13" vs 14" rear shocks
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Tourer
Joined: Mar 2015
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From: Arizona
13" vs 14" rear shocks
Thinking about going from 13" Ohlins shocks on my 2012 Ultra Limited to 14" RWD RS-1 shocks. Seems like the extra travel would make for an even better ride. Seat height will not be a problem. Any drawbacks to the longer shocks?
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
I don't know how those two brands compare in performance. If you were considering longer Ohlins, we could expect that longer travel on a similar product would be worthwhile. A concern would be the higher ride height at the rear, relative to the front.
I have been through this with my Sportster SuperLow, to which I fitted longer shocks, but also raised the forks. I was fortunate in finding that fork sag was over 50% of total travel, which made raising the front simple. My Touring bike doesn't suffer from that problem, so raising the front to match the rear may be more of a challenge.
I have been through this with my Sportster SuperLow, to which I fitted longer shocks, but also raised the forks. I was fortunate in finding that fork sag was over 50% of total travel, which made raising the front simple. My Touring bike doesn't suffer from that problem, so raising the front to match the rear may be more of a challenge.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2017
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From: Oklahoma
I have a 16 Road Glide Ultra w/ 4" Rineharts, I have 14" SuperShox with 1" lowering blocks. No fitment issues, bike sets same as with 13" shocks, and the ride is nice. Not the same thing as running 14" w/o lowering blocks though.
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Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Nor Cal
I have the Ohlins 772 blackline shocks on my 18 RGS even at the shorter length(they are adjustable) they still have quite a bit more travel than the stock shocks. and yes night and day better ride over the stockers. you might check, the longer shocks may not have any more travel.
Last edited by mikes300; Oct 3, 2019 at 12:46 PM.
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Stage II
Joined: Sep 2019
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From: Mass
How do you choose the RWD vs. Ohlins shocks? I have a 2019 Limited CVO and trying to figure out what to get for front and rear.
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Just to be clear, I would suggest you compare apples to apples....
It's not the length of the shock that is most important, but the Stroke of the shock.... the amount of piston travel.
Make sure you compare the stroke of the shocks you are considering. I know of 12" Ohlins with the same, or more, stroke than some 13" shocks.
All other things being equal, I would suspect the shock with the longest travel (stroke), properly adjusted, should give the best ride...
Of course other variables make big differences too, like emulsified v Gas separated, or how many adjustments: sag, damping, rebound, etc.... So it's hard to make a blanket statement about shock size or even stroke length....
It's not the length of the shock that is most important, but the Stroke of the shock.... the amount of piston travel.
Make sure you compare the stroke of the shocks you are considering. I know of 12" Ohlins with the same, or more, stroke than some 13" shocks.
All other things being equal, I would suspect the shock with the longest travel (stroke), properly adjusted, should give the best ride...
Of course other variables make big differences too, like emulsified v Gas separated, or how many adjustments: sag, damping, rebound, etc.... So it's hard to make a blanket statement about shock size or even stroke length....