Reevaluating my stock shocks
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 14,156
Likes: 11,244
From: San Diego, CA
This is all my personal opinion....
I've tried several aftermarket shocks on my baggers to replace the air shocks. I even did a mod where I replaced the oil in the air shocks... made them better, but not really much better...
I currently have Ohlin HD 772 / Blackline 329 shocks. I bought mine from Howard (RIP) at a good price (forum discount). They are the best so far....
However, I bought a set of SuperShox when they first broke into the HD market (9/2015, SR1 Motorcycle Shock). Brian had great customer service. I read some of his recent improvements and other shock models. I am intrigued with his 14" shock w/ SuperShox's 1" relocation mount for best ride, or 13" shocks w/ relocation mount for those who want it lowered a little. Brian seems to have made some good improvements in his product offerings.
I am also impressed that he will set up the shock differently if you use the relocation mounts. He is the first shock manufacturer that I am aware of, that admits a shock relocation mount changes the geometry of the suspension, and will adjust his shocks accordingly...
When the Ohlins need rebuilding, I may try a set of Brian's newer model SuperShox with a relocation mount...
I've tried several aftermarket shocks on my baggers to replace the air shocks. I even did a mod where I replaced the oil in the air shocks... made them better, but not really much better...
I currently have Ohlin HD 772 / Blackline 329 shocks. I bought mine from Howard (RIP) at a good price (forum discount). They are the best so far....
However, I bought a set of SuperShox when they first broke into the HD market (9/2015, SR1 Motorcycle Shock). Brian had great customer service. I read some of his recent improvements and other shock models. I am intrigued with his 14" shock w/ SuperShox's 1" relocation mount for best ride, or 13" shocks w/ relocation mount for those who want it lowered a little. Brian seems to have made some good improvements in his product offerings.
I am also impressed that he will set up the shock differently if you use the relocation mounts. He is the first shock manufacturer that I am aware of, that admits a shock relocation mount changes the geometry of the suspension, and will adjust his shocks accordingly...
When the Ohlins need rebuilding, I may try a set of Brian's newer model SuperShox with a relocation mount...
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 950
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
I'm hoping if I research it long enough and hard enough that I'll just get disgusted and the whole idea of buying new shocks will just fizzle out! LOL!
But that's usually not the case.
But that's usually not the case.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 24,728
Likes: 9,232
From: Snow Hill, NC
Aint gonna happen
sucka like the rest of us
YES....$800 will make things A LOT better. The stock suspension isn't horrible, but its not really good either. It will get the job done but the stock shocks have the compression and rebound on different sides, I was getting a significant rear end "wobble" when letting off the throttle over 75mph. The front end dives way too much when cornering or coming to a stop. Stock is a comfortable ride but bottoms out too fast and feels like your cornering in a '50's Cadillac. I went with a Fox suspension system, QSR shocks and their springs in the front end. I didn't go with remote reservoir or cartridges, I'm not racing, I'm touring and I wanted a comfortable ride not a sportbike ride. It's money well spent, rides much better, doesn't bottom out and corners like a dream now.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,147
From: Las Vegas
Trying to convince yourself that the factory shocks are good enough is only delaying the inevitable. You can improve your ride at todays prices, or wait till you have had enough of the crappy ride and then pay more.
In 2021, my Fox fronts were $425 for part number 890-27-002. Today they are like $650. My Fox rears, part number 897-27-101 were $525, today they are like $850.
In 2021, my Fox fronts were $425 for part number 890-27-002. Today they are like $650. My Fox rears, part number 897-27-101 were $525, today they are like $850.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 950
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
Trying to convince yourself that the factory shocks are good enough is only delaying the inevitable. You can improve your ride at todays prices, or wait till you have had enough of the crappy ride and then pay more.
In 2021, my Fox fronts were $425 for part number 890-27-002. Today they are like $650. My Fox rears, part number 897-27-101 were $525, today they are like $850.
In 2021, my Fox fronts were $425 for part number 890-27-002. Today they are like $650. My Fox rears, part number 897-27-101 were $525, today they are like $850.
I did look into the SE Ohlins because I was curious why the parts guy couldn't give me a spring rate/weight value on them and I'm like wth? it's not marked on the package? and nope. He couldn't find the spring rate anywhere so it took some research on my part but I did find out why that if I ordered Ohlins HD 044's from Ohlins they come with very rider weight specific straight rate springs for optimum performance but the SE Ohlins come with progressive rate springs to accommodate a much wider range of sag requirements.
One things for sure, The SE Ohlins ain't nothing like what's being run on the tracks...
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Road Warrior
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 1,934
Likes: 722
From: Ontario, Canada
I'm interested in possibly trying the 14" RWD's or possibly the SuperShox that hattitude mentioned above.
Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 950
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
My own experience (and possibly yours)...and only mine that works for us (we ride 2-up 80% of the time). I've tried a couple of different aftermarket (brand name) shocks. Not blown away or overwhelmed so I ended up selling them and going back to my stock premium hand adjustable shocks. Along with changing to a 16" rear wheel/tire combo with more sidewall...they work well for us.
I'm interested in possibly trying the 14" RWD's or possibly the SuperShox that hattitude mentioned above.
I'm interested in possibly trying the 14" RWD's or possibly the SuperShox that hattitude mentioned above.
I've watched multiple vids on the RWS RS1 shocks (and other brands) where the forks were left as is as the riders render gushing bride commentary while I watch their gopro hero cams jostling all over the place. I guess it's one of those "you had to be there" events. LOL!
I spent many years screwing around with sportbike suspension and used to do a lot of suspension work that was more effective than expensive using spring compressors (I fabricated) and swapping out oem coil over springs for something in a more suitable straight rate hypercoil spring as well as respringing forks and manipulating comp/rebound damping by playing with different weight fork oils which was dictated by total sprung weight/laden sag where for about $200 it became a vastly improved suspension system so these number are blowing me away where with the 7% tax puts the SE Ohlins at $1,658 which is just stupid expensive to me.
Meanwhile I have my hand adjust shocks on my 2020 SGS set at 10 where it seems I get a tight sportbike like feel/feedback that doesn't seem to bottom out (thus far) and I run AP at 34/36psi which gives at least an acceptable level of overall ride quality.