2016 Road King fork kits?
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 281
Likes: 52
From: Girard Pa 16417
2016 Road King fork kits?
Ok so im not getting alot of response on the suspension thread so here ya go, im trying to decide which front end to install in my forks, cant find any fox in stock, reading mixed reviews on legends in a Road King, not as front end heavy as the other touring, some mixed reviews on the progressive monotubes, ant advice would be greatly appreciated, what do you have? pros and cons? need a little first hand experience please, not advertizer claims but real road reviews, Thanks Cliff
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2017
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Likes: 1,281
From: Ky
Years ago I put progressive shocks on the rear and what a difference, so I figured let's do the front. Didn't notice a difference. I would play with different weights of oil before changing springs.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 281
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From: Girard Pa 16417
Thanks for your honest opinion, i do value it, thats why i asked, what bike do you have? what oil do you recommend? ive read this alot, maybe that why no reviews in the last say 3 or 4 years,
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,434
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From: Colorado
Change the front fork oil to 15weight, and the rear shock weight to 10lbs.
Stock is 10w in the forks, and 7.5W in the shocks and why it has the marshmallow feeling to it.
On both, go with stock volume amounts, and if you need to stiffen up the rear shocks at bottom of dampening, you can add up to 1oz more of fluid max.
As for front forks, if you have say 25K on the bike, then really should be re-builing the forks at the same time, even if the forks are not leaking yet (the kits for both forks are less than $75).
The forks have teflon coated guide rings, that as the teflon coating wears off them, really changes the way the forks react.
Also, the Gold valve kits are kind of the way to go if our looking for even better adjustement, since they will not reduce the amount of fluid in the forks, unlike a insert type carnage that you may have to send away come time to change the fluid in them.
Lastly, keep your expectations in check! Your taking about a bike dam near 1K in weight that does not have the best suspension geometry to start with when thinking super bike handling, so going stiffer on the suspension will allow the cruiser to handle better that the marshmallow ride they come with stock to begin with.
Stock is 10w in the forks, and 7.5W in the shocks and why it has the marshmallow feeling to it.
On both, go with stock volume amounts, and if you need to stiffen up the rear shocks at bottom of dampening, you can add up to 1oz more of fluid max.
As for front forks, if you have say 25K on the bike, then really should be re-builing the forks at the same time, even if the forks are not leaking yet (the kits for both forks are less than $75).
The forks have teflon coated guide rings, that as the teflon coating wears off them, really changes the way the forks react.
Also, the Gold valve kits are kind of the way to go if our looking for even better adjustement, since they will not reduce the amount of fluid in the forks, unlike a insert type carnage that you may have to send away come time to change the fluid in them.
Lastly, keep your expectations in check! Your taking about a bike dam near 1K in weight that does not have the best suspension geometry to start with when thinking super bike handling, so going stiffer on the suspension will allow the cruiser to handle better that the marshmallow ride they come with stock to begin with.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 281
Likes: 52
From: Girard Pa 16417
Thanks you make some good points, yes im turning 67 sept 27th, weight was 220 when i got the King in late 2015 it is a 2016, now i weigh 185 bike has just about 9000 miles, never had the forks apart, does this give you a better picture of me and my bike? been riding since i was 15 first street bike bsa victor special 441, weight was 125 then ha, do you think gold valve kits with stock spring? wouldnt i have to cut stock spacers? really appreciate all your input, this is the longest i have ever had a bike and prolly last 1, Thanks Cliff
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 281
Likes: 52
From: Girard Pa 16417
oh and yes i was running my rear air shocks at 10 but recently changed then out for hd premium shocks i bought on here, 400 miles on em, really improved the rear ride, i read you should always do rear first, also if installing these valves dont you have to drill out your bottom piece holes?
Last edited by 83redgt; Sep 15, 2021 at 03:06 PM.
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 281
Likes: 52
From: Girard Pa 16417
I did alot more research and found out something interesting, when looking at what changes were done to touring bikes found that in 17 they updated the forks to include a valve, this could be why not much response on the questions ive been asking, wish someone would have told me would have saved me alot alot of research, i just wasnt asking the correct questions, thanks for those who did reply, i was looking for a tic when i guess i should have looking for a tac, Thanks to Dano 523 pointing me in the direction i should be looking, Cliff
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Cruiser
Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 182
Likes: 18
From: Northern Michigan
What gold valve kit would you recommend?
(The gold valve kits are kind of the way to go if our looking for even better adjustments.}
What gold valve kit would you recommend?
After googling Gold valve kits the only one that I found were the kits from Race Tech.
Is that the kit that you were referring to or is there a better one?
Thanks so much,
Jake
What gold valve kit would you recommend?
After googling Gold valve kits the only one that I found were the kits from Race Tech.
Is that the kit that you were referring to or is there a better one?
Thanks so much,
Jake
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 281
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From: Girard Pa 16417
There is also a ricor intiminator, read alot of good things on them and you dont have to drill hole in your bottom rod to use them, any personal experience with them from anyone here?
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