Why Add Shocks?
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Road Captain
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 583
Likes: 2
From: South Florida
Why Add Shocks?
Ok.. Excuse my ignorance, but why do most add shocks, or a better question may be, "Why should I add shocks?"
I'm 5'10" and 150 lbs.. Pretty slim. I don't ever notice bottoming out, and to me the ride of my stock '11 seems OK. That being said, maybe I don't know what I'm missing? If that's the case, what am I missing by not upgrading to Ohlins or Progressive shocks? What exactly is the ride difference like compared to stock? I don't ever ride 2 up, and there isn't a whole lot of weight on the bike.
I also live in florida, so it's mostly straight riding.
I'm 5'10" and 150 lbs.. Pretty slim. I don't ever notice bottoming out, and to me the ride of my stock '11 seems OK. That being said, maybe I don't know what I'm missing? If that's the case, what am I missing by not upgrading to Ohlins or Progressive shocks? What exactly is the ride difference like compared to stock? I don't ever ride 2 up, and there isn't a whole lot of weight on the bike.
I also live in florida, so it's mostly straight riding.
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 474
Likes: 3
From: Los Angeles, CA
Ok.. Excuse my ignorance, but why do most add shocks, or a better question may be, "Why should I add shocks?"
I'm 5'10" and 150 lbs.. Pretty slim. I don't ever notice bottoming out, and to me the ride of my stock '11 seems OK. That being said, maybe I don't know what I'm missing? If that's the case, what am I missing by not upgrading to Ohlins or Progressive shocks? What exactly is the ride difference like compared to stock? I don't ever ride 2 up, and there isn't a whole lot of weight on the bike.
I also live in florida, so it's mostly straight riding.
I'm 5'10" and 150 lbs.. Pretty slim. I don't ever notice bottoming out, and to me the ride of my stock '11 seems OK. That being said, maybe I don't know what I'm missing? If that's the case, what am I missing by not upgrading to Ohlins or Progressive shocks? What exactly is the ride difference like compared to stock? I don't ever ride 2 up, and there isn't a whole lot of weight on the bike.
I also live in florida, so it's mostly straight riding.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 3,183
Likes: 836
From: KMHT KFMY
If you don't upgrade the forks, upgrading just the shocks is a waste of money.
Why would you do this? Because HD uses absolute crap for suspension components to make more of a profit.
Showa is some of the worst stuff to ever come out of Japan.
Put Progressive suspension on all 4 corners and you'll think you are riding a BMW.
Why would you do this? Because HD uses absolute crap for suspension components to make more of a profit.
Showa is some of the worst stuff to ever come out of Japan.
Put Progressive suspension on all 4 corners and you'll think you are riding a BMW.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 489
From: sunny florida
if you are happy with them don't do it, I always feel like the forks are to soft and spongy and the shocks go from to soft to way to stiff when you add air, and they corner bad with stock suspension to me
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 7,439
Likes: 884
From: 'Noke, VA
Ok.. Excuse my ignorance, but why do most add shocks, or a better question may be, "Why should I add shocks?"
I'm 5'10" and 150 lbs.. Pretty slim. I don't ever notice bottoming out, and to me the ride of my stock '11 seems OK. That being said, maybe I don't know what I'm missing? If that's the case, what am I missing by not upgrading to Ohlins or Progressive shocks? What exactly is the ride difference like compared to stock? I don't ever ride 2 up, and there isn't a whole lot of weight on the bike.
I also live in florida, so it's mostly straight riding.
I'm 5'10" and 150 lbs.. Pretty slim. I don't ever notice bottoming out, and to me the ride of my stock '11 seems OK. That being said, maybe I don't know what I'm missing? If that's the case, what am I missing by not upgrading to Ohlins or Progressive shocks? What exactly is the ride difference like compared to stock? I don't ever ride 2 up, and there isn't a whole lot of weight on the bike.
I also live in florida, so it's mostly straight riding.
You live in South Florida, home of straight, smooth roads. You weigh what I weighed in early high school. You ride by yourself. You'd be throwing your money away on suspension parts.
Sure, you'd get a better ride with Ricor, Ohlins, Works, or even Progressive, but unless you're going somewhere with frost heaves, or somewhere with hills and corners, save your money.
I, on the other hand am 200 pounds on a good day, ride 2-up nearly half the time, the roads where I ride are in poor condition (not unusual to see 3" bridge joints and heaves), and I like to tear it up in the mountains. I don't regret spending a dime on the Ricor products I have, and I'm seriously contemplating a pair of Ohlins for the rear shocks.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 348
Likes: 7
From: Idaho
If you're OK with the stock set up, ride on. I wasn't. I was really disappointed with the stock shocks and went in search for something better. The Ohlins did it for me.
Last edited by sfchief; Apr 18, 2011 at 07:48 PM.
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Road Captain
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 709
Likes: 1
From: Maine
Stock shocks
You are in good shape because you could sell your stock shocks and just put a couple pieces of 1/4 inch flat stock in place of your stock shocks and get the same ride. Those air shocks are junk but someone will buy them.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 2,600
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From: Minnesota
Ok.. Excuse my ignorance, but why do most add shocks, or a better question may be, "Why should I add shocks?"
I'm 5'10" and 150 lbs.. Pretty slim. I don't ever notice bottoming out, and to me the ride of my stock '11 seems OK. That being said, maybe I don't know what I'm missing? If that's the case, what am I missing by not upgrading to Ohlins or Progressive shocks? What exactly is the ride difference like compared to stock? I don't ever ride 2 up, and there isn't a whole lot of weight on the bike.
I also live in florida, so it's mostly straight riding.
I'm 5'10" and 150 lbs.. Pretty slim. I don't ever notice bottoming out, and to me the ride of my stock '11 seems OK. That being said, maybe I don't know what I'm missing? If that's the case, what am I missing by not upgrading to Ohlins or Progressive shocks? What exactly is the ride difference like compared to stock? I don't ever ride 2 up, and there isn't a whole lot of weight on the bike.
I also live in florida, so it's mostly straight riding.
I weigh about the same as you and rarely ride 2 up but I do ride in a state that is known for Grand Canyon size potholes.
Account Retired
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,245
Likes: 12
From: Here
Ok.. Excuse my ignorance, but why do most add shocks, or a better question may be, "Why should I add shocks?"
I'm 5'10" and 150 lbs.. Pretty slim. I don't ever notice bottoming out, and to me the ride of my stock '11 seems OK. That being said, maybe I don't know what I'm missing? If that's the case, what am I missing by not upgrading to Ohlins or Progressive shocks? What exactly is the ride difference like compared to stock? I don't ever ride 2 up, and there isn't a whole lot of weight on the bike.
I also live in florida, so it's mostly straight riding.
I'm 5'10" and 150 lbs.. Pretty slim. I don't ever notice bottoming out, and to me the ride of my stock '11 seems OK. That being said, maybe I don't know what I'm missing? If that's the case, what am I missing by not upgrading to Ohlins or Progressive shocks? What exactly is the ride difference like compared to stock? I don't ever ride 2 up, and there isn't a whole lot of weight on the bike.
I also live in florida, so it's mostly straight riding.
I weigh 210 lbs, I'm on my third Bagger. I haven't changed the stock shocks on any of them. I did change the oil in front forks and rear shocks to a heavier oil only because I didn't like the dive in the front end when stopping. I did the rear shocks just to try it and see if I could run solo without air in them. It worked on both accounts. The engineers at the MoCo put these shocks on for a reason. It's a touring bike and they wanted a smooth soft ride. There's nothing wrong with Showa shocks.
Do yourself a favor and save some money. If it ain't broke don't fix it just because you read it on here. Harley builds a great bike. Service it and ride it!!!
Forgot one thing, I'm 69 and I have a bad back as well. Broke it in two places in an auto wreck in 1995. I use a backrest for that reason.
Last edited by Ronp42; Apr 18, 2011 at 09:36 PM.