Ohlins shocks......that good!?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,179
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From: Forest Hill, Md
I wonder if that applies to their sets that Howard modified?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 3,041
Likes: 1,529
From: Bunola pa
i would speculate that the answer is yes, but that would just be a phone call away. im not under the impression that howard modified them beyond having the correct weight spring for the rider, but ive been wrong before.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,087
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From: Somewhere on the Bourbon trail
Originally Posted by elPrez
I wonder if that applies to their sets that Howard modified?
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 950
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
I came upon Ohlins S36HR1C1L shocks on RevZilla.
Price......$1549!!
Thats a hefty price tag!!
Does anyone have these?
And is the ride THAT significantly better to warrant a price like that?
I might be changing out whats on my 2010 RK.
How can I tell if what's on there now are the original shocks?
Price......$1549!!
Thats a hefty price tag!!
Does anyone have these?
And is the ride THAT significantly better to warrant a price like that?
I might be changing out whats on my 2010 RK.
How can I tell if what's on there now are the original shocks?
Ultimately? For less than the $300 scheduled servicing cost of said Ohlins? I ordered a pair of no frills standard sprung 13" Progressive 412 shocks for $275 on their last Black Friday Sale at Revzilla and couldn't be more pleased with the ride though I do need to address my front suspension now and am thinking about running 150 miles north to Teddy Morse Destination Daytona Bike Week to have that done today or tomorrow.
Good luck on your decision making and money spending.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,147
From: Las Vegas
So, am I looking at the specs correctly, these are a 13" shock only? For you guys that have gone to this shock that have a Road/Street Glide Special, has the 1" increase in shock length affected handling characteristics/performance at all? How is this additional 1"better for a solo rider?
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 950
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
So, am I looking at the specs correctly, these are a 13" shock only? For you guys that have gone to this shock that have a Road/Street Glide Special, has the 1" increase in shock length affected handling characteristics/performance at all? How is this additional 1"better for a solo rider?
The 12" OEM shocks have absolutely "Zero Static Sag" and unless you weigh >250lbs? You'll experience "Zero Ladened Sag" as well meaning the spring on the left side is so resistant to compression that unless you pile on extra weight via loaded for a trip or riding two-up or hit a bump? The shocks are always locked at the top at full extension because this is the way HD got to advertise "Single Side Adjustment" because the monster sized spring on the left shock (adjustment side) is so strong? It simply overrides the wimpy Bic Pen sized spring on the right shock...
So what going to a 13" shock does is gives the bike (and the rider) the ability to properly adjust some static and ladened sag into the mix which loads and compresses the shock in such a way that there "Travel Extension Available" to help maintain your tires contact patch over rough surface road conditions and what a properly adjusted for sag 13" shock doesn't do? Is it doesn't affect ride height by any significant amount unless? You wish to run'em tight (for increased feedback ad performance) by increasing spring preload.
Going 13" has been a win/win/win for me.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: May 2018
Posts: 5,814
Likes: 7,147
From: Las Vegas
I can't speak to the Ohlins version but I can speak to the 13" part of your question by offering up these shared observations and experiences...
The 12" OEM shocks have absolutely "Zero Static Sag" and unless you weigh >250lbs? You'll experience "Zero Ladened Sag" as well meaning the spring on the left side is so resistant to compression that unless you pile on extra weight via loaded for a trip or riding two-up or hit a bump? The shocks are always locked at the top at full extension because this is the way HD got to advertise "Single Side Adjustment" because the monster sized spring on the left shock (adjustment side) is so strong? It simply overrides the wimpy Bic Pen sized spring on the right shock...
So what going to a 13" shock does is gives the bike (and the rider) the ability to properly adjust some static and ladened sag into the mix which loads and compresses the shock in such a way that there "Travel Extension Available" to help maintain your tires contact patch over rough surface road conditions and what a properly adjusted for sag 13" shock doesn't do? Is it doesn't affect ride height by any significant amount unless? You wish to run'em tight (for increased feedback ad performance) by increasing spring preload.
Going 13" has been a win/win/win for me.
The 12" OEM shocks have absolutely "Zero Static Sag" and unless you weigh >250lbs? You'll experience "Zero Ladened Sag" as well meaning the spring on the left side is so resistant to compression that unless you pile on extra weight via loaded for a trip or riding two-up or hit a bump? The shocks are always locked at the top at full extension because this is the way HD got to advertise "Single Side Adjustment" because the monster sized spring on the left shock (adjustment side) is so strong? It simply overrides the wimpy Bic Pen sized spring on the right shock...
So what going to a 13" shock does is gives the bike (and the rider) the ability to properly adjust some static and ladened sag into the mix which loads and compresses the shock in such a way that there "Travel Extension Available" to help maintain your tires contact patch over rough surface road conditions and what a properly adjusted for sag 13" shock doesn't do? Is it doesn't affect ride height by any significant amount unless? You wish to run'em tight (for increased feedback ad performance) by increasing spring preload.
Going 13" has been a win/win/win for me.
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Club Member
Joined: Oct 2016
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From: Syracuse NY
Ohlins, Progressive, Legends and might I add Pro Action, will be light years ahead of what you have. But as stated above, do the front too. You'll think you have a new machine.
But once, cry once.
Road Master
Joined: Feb 2019
Posts: 1,144
Likes: 950
From: Port Saint Lucie, FL
If you order a Standard Sprung 13" Progressive 412 shock you get a softer 90/130 progressive rate coil spring whereas if you order that same shock in the 12" version? They will come sprung at 115/150 which is considerably stiffer but have to be to keep them from bottoming out due to lack of travel and they? Will have a tendency to retain their "Overall Free Length" even when subjected to ladened sag.
Edit: Short answer? 13" shocks are sprung to compress, 12" shocks? not so much.
Last edited by JINKSTER; Mar 8, 2024 at 08:30 AM.