Ultra Bottoming Out w/Low Touring Air Shocks
Road Warrior
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 1,507
Likes: 23
From: Orange County Texas
Ultra Bottoming Out w/Low Touring Air Shocks
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Just added profile low-touring air shocks to lower new Ultra Limited but find that it is bottoming out on occasions. I think if I add air to 50# it will help, but dealer says it is a result of lower shock travel. The MOCO just came out with a hand-adjustable low touring nitrogen-charged shock. Item number 54680-10; pricey at $499.95. Does anyone have any experience with these shocks or similar ones from other vendors?
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Just added profile low-touring air shocks to lower new Ultra Limited but find that it is bottoming out on occasions. I think if I add air to 50# it will help, but dealer says it is a result of lower shock travel. The MOCO just came out with a hand-adjustable low touring nitrogen-charged shock. Item number 54680-10; pricey at $499.95. Does anyone have any experience with these shocks or similar ones from other vendors?
Howard
What are your thoughts on the new Harley Davidson Premium Ride hand-adjustable low touring Shocks. I have paid close attention to many of your post and value your opinion.
Harleys list price is 499.99 but I have see them for 399.00 which seem to be a fair price if the do what they are suppose to.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,467
Likes: 2,996
From: Charleston, SC
and..."somebody" thinks fork bushings wear out in a few thousand miles too....
Has pictures and a pdf of it....All incorrect and BS.
When I took the time to correct the Somebody and show them pictures that proved they were wrong, Somebody got even more confused and pretty much started grasping at straws and making up ****.
I stopped listening to the guy way back for those reasons.
lp
Has pictures and a pdf of it....All incorrect and BS.When I took the time to correct the Somebody and show them pictures that proved they were wrong, Somebody got even more confused and pretty much started grasping at straws and making up ****.
I stopped listening to the guy way back for those reasons.
lp
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,897
From: Bedford UK
Stock length stock Harley shocks have about three inches total travel. Low shocks have less. Riding solo they are probably fine, but 2-up the rules change. Why? Take a close look at your bike. As the rider you are sitting over the swingarm pivot. Every time the wheel moves your backside only moves a part of that, not all the movement of the wheel. We riders can be happy with quite poor quality shocks.
Now see where the love of your life is sitting, when she comes along for a ride - right over the axle. Her backside gets a very different riding experience. If the two of you have squashed out half of the wheel travel there is not much left to absorb bumps. My experience of Harley air shocks is that no amount of air in them compensates for two riders. They squash too much and my wife gets knocked about too much. A different oil ain't going to change anything of consequence.
If you ride solo this thread isn't for you, unless you can tell there is a pea under your mattress. If you ride 2-up, pay attention!
We have #3 Ohlins from Howard. We can fine-tune the ride height for when we are 2-up and that gives us both plenty of wheel travel. Problem solved!
Now see where the love of your life is sitting, when she comes along for a ride - right over the axle. Her backside gets a very different riding experience. If the two of you have squashed out half of the wheel travel there is not much left to absorb bumps. My experience of Harley air shocks is that no amount of air in them compensates for two riders. They squash too much and my wife gets knocked about too much. A different oil ain't going to change anything of consequence.
If you ride solo this thread isn't for you, unless you can tell there is a pea under your mattress. If you ride 2-up, pay attention!
We have #3 Ohlins from Howard. We can fine-tune the ride height for when we are 2-up and that gives us both plenty of wheel travel. Problem solved!
Last edited by grbrown; Apr 19, 2010 at 08:15 AM.
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 692
Likes: 95
From: Somerville OH
I am currently running the 1-2-3 lowering brackets on my 08 Ultra,I am currently on the 2"lowering hole with 35 psi on the stockers. I still get the occasional bottoming out with my 200lbs and the wifes 150lbs. I am gonna try a little more air on our trip this weekend,just scared I'll put too much,is 50lbs tops? I am gonna go up to 40-then 45-then 50lbs if need be but I am scared to go any higher. Opinions/recommendations? I am a short legged 5'8" so I gotta be lowered.
Last edited by bluesmanjesse; Jul 6, 2010 at 06:35 PM.
Cruiser
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 175
Likes: 0
Bump the air to 45-50. Cost nothing, the bottoming should stop. It did on my StreetGlide.
It rides smoother because of the no bottoming. Strangely enough you think it would be rougher but it's not.
I still changed mine to 13's because I wanted the softer ride that I was used to.
It rides smoother because of the no bottoming. Strangely enough you think it would be rougher but it's not.
I still changed mine to 13's because I wanted the softer ride that I was used to.
Tourer
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 493
Likes: 1
From: SoCal
Low profile shocks are back breakers. Changed them to 13" standard air shocks about a month after I purchased my SG and that was 4 yrs ago.
I can't see any reason for the lower shocks unless you are vertically challenged. It's very hard to see the difference visually. No one has ever noticed that my SG sits 1" higher than other SG's.
I can't see any reason for the lower shocks unless you are vertically challenged. It's very hard to see the difference visually. No one has ever noticed that my SG sits 1" higher than other SG's.
I agree! I did the same with my '09 SG and added the '10 SE seat, which seats lower and is more comfortable. Now my seating height is the same as stock but I have 1 inch more travel. Visually, you cannot tell the difference in shock height. It is perfect for me.
Road Captain
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 537
Likes: 2
From: Ohio
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,331
Likes: 56
From: north of Daytona
Just added profile low-touring air shocks to lower new Ultra Limited but find that it is bottoming out on occasions. I think if I add air to 50# it will help, but dealer says it is a result of lower shock travel. The MOCO just came out with a hand-adjustable low touring nitrogen-charged shock. Item number 54680-10; pricey at $499.95. Does anyone have any experience with these shocks or similar ones from other vendors?
Changed out my stock shocks after they were getting rusty and dust cover cracking.
If I recall the BOOK said that the shorter shocks were 1/2" shorter, and were revalved
to provide a ride equal to the longer shocks. I ride with about 35lbs pressure ,I am 210 lbs...nothing in the bags, and I bottom out. I guess I will bump up the pressure.
chuck
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christian0632
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Apr 2, 2007 08:12 AM
