmness isn't a bad thing.... even set up for two, while riding solo, they are light years ahead fo my OEM air shocks, and they are even better than the Supershox I tried, and dialed in for solo, on my '12 bagger...
I found most air suspension v coil suspension debates/comparisons almost always ended with a summary close to the following...
"When compared to traditional suspension systems, there are pros and cons of air suspension. The advantages of air suspension are that it provides tuning almost instantaneously, and has an ability to adapt its handling for the given situations. Some of the disadvantages include it is vulnerable to air leaks and can go flat, the cost of buying and maintaining is greater than with a traditional suspension system, and it takes longer to install because of the complexity of the design and network. So, there are advantages and disadvantages to each kind of suspension system."
Since I was searching specifically for my bike... the complexity, namely the entire compressor system, just wasn't worth it to me... I just don't need to adjust on the fly...
FWIW.... I have a set of Ohlin shocks from Howard (his #3-#3 shocks) on my '16 bagger. I set them up for comfort, while riding 2-up. The wife loves them..!!!! When I'm solo, I leave them in the perfect set-up for my 2-up riding... they are a little firmer than when the wife is aboard, but she's only 110lbs so the difference isn't major. I tend to ride a little more aggressively when alone, so the firmness isn't a bad thing.... even set up for two, while riding solo, they are light years ahead fo my OEM air shocks, and they are even better than the Supershox I tried, and dialed in for solo, on my '12 bagger...
