ohlins
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 11,615
Likes: 50
From: Baton Rouge, LA
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.
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.
Last edited by iclick; Feb 2, 2011 at 03:39 PM.
6th Gear
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: N.E. Ohio
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
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
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
Ohlins are definately the top of the food chain when it comes to shocks. I know them well from the sport bike arena, which I havn't completely left yet. Putting them on a HD would definately be an improvement over stock shocks, but as with sport bikes, their value really comes into play during hard riding.
When riding your bagger on twisties, if you don't frequently scrape your footboards, then I would pass on the upgrade to Ohlins. Or at least don't upgrade until you have done all the other performance uprgrades you wanna do to your bike.
When riding your bagger on twisties, if you don't frequently scrape your footboards, then I would pass on the upgrade to Ohlins. Or at least don't upgrade until you have done all the other performance uprgrades you wanna do to your bike.
Intermediate
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 37
Likes: 11
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.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 13,389
Likes: 26
From: Windham,Maine
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 outweighs 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.
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 outweighs 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.
Road Captain
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 548
Likes: 7
From: Pittsburgh, PA
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 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.
Last edited by SGLarry; Feb 2, 2011 at 07:24 AM.
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Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
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 outweighs 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
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
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!
Cruiser
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 106
Likes: 0
From: Ral NC
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"