09 rough ride?
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Stage II
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2
Likes: 0
09 rough ride?
Need some help on air shock pressure, on my 09 street glide. I have only rode it 500 miles so far. Always had softails before, so far not overly impressed with ride I am getting. My wt. is 170#, When my wife rides with me add another approx 150-160 # she won't tell me! any suggestions appreciated.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 245
Likes: 30
From: Newcastle, California
09 rough ride
Hello and congrats on the new ride. What you need to do is get a H-D air pump for the rear shocks and look in the owners guide for the chart on the right pressure for your weight.
Cruiser
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 162
Likes: 1
From: Boston
Traded my Fatboy for a SG about three weeks ago and I agree. Based on input here, I put 14 pounds for solo (I am 195 pounts) and 50 when the wife is on back (she won't tell me either). Use a hand pump with guage, because it does not take much air to raise the pressure. Still bottoms out with the wife on back. The stock rear seat is not as thick as the Sundowner on my Fatboy so she may be feeling the bumps more.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,383
Likes: 3
From: Texas City, TX
According to the owners manual, Harley recommends something between 20 and 30 psi in the rear shocks or someone of my weight (230 lbs). I started at 15 and worked up from there. Currently, I've settled to something between 30 and 35 psi. All I'd suggest is that you start with what the manual recommends and experiment up or own from there until you find a setting that works for you. I'm also not that impressed with the suspension on the bike, especially the rears, but I've got it where it's working well enough most of the time.
Good luck & Ride Safe,
Steve R.
Good luck & Ride Safe,
Steve R.
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 322
Likes: 2
I think the combination of the new frame and revised suspension settings make the 09 ride "firmer" than previous years regardless of how much air you put in the rear shock. I had a chance to test ride an 09 street glide back to back with my 08 road king and it felt almost jolting over some bumps in comparison. That firmer ride contributes to and is probably the trade-off for the 09's having better handling.
Need some help on air shock pressure, on my 09 street glide. I have only rode it 500 miles so far. Always had softails before, so far not overly impressed with ride I am getting. My wt. is 170#, When my wife rides with me add another approx 150-160 # she won't tell me! any suggestions appreciated.
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Stage II
Joined: May 2009
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Thanks for the feedback, I do have a air pump and been trying different pressure so far up to 30. we also are feeling the jolts.
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Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 728
Likes: 1
From: Yakima, WA
You guys are really missing the key reason "you think the ride is bad" --- the 09 SG has lowered rear shocks. the travel is tighter like all lowered shocks. If you want a softer ride get different shocks a different model or go back to the slop tails.