I had the 12" SG shocks for a few months, which were unacceptable for anything beyond a 10-mile ride to the bar on Wednesday nights, and installed some 12½" Progressive 440's with standard springs. They were better, but I wanted more, and got more after reading some feedback on Ohlins here and ordering a set of #2-3. With 4 3/32" of stroke vs. 2" for the stock shocks the ride is velvety smooth, control is much better, there is actually rebound control now (none with Progressives), and it hasn't bottomed in the 18 months since I installed them. Case closed, and shock swapping is a thing of the past for me. Howard and Motorcycle Metal are highly recommended, and ask about a forum discount. For me it was sizable.

Oh, one downside: The 13¼" #2-3 add 1¼" to the riding height of an SG, only ¼" to a typical 13" EG suspension, so the slammed look is gone. It will also change the riding eye-height related to your visibility over the windshield, but coming from 13" shocks the difference should be negligible. So be it, as the upside factors far outweigh the downside.

One unexpected upside is that I can travel farther before getting monkey butt, where no position on the seat is comfortable after a long day in the saddle. I also don't need my backrest on many rides I would've otherwise used it on. The smoother ride is apparently the difference here.

 

Ohlin riders,
I was at the Cleveland motorcycle show talking to the Ohlin guy last week and we were trying to determine if the Ohlins with the spring preload adjustment would fit a Road King with hard saddle bags. Does anyone have these shocks with this feature? Looks like I might have to drill a hole in the backside of the bag to accomodate the adjustment ****.

greg

 

Don't agree, the Ohlins was one of the first things I did, along with the True Track and I put the 13 1/4" on my FLHX and the ride is excellent, the performance in the canyons is 100% better as well as around town. I understand what you mean but the 2 inches of travel on a stock Street Glide is pathetic. Now with a little over 4" and the superior damping, I am very pleased.

 

Very pleased with the Ohlins purchased from and set-up by Howard from Motorcycle Metal. Installed on '09 CVO Ultra. Was looking for better ride, especially for my wife who has bad back. No comparison to stock shocks. Very supple ride with no bottoming or topping out on even the worst roads. Rear wheel just stays planted when accelerating hard on bumpy roads. Howard provides excellent set-up information. Proper pre-load is critical and it's easy to adjust with the provided tool. Rebound and compression damping is also a breeze to adjust. This is an upgrade that you will appreciate with every turn of your wheels.

 

Do you have to remove the bags to adjust betwwe 1 and 2-up?

 

Reading this has me thinking again about upgrading.Two years ago upgraded to Proggresives.Good info!

 

I definately plan on getting a set, when I have an extra $700 dollars, but that may be just a little ways out yet, and that was the quote from Howard for the "3'3's".

 

Howrad at Motorclce Metal is great to deal with...a wealth of info on shocks.
I ended up with the #3-3's and modified them to have the SG in the 12" stock position. The explanation is here: https://www.hdforums.com/forum/5845120-post26.html
I checked with Howard before doing this...I rode like this all last season and the frame or tire will not hit.
He actually now offers a #3-3 w/o the eye adjustment (it's connected directly to the bottom of the shock body) that makes it 12" without modification. I personally like the modification method better because you van still adjust it back up to 13" if you want.

 

I have Howard's #3#3 which don't have quite so much travel, but do include a small amount of adjustment for the overall length. Having tipped us over when fully loaded, early on our last tour, I intend lowering them a little.

We found the same. In fact on a 2 weeks tour pre-Ohlins my wife had had enough halfway into the second week. Post-Ohlins we find we can travel further each day and after we got home from a 2 weeks tour she said she would have been happy to carry on even further! On an old style Corbin, that is some endorsement!

Not sure which model you are referring to. Howard's #2 and #3 shocks all have spring pre-load adjustment via threaded collars, but the adjusters don't stay on the shock. The only models Howard builds that won't fit behind hard bags are the remote reservoir type. Check the Motorcycle Metal website to see the options available from Howard.

When it gives the best results Howard scratch builds Ohlins shocks (also Penske) to suit the customers requirements. So not all he does is available through normal Ohlins outlets. We have a treasure trove of Harley specific expertise in that man!

 

My rear is lowered 1", via lower shock mts., It has 2 adjustments holes left, will this still be okay to install in a lower setting to offset the ride height gained by these shocks, front is also lowered 1"