What rear shocks on 2010 FLTRX offer the best ride?
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Cruiser
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 230
Likes: 0
From: Detroit
What rear shocks on 2010 FLTRX offer the best ride?
Just curious to see what you guys are running on your baggers for rear suspension. I took the air shocks off and put 12" progressive 412's on it.'the ride is better,'but seems too stiff. Whether it's solo or 2 up doesn't matter. I've had dirt bikes and 4 wheelers that were smoother. Living in Michigan, the pothole and road buckle capital of the world,'I need something that can take the initial bump smooth and return smooth. I only have them set on the second lowest setting for both of us and solo. We don't bottom out, but damn is it a stiff ride. Thanks guys.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 14,744
Likes: 402
From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins
most performance shocks are stiff- you gotta choose between corvette or cadillac.
Most riders are gonna tell you to spend more on "the Magic Product", that's great if you got it...
My corvette is my FXR- stiff, fast, low, loud ( Works Performance shocks)
My cadillac is my EG Classic. I find the air shocks are great for a floating ride and have many miles on washboard roads with kidneys intact.
I use the shorter air shocks from a streetglide on my EG Classic for in town, local, light touring- days of less than 6 hours in the saddle
I swap to the full height for touring.
They are very responsive to pressure changes and over time, I have found what works well for me absorbsion vs rebound or "topping out" I can tune right in that middle area.
That little air pump can really do a lot.
So maybe your solution is the performance shocks when you are riding around causing trouble and the air shocks when riding 2 up and passenger comfort means your comfort.
some guys have also gone to full height shocks on the FLHX/ FLTRX
Mike
Most riders are gonna tell you to spend more on "the Magic Product", that's great if you got it...
My corvette is my FXR- stiff, fast, low, loud ( Works Performance shocks)
My cadillac is my EG Classic. I find the air shocks are great for a floating ride and have many miles on washboard roads with kidneys intact.
I use the shorter air shocks from a streetglide on my EG Classic for in town, local, light touring- days of less than 6 hours in the saddle
I swap to the full height for touring.
They are very responsive to pressure changes and over time, I have found what works well for me absorbsion vs rebound or "topping out" I can tune right in that middle area.
That little air pump can really do a lot.
So maybe your solution is the performance shocks when you are riding around causing trouble and the air shocks when riding 2 up and passenger comfort means your comfort.
some guys have also gone to full height shocks on the FLHX/ FLTRX
Mike
Last edited by mkguitar; Aug 11, 2011 at 02:03 PM.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 325
Likes: 0
From: Tulsa, OK
I'm going to watch this one because I think you are trying to get rid of the same thing that is bothering me... that sharp impact from a pothole, road buckle, expansion joint, etc..
I'm running the stock air shocks on my streetglide for now, but if I can get a good answer on which shock will soak up that initial impact the best, I might drop the coin.
It seems like every one of the aftermarket shocks are aimed more at cornering performance and they all seem to have a pretty stiff ride..
I'm running the stock air shocks on my streetglide for now, but if I can get a good answer on which shock will soak up that initial impact the best, I might drop the coin.
It seems like every one of the aftermarket shocks are aimed more at cornering performance and they all seem to have a pretty stiff ride..
Tourer
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 263
Likes: 1
From: Bastrop, LA
I live in Louisiana, home of the worst roads in the US. There are very few roads that do not have a pot hole or some other distortion that will send your fu**ing teeth through the top of your head. I have run with many different types of suspension including custom air ride from almost all major suppliers. The Ohlins on my touring bike are the best hands down, no joke. Read some of the threads in this forum about the Ohlins reviews. You will see that everyone running with Ohlins has nothing but good things to say about the shocks.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 2,916
Likes: 31
From: earth
I did the fluid swap on my 06 SG OEM shocks, better. Then I got the Ohlins, much better, then I got them broke in and tuned, still way better. I helped my brother do the fluid swap on his 09 SG last year and it was an improvement over stock. I rode his bike again last weekend, and all I can say is the ride difference with the Ohlins is nothing short of remarkable. The OEM air shocks translate the sharp impacts of every bump to my spine, the Ohlins do not, even on the big nasty bumps the sharp impact is deadened. You can buy a couple sets of decent shocks during your quest for a nice ride, or you can just go ahead and buy a set of exceptional shocks now. No I haven't tried other shocks, and I'm not going to, I'm very happy with the Ohlins.
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Road Master
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 760
Likes: 1
From: USA
If ride height is a concern stay away from the 940's. At 175 lbs I wasn't heavy enough to compress them to 12". I sold them to a friend who is 200 lbs plus and he likes them.
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Joined: Feb 2010
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From: sunny florida
I ran Progressive 940's on my last bike and liked them , put Ricors on this bike and was not happy, Saturday I install Ohlin's #3-#3 and am in the process of breaking them in and dialing them in
