Speed Bumps and Flipping Forward
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HDF Community Team
Joined: Nov 2012
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From: USA
Speed Bumps and Flipping Forward
I suspect I already know part of the answer, but I'm interested in some of your experiences. 04 RK.
While it's got a nice soft ride, when I go over something like a speed bump, the front end glides over, and then the rear end tries to pogostick. Does a dandy job of tossing me up out of the seat. I'm not new to motorcycles, this bike takes the cake at flipping me off the seat.
Being short, I lowered the rear with 12" Harley air shocks. That didn't help matters. Yes, now with fresh oil and playing with air pressure I've gotten it to stop bottom out so readily, and still give me a soft ride. But it flips me out of the seat every bit as viciously as before, if not a bit more so.
I'm speculating that this is partially because the rear suspension doesn't have much motion, so it's either flip the tail up or crash the rear suspension into its stops. Made a bit worse by how wide the bike is, making it darn near impossible to knee grip.
Yea, I know, slow down. Well and good, but I'm not flying through parking lots, and it doesn't take much of a speed bump like thing to launch me out of the seat.
I'm suspecting I'll have to go back to the 13" rear shocks, and buy platform boots or such.
What have you guys experienced with the rear end flipping you out of the seat over speed bumps and such? And what have you found that helps?
While it's got a nice soft ride, when I go over something like a speed bump, the front end glides over, and then the rear end tries to pogostick. Does a dandy job of tossing me up out of the seat. I'm not new to motorcycles, this bike takes the cake at flipping me off the seat.
Being short, I lowered the rear with 12" Harley air shocks. That didn't help matters. Yes, now with fresh oil and playing with air pressure I've gotten it to stop bottom out so readily, and still give me a soft ride. But it flips me out of the seat every bit as viciously as before, if not a bit more so.
I'm speculating that this is partially because the rear suspension doesn't have much motion, so it's either flip the tail up or crash the rear suspension into its stops. Made a bit worse by how wide the bike is, making it darn near impossible to knee grip.
Yea, I know, slow down. Well and good, but I'm not flying through parking lots, and it doesn't take much of a speed bump like thing to launch me out of the seat.
I'm suspecting I'll have to go back to the 13" rear shocks, and buy platform boots or such.
What have you guys experienced with the rear end flipping you out of the seat over speed bumps and such? And what have you found that helps?
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2004
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From: So Cal
With the 12 HD shocks you now only have about 2" of suspension travel, this adds to the problem of bottoming out easily so you stiffen up the preload (air pressure) this decreases the bottoming but increases the rebound especially on the sh-t stock air shocks. It will be better wiith 13" shocks because you have more travel. But it will be much better by changing to a quality aftermarket shock. The JRI 13" shock that Howard sells is advertised as having 101mm travel that is almost 3.9" nearly twice what you have now and it have dampening, the Progressive 944 have about 3.7" of travel for a less expensive shock.
With the stock 12" on my RG I used to have a couple areas on the freeway close to me that if I was not prepared for them at 70 mph they would pop me off the seat, after changing to a better shock I dont have that anymore.
Bottom line is no matter what Harleys dont have a lot of suspension travel but if you improve what you have it will be a lot better.
With the stock 12" on my RG I used to have a couple areas on the freeway close to me that if I was not prepared for them at 70 mph they would pop me off the seat, after changing to a better shock I dont have that anymore.
Bottom line is no matter what Harleys dont have a lot of suspension travel but if you improve what you have it will be a lot better.
Last edited by XARAN; Jun 13, 2013 at 10:48 AM.
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Joined: Aug 2008
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All good and valid answers. Consider as well that you are sitting almost on top of the point in which the shock dampening will have the most noticeable effect to cantilever you off the seat. The swing arm acting as a pivot through the shock, almost directly to your backside is like a pogo stick.
Better quality shocks, more travel, lower speeds.
Or as one said, anticipate the bump, and get your **** off the seat before you get there.
Better quality shocks, more travel, lower speeds.
Or as one said, anticipate the bump, and get your **** off the seat before you get there.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 12,359
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From: WI
It is recommended that before you hit any sizable bump, twist the throttle ever so slightly to cause the front end to lift (as the back end squats). As the front forks clear the bump, raise yourself out of the seat ever so slightly and lean ever so slightly forward, shifting the weight forward so the rear tire lifts more easily.
An advanced rider course might be useful for practicing this.
An advanced rider course might be useful for practicing this.
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: May 2008
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From: WPB, FL
It is recommended that before you hit any sizable bump, twist the throttle ever so slightly to cause the front end to lift (as the back end squats). As the front forks clear the bump, raise yourself out of the seat ever so slightly and lean ever so slightly forward, shifting the weight forward so the rear tire lifts more easily.
An advanced rider course might be useful for practicing this.
An advanced rider course might be useful for practicing this.
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From: Oklahoma
The seating/foot position I like so well about the Harley touring line creates the geometry which pretty well keeps me from doing that. It was never any problem on the rice burners with the pegs more directly below. The "easy chair" position makes this very difficult.
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HDF Community Team
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From: USA
Yea, saw that video a while ago, looks like what my my RK feels like.
Don't argue about getting off the seat when you see something. That's one of the things I like about it, it's easy to ride it like a dirt bike. The sensitivity to what you have to look out for though, shesh! Especially for a plush cruiser.
Can't imagine it for a passenger. Wife doesn't ride with me, but if she did, I could see it flipping her right off.
I may end up talking to Howard about the longest stroke short shock combination. Though that does create some belt tension issues, since the pivot points aren't the same.
Don't argue about getting off the seat when you see something. That's one of the things I like about it, it's easy to ride it like a dirt bike. The sensitivity to what you have to look out for though, shesh! Especially for a plush cruiser.
Can't imagine it for a passenger. Wife doesn't ride with me, but if she did, I could see it flipping her right off.
I may end up talking to Howard about the longest stroke short shock combination. Though that does create some belt tension issues, since the pivot points aren't the same.