Reevaluating my stock shocks
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 950
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
Both revo a and rwd rs1 are good upgrades for touring shocks, specially if you run 12 stock shocks. Whether its worth the money is a subjective decision. For me, its become a must do upgrade until Harley downstreams the new cvo suspension to other touring models. This summer, my wife and I rode for a week in northern NH, land of the frost heaves like youve seldom seen. The legends loaded 2 up with gear were simply amazing.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Snow Hill, NC
Frost heaves are way worst that heat buckle and unfortunately up north it’s way more common. I rode about 300 miles yesterday and was telling my wife, what a difference than the rides we just took in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec a few weeks ago. …We are blessed ith beautiful roads here.
Club Member
Joined: Apr 2016
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From: Inland NW
Frost heaves are way worst that heat buckle and unfortunately up north its way more common. I rode about 300 miles yesterday and was telling my wife, what a difference than the rides we just took in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Quebec a few weeks ago.
We are blessed with beautiful roads here.
Many, many trips through the Yukon to Alaska. I will see if I can find some frost heave pics from Beaver Creek. I did lift off the ground over a few of those, not paying attention.
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 950
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
Just took a 240 mile brunch run with my buds yesterday where we encountered a number of 2ndary roads whose surfaces dealt a blow to my frugality rekindling thoughts about suspension upgrades.
its a good thing that I dont have any teeth left to rattle! LOL
Supporter
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 439
Likes: 483
From: Montana
I felt guilty about spending $10K on motor work, but after my wife's first ride on the bike she admitted that even though she had begrudgingly approved the funding for the upgrades on the motor she was impressed, and all future bikes needed to go like this one! She then went on to inform me that we were through spending money on the motorcycle. I responded to that statement be revealing that I was considering some upgrades for the suspension to improve the ride quality. She quickly agreed that would be Okay with her. She later told me on her first ride with the new suspension, we didn't even get out of the neighborhood before she noticed the improvement. Now she is of the opinion that our upgrades should be OEM on the showroom floor for new bikes.
Good luck with you decision and remember there is a lot to be said about being content with what you have.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2022
Posts: 290
Likes: 218
From: NH
Lots of backroads in New England were paved over cow paths from 100s of years ago. As the season moves from winter to spring the thermal expansion makes the rocks and roots under the road rise up or dip down. Then we get big bumps in the road, which frankly, we can see with enough warning (most of the time) to avoid them. Worse is when the pavement dips lower. Those depressions in the road are harder to see, especially going from sunlight to shade on tree lined streets. It's those types of frost heaves that can really surprise you.
OP: You could probably get a set of Bitubo rear shocks and just have the fork oil changed to a heavier weight for less than $1400 total, assuming you have to pay to get the work done, The rear shocks are easy to replace (need a motorcycle jack or lift and a floor jack to raise and lower the rear wheel to line up the mounting bolts. Basically take the bags off, lift bike, remove shocks, install new shocks, then set the sag according to mfr instructions. The front forks, unfortunately are a lot of labor to service. You'll save $900 to $1200 by not installing a front cartridge kit for the forks.
My Road Glide suspension is definitely sub par. I don't expect a motorcycle to be smooth over bumpy roads, but I also don't expect it to get unruly while taking small to medium bumps. And that fork dive on braking sucks as well.
OP: You could probably get a set of Bitubo rear shocks and just have the fork oil changed to a heavier weight for less than $1400 total, assuming you have to pay to get the work done, The rear shocks are easy to replace (need a motorcycle jack or lift and a floor jack to raise and lower the rear wheel to line up the mounting bolts. Basically take the bags off, lift bike, remove shocks, install new shocks, then set the sag according to mfr instructions. The front forks, unfortunately are a lot of labor to service. You'll save $900 to $1200 by not installing a front cartridge kit for the forks.
My Road Glide suspension is definitely sub par. I don't expect a motorcycle to be smooth over bumpy roads, but I also don't expect it to get unruly while taking small to medium bumps. And that fork dive on braking sucks as well.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Snow Hill, NC
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Thread Starter
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Road Master
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 950
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
looking into them now but so far I cant confirm that the spring weight is suitable for me and the numbers on those springs dont match the Ohlins setup calculator.
Road Warrior
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,253
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From: MA
I have a set of 13" supershox id sell for $500 plus shipping. PM me if interested. great quality shock without the huge price tag. Ive had ohlins, JRI, pro action, and racetech and theyre not twice as good, but theyre twice as expensive.