Rear shock feedback
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
Posts: 359
Likes: 1
Rear shock feedback
Can anybody here give me some feedback on the HD hand adjustable rear shocks?
Are they worth the $$ compared to say Progessive 940 or 440 versions.
I am tired of these air shocks. I changed over to shorter street glide version HD air shocks and they they bottom out much more than i am willing to live with.
I weigh around 195 and my wife on the back adds another 110... so with over 300 lbs. pushing down on the frame I would like to find something more forgiving and less apt to bottom out all the time. I like the ride height better than the 13" shocks that came on the bike but even those bottomed out too much.
anyone who has the the hand crank HD shocks might post some info/feedback and give an opinion or two..
being that the HD hand adjustable and the progressive are in the same price range what would you choose?
Are they worth the $$ compared to say Progessive 940 or 440 versions.
I am tired of these air shocks. I changed over to shorter street glide version HD air shocks and they they bottom out much more than i am willing to live with.
I weigh around 195 and my wife on the back adds another 110... so with over 300 lbs. pushing down on the frame I would like to find something more forgiving and less apt to bottom out all the time. I like the ride height better than the 13" shocks that came on the bike but even those bottomed out too much.
anyone who has the the hand crank HD shocks might post some info/feedback and give an opinion or two..
being that the HD hand adjustable and the progressive are in the same price range what would you choose?
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 683
Likes: 3
From: Florida
Well never had any aftermarket shocks so someone else will have to help you on those. But as far as HD adjustable shocks I have them on my Street Bob and they work fine for me and my wife. I weigh 222lbs and she weighs 118lbs. We keep them 2 notches up from the bottom. Most folks like um a little further up than that, but we get a comfortable ride with 2 notches.
When you crank um up it only changes the tension on the spring not the shock height. But as a poster pointed out to me once, the less tension then the faster the same rider weight will depress the spring a bit more as you sit.
When you crank um up it only changes the tension on the spring not the shock height. But as a poster pointed out to me once, the less tension then the faster the same rider weight will depress the spring a bit more as you sit.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 116
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, NY
Daddio, I got an 06 SG and I had the same problem with bottoming out with the stock shocks. I personally weigh on at 250 and I ride with my girl and the tour pack a lot so I went with the progressive 440 heavy duty model. Personally I love em. I had the girl plus me plus camping gear and while bunch of sh*t up to Laconia last year and I never bottomed them once. You might not have to go with the heavy duty since they are for riders that weigh around 250 on their own but I can def recommend the progressive shocks. I've changed the shocks on both my bikes to progressives. But at the same time it can come down to personal preference. Hope my babbling helped!
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 53
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From: Brittany (France)
I've got 12"2 Ohlins on my bike: they're more expensive but I love them!
Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 594
Likes: 1
From: Florida
I rode those shocks on a 2010 CVO Street Glide last summer. I liked the way the suspension felt on that bike better than the stock set-up on my regular SG. The bike had a firmer ride overall (the CVO SG also uses heavier SE oil in the forks -vs- the regular SG) ...sportier I'd say but still comfortable for touring. I'm in at 225lbs and the Dude that owned the bike was maybe 175lbs, so the shocks weren't dialed-in for me, yet they never bottomed-out on me. I'm pretty tempted to buy them for my personnal ride. My only hesitation is I don't know how they will perform 2-up with stuffed saddle bags and a tour pak?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 9,850
Likes: 220
From: Sacramento, CA.
The thing I don't understand is that one shock you can adj. the compression & the other shock you can adj. the rebound. why not have both adjs on both shocks. Any one want to chime in?
Cruiser
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 149
Likes: 2
From: NE Mass.
I have them and think they're 100% better than stock shocks. I'm 200 lbs and ride solo. Set at 1 notch. No bottoming or back breaking any longer. No experience with progressive shocks.
The left shock is an adjustible compression shock and the right is for rebound only. I've seen threads on this forum that state that the new HD shocks could twist the swing arm. I don't buy it.
If they're good enough for a $35K bike, they're good enough for me. All I know is the ride is like night and day.
Good luck!
The left shock is an adjustible compression shock and the right is for rebound only. I've seen threads on this forum that state that the new HD shocks could twist the swing arm. I don't buy it.
If they're good enough for a $35K bike, they're good enough for me. All I know is the ride is like night and day.
Good luck!
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Tourer
Joined: Apr 2006
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Thanks for the good replies, fellas. From what i have picked up here, either setup will be a vast improvement over the showa air shocks.
I too had heard about some issues with the new HD setup. I guess ya spends yer money and ya takes yer chances.
I have spent money on two differant sets of shocks from Harley... which I sometimes get pissed off at myself for walking in the stealers and laying down so much $$ on trinkets and add-ons and swapped out parts...on top of the 26K the bike cost to begin with...
I guess I'll give the progressives a try...let somebody else get some of my hard earned bucks for a change...he-he.
I too had heard about some issues with the new HD setup. I guess ya spends yer money and ya takes yer chances.
I have spent money on two differant sets of shocks from Harley... which I sometimes get pissed off at myself for walking in the stealers and laying down so much $$ on trinkets and add-ons and swapped out parts...on top of the 26K the bike cost to begin with...
I guess I'll give the progressives a try...let somebody else get some of my hard earned bucks for a change...he-he.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
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From: SoCal
It's actually quite common on the high end forks to do this. It reduces the adjusting time and reduces mis-adjustments, 2 ***** doing 2 jobs vs 4 ***** doing 2 jobs.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 181
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From: Sylva,NC
I have a set of the Harley low shocks I'll sell half price, had them on for about 3000 miles on my 2009 Ultra, moved to NC last fall and find I need more ground clearance riding two up on all the twisties down here. Email me at rpvollbrecht@gmail.com