Air Shocks
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 5,468
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From: Lititz Pa
Air Shocks
Yesterday a guy pulled in stopped and lowered his bagger than backed in. I liked that because I am short. I ask what he was using. He said empire cycle air shocks and got the whole kit from eBay for 289.99. I looked them up and looks like everything you would need is in the kit. Has anyone used them and do you like or dislike them? I am thinking about ordering them.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 809
From: Ormond Beach, Florida
Yesterday a guy pulled in stopped and lowered his bagger than backed in. I liked that because I am short. I ask what he was using. He said empire cycle air shocks and got the whole kit from eBay for 289.99. I looked them up and looks like everything you would need is in the kit. Has anyone used them and do you like or dislike them? I am thinking about ordering them.
That all being said, for us short riders, an Air ride system does make sense. The ability to lower the bike down low in order to back up using our short legs is a very good thing. Yet , when riding we can get a good ride when the system has the bike up near stock height.
JFYI, I spent a LOT more for my Arnott system that uses top of the line quality components. What I really like is their HB mounted LED digital readout pressure gauge controler so you know where you are riding or where you want to be riding. Repeatability is a very nice to have. I also know this company has very good customer service.
HTH
Intermediate
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 41
Likes: 1
From: ny
I run the empire kit, Ive been riding 40yrs and it has transformed the last 2 bikes and several friends into the best riding harley weve ever owned. there are way more expensive kits that too my limited exposure to them dont ride as well. the empire kit uses off the shelf auto air shocks and an off the shelf compressor. one of the benefits is if you ever had a shock go bad on a trip you can purchase a replacement at any parts store.
the on the fly better ride is a plus, and the ease of getting on solo and passenger with bike slammed is a huge advantage.keep in mind empire or any of the other companys that sell this type of kit dont manufacture any of the parts, they just assemble the components for you in a kit, I did buy mine from empire and they were excellent.
the on the fly better ride is a plus, and the ease of getting on solo and passenger with bike slammed is a huge advantage.keep in mind empire or any of the other companys that sell this type of kit dont manufacture any of the parts, they just assemble the components for you in a kit, I did buy mine from empire and they were excellent.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 3,830
Likes: 302
From: Lorain Ohio
That appears to be the standard DIY air ride set up. I bought a used JNR air ride set up off here an love it. I'm pretty sure the JNR kits come prewired an tested. JNR also says they reinforce the shock eyelets an change the valving to match a motorcycle weight since the shocks are designed for cars. I'm 5'7 an 220 an just below stock height is a nice riding air pressure for me. you can add an air gauge an figure out what works for you an always set it there. There are a lot of people that report the shocks breaking at the eyelet so I'd google that. Check out jnr they cost a little more but I think it's good quality. you can search around an see where people make their own kits but I don't know how much that saves you..
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...-part-2-a.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/touri...-part-2-a.html
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 171
Likes: 24
From: Columbus, GA
At a bike rally in Panama City Beach a year and a half ago, Arnott was there with their Air Ride systems. For touring models, it was only 799.00 give or take a few bucks. At the time, I was on my Deluxe and had it put on it. It was 1,500 for some reason, but I still got it. Love the ride.
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Grand HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 3,580
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From: Illinois
+1 on that. I wouldnt go cheap. Who knows how long they will last with an off brand. Personally I wouldnt do it.
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 1,883
Likes: 809
From: Ormond Beach, Florida
At a bike rally in Panama City Beach a year and a half ago, Arnott was there with their Air Ride systems. For touring models, it was only 799.00 give or take a few bucks. At the time, I was on my Deluxe and had it put on it. It was 1,500 for some reason, but I still got it. Love the ride.
Edit: Need to add just one more comment from my personal experience. At minimum pressures the ride is very stiff and you will feel and significant bumps and you can scrape very easily as the bike is almost 2" below stock. However, even when slammed the bike is still quite rideable and has some amount of shock travel so not down hard on the stops. I believe this is because of the high quality Fox shocks Arnott uses. On a number of occasions I have ridden for a while fully slammed with out realizing it until I hit a bump which reminded me to pump up the system.
Last edited by FrankEV; Jun 16, 2020 at 06:42 AM.