When I took delivery of my '10 Limited, I had SG shocks put on the rear since I would be a bit inseam challenged. What a crap ride! I tried for a season, but I never could find an air pressure that would work, and sharp bumps would literally throw my wife up out of the seat. Never again.

I needed a better ride but I still wanted an easier reach to ground, so I ordered Ohlins from Howard in the 3-2 configuration. Quite a bit of improvement in the ride but I became convinced that the shorter stroke was still not suited to the new frame. Since I put 35k miles on the set that second season they were due for a rebuild, so I emailed Howard and asked if they could be rebuilt as the 3-3's or if I would have to start all over again. I knew I would be reaching for the ground a bit, but I just didn't like the ride of the lowered bike. He proposed a longer eye-mount piece that gave me back almost all of the stroke, lengthening the shock almost back to stock.

As luck would have it, I sent the shocks to Howard about a week before his get-off. Imagine my surprise when I got a phone call from Howard only days after the accident, giving me an update - here he was in pain (and highly medicated, btw - parts of the conversation were hilarious!) but worried about my shocks. We had snow on the ground here in CO so I told him not to worry about a thing, I wouldn't be riding for awhile anyway.

He called several times over the next few weeks, telling me what changes he had planned and how both he and the shocks were progressing. The shocks were finally on their way back to me when I had foot surgery, meaning 8 weeks without putting any weight on it whatsoever. I really couldn't even maneuver in the garage to safely install them. Bummer.

Well, finally got 'em on, had several conversations with Howard on how to set up what were now essentially custom shocks and I just put 'em to the real test - over 8,000 miles towards an Iron Butt Association 48-10 (48 States in 10 days).

The ride with the Ohlins is everything I hoped for. I read other posters talking about not finding the "plush Ohlin ride", but I'm not sure what their expectations might be. I don't want my bike feeling "plush" like a Cadillac because I don't want a floaty feeling going through the twisties here in Colorado - I want firm control without a jolting rebound when hitting a sharp bump. I got every bit of that and more.

It's kinda funny and a testament to Howard's experience that I played with both the preload and dampening adjusments as the shocks broke in and, in the end, the settings are back to exactly where Howard set them when he rebuilt them <lol>

Thanks, Howard - great ride and great customer service.

 

Dan L, thanks for the nice words. I am glad that you finally got out of the house and under your own power. I hope the ride was everything you were looking for and met your expectations we discussed in the winter. Ride long and hard but never grow old!

 

Sounds like you two have been a pair together, with your respective wounds! Congratulations on your improved shocks.

 

I just got my 2-2a's from Howard a week or two ago. The installation was simple, didn't have any issues or see any reason to bother Howard with that part. I just had a friend stop by yesterday to get the measurement with me sitting on the bike and I'll be giving him a call as soon as I have time to work on any adjustments. Working 7 days a week sucks but in this market, I guess I should be grateful to be working!!

 

Hey Howard...loving my3-3's..unbelievable how such minor adjustments to preload or rebound make big difference in ride feeling..just got over 700kms on them and playing with adjustments to find sweet spot..

 

His pain meds were better than mine! <lol>

 

ks6c-
A huge congratulations on the 48-10. WOW. You should certainly be a expert on shocks if you are involved in the Iron Butt association. I'm planing on doing a Saddlesore 1K as soon as I can. Probably this fall if not sooner.
I'm needing an upgrade on one of my bikes and I know who to contact now. No question.

 

TBP, guess I should have been a bit more clear when I said "8,000 miles toward a 48-10" - it was sort of an ill-fated attempt <lol>

It started out as a 48Plus - 49 States in 10 days with Hyder, AK the target for Memorial Day weekend. On Sunday, Day 5, the starter failed in Watertown, SD and cost me a day, so on to Plan B, the 48-10. Then on Day 9, a winter storm warning and a snow squall on I15 just 20 miles short of Butte, MT, I called the ride with 46 States and only 400 miles short of #48. So near, but yet so far.

Next year!

Good luck on your SS1K - I've found the IB rides to be addicting. '10 Limited is 2 years old and just turned over 66k miles.