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Road King "Float"

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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 09:11 AM
  #1  
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Default Road King "Float"

Hi,
I have only had my RK for about a month now and noticed at speeds at and above 50 mph she tended to want to “float” for the lack of a better word. Is that natural? A friend who rides a VTX said to add air to the shocks and that would stabilize the ride. So I checked the MOM and it said for my weight, 310#, I needed 40 – 50 psi in shocks. Since it’s fresh off the showroom I checked and there was only 30 psi in so I added 10 psi and it seems to be more stable. Is that true or am I imagining things? Should I go up to 50 psi?
Kevin
 
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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 09:16 AM
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09 and After are higher pressure shocks, Congrads one of the few that actually read the manual.

When I have my wife on board I run 40-45 lbs. Both of us combined is about 255 llbs. FYI I am now conteplating going heavier front fork oil.


Congrads on your new ride and welcome to the board
 

Last edited by leicafish; Jun 16, 2010 at 09:19 AM.
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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 09:46 AM
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if its FLOATING check the psi in your tires. low psi will cause this FLOATING feeling.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 09:55 AM
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What type of road surface are you riding on? Maybe that has a little to do with it.

Yes, definitely check the pressure in your tires. I only seem to lose about 4-5 psi a year.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 11:06 AM
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Tire pressure too high, especially in front, will cause 'floating' as well.
 
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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 01:40 PM
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the road serfaces are typical of any city, good to horrable black top with concrete roadways mixed in. In Colorado its a real mixed bag.

The bike is only a couple of weeks old but I'll defineitly check the tire pressure.

Thanks all!
 
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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 01:46 PM
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Make sure the dealer used "air" in the tires and not "helium"

Sorry had to do it!!
 
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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 04:07 PM
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Or worse yet....Flubber!
 
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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 04:59 PM
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I have had the complete opposite situation. 6 weeks old and 950 miles on it and the thing is jolting the hell out of me on almost every bump. I have rode solo with 25 psi and 16psi in the rear shocks and both times its the same...Hard as hell! Its even getting a worsening knock from somewhere under the tank. Shes in getting her first check up so hopefully when they call back I wont hear "We couldnt get it to make that sound", but they probably will!
 
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Old Jun 16, 2010 | 05:17 PM
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Mine feels rock solid over 50 mph on grooved highways, asphault, whatever...
 
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