is that extra inch?

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May 28, 2012 | 05:13 PM

#11

0ldhippie

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Mar 2012

Posts: 6,129

Likes: 143

From: Santa Cruz

The extra 1" does two things. The most obvious is the extra travel = better ride and more lean angle. The other thing, and what ya may have noticed, is less rake/trail = quicker handling.

May 28, 2012 | 05:17 PM

#12

mkguitar

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2010

Posts: 14,744

Likes: 402

From: Phoenix '53, '88, '09 Big Twins

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdam

You swap shocks out between touring and "in town"??? Sounds like a lot of work. How often do you do that?

takes about 30 minutes at most.

conversion to touring with windscreen, seat, shocks and tourpak is about an hour with tires checked, oil changed etc.

"in-town" I think of as less than 4 or 6 hours

"touring" is long days on the road often multiple days or weeks

mike

May 28, 2012 | 05:50 PM

#13

bogieb

Road Warrior

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 1,892

Likes: 3

From: New Hampshire

Hubby has an '08 EG. I have a lowered (1" front and back) '06 SG. Hubby thinks the SG is more nimble and loves to ride fast thru twisties on it, where he would be a bit more sedate on the EG. He's not afraid to lean it hard like the EG. Maybe because it's my bike not his? I don't know.

I don't ride his bike, so don't have an opinion of my own.

May 28, 2012 | 06:47 PM

#14

DuraGlide

Road Warrior

Joined: Aug 2008

Posts: 1,895

Likes: 121

From: Southern WV

I had the opposite feeling when I got my Ultra after riding my SG for 4 years. Ultra felt like sitting on top of a pile of mush. Put on my old SG rear shocks, Sundowner seat and SG wheels (16rear/18 front) and now it feels like a Dragon slaying machine.

May 28, 2012 | 08:55 PM

#15

dbell66253

Seasoned HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2009

Posts: 5,240

Likes: 10

From: South Florida

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Canuck

SG is my ride, stock shocks with 1" lower kit. with 400 lbs load I set to 35 psi. Prior to last weekend ride I was reading other shock discussions so I was watching for the back end shock action this trip. my conclusions are that at 60+ MPH hitting a pot hole feels like a bottom out, but really there was no time for the shocks to respond. hitting a dip and I could estimate up to the two inch cushioning of the shocks, with a occaional bottom outs. Conclusion, I am keeping the stock shocks.

If you read over your post, you answered one of the reasons stock shocks suck, response at speed is slow, if you had a decent shock that problem would be solved.

May 29, 2012 | 10:28 AM

#16

1Canuck

Ultimate HDF Member

Joined: Dec 2010

Posts: 7,776

Likes: 2,252

From: wet coast BC

Quote:

Originally Posted by dbell66253

If you read over your post, you answered one of the reasons stock shocks suck, response at speed is slow, if you had a decent shock that problem would be solved.

perhaps and I do not dispute the claims of improved shock action. in my case the occasional bump felt reminds me to watch the road better.

May 29, 2012 | 11:33 AM

#17

grbrown

Club Member

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 45,429

Likes: 2,897

From: Bedford UK

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1Canuck

...... in my case the occasional bump felt reminds me to watch the road better.

What the occasional bump is actually telling you is that the shocks are not doing their job properly and you could be enjoying the ride so much better!