Air ride installed...
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 1,788
Likes: 5
From: Tennessee
I managed another short ride today. One thing I can definitely say about the air shocks, is that my bike is less stable in the fast curves now. I also feel like the ride is NOT better than the stockers. I definitely think I felt the bumps more, and I also feel like there was more vibrations transfered through the bike to my ***. Haven't played with pressures yet, so I'm not gonna pull them off just yet. But I'm also not convinced I want to keep them on either........
Tourer
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 441
Likes: 1
From: Da Bronx
Ok fellas I have another question. I pretty much have all the hardware to either do this with brass compression fittings, or the pneumatic press on fittings. I basically screwed up and bought all the pneumatic fitting for 1/8" but I could not get the correct size/thread fitting for the shocks (gabriels) and got impatient....so off to lowes to buy brass. I figured I would just run 1/4" since they had all the fittings to run 1/4" (including a muffler) but the 1/4" OD black polyurethane line I purchased from fright props is too thick to use with brass compression fittings from Lowes (unless i'm doing something wrong). Now Lowes has 1/4" OD line that works but it is white and I want black. Basically I need to order black line from somewhere else, or the correct pneumatic 1/8" OD fittings for the shocks. At this point I can go either way so what does everyone reccommend.
I'll send you a PM...
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 251
Likes: 0
From: Northern Virginia
My system feels best with my needle at the one o clock position with me on it. It took some time to get it dialed in. I fill it while standing to the 4 o'clock position and then sit down. Seems as if the system takes a little time to stabilize but once it's there it's a nice ride.
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 855
Likes: 1
From: Puyallup, WA
Thakns for the replies I now have the tubing and fittings that will work. In case anyone is still interested the bolt size for the stock shocks for my 08 RKC are 1/2"-13 x 2" long grade 5 hex bolt. For my set-up I am using the Gabriels with the polyurethane replacement bushings and they measure 1/2" longer so I went with 1/2"-13 x 2.5" long and decided to use a grade 8 bolt for strength.
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 147
Likes: 0
From: Belleville, il
I was making a bracket to hold a 1.5" viair guage and switch, I wasnt really happy with where I could put it and not see while ridding, so I ordered a 2" for the fairing and CVO switch.
After I pulled the stock air guage I got to thinking....
I pulled apart the stock guage and modified it, tore apart the viair guage and installed its guts in the stock housing.
Im waiting for all the epoxys to dry before I can reinstall, but I think its going to work. 60lbs may be 70 degrees, but who cares if it reads right, all I have to do is figure out how many degrees feels good and thats what I set it for!
It looks stock with the light and all.
Ill post some pics up next weekend when I get back in town and get it back together.
After I pulled the stock air guage I got to thinking....
I pulled apart the stock guage and modified it, tore apart the viair guage and installed its guts in the stock housing.
Im waiting for all the epoxys to dry before I can reinstall, but I think its going to work. 60lbs may be 70 degrees, but who cares if it reads right, all I have to do is figure out how many degrees feels good and thats what I set it for!
It looks stock with the light and all.
Ill post some pics up next weekend when I get back in town and get it back together.