What am I feeling?
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 28
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From: DFW
What am I feeling?
I can't tell exactly what is happening. 2009 FLTHCU, 4500 mi. on this bike. This is yet another rear suspension issue. I ride 2 up 98% of the time (wife loves it, I can't sneak away on my own very often, good problem I suppose). Anyway, I adjusted the air pressure according to the manual for our riding weight, (we aren't big people, combo weight 320-330) approx 50psi. When we're riding and hit a "sharp" dip, or speed bump type spot in the road, it feels as if the shocks bottom out, that is physically hit the stops. I've read others in here riding on pressure a bit less, 40-42psi and say it makes a difference. I reduced mine to 42psi, but I still get the bottoming out effect. Am I feeling the shocks truly bottom out, or is this more a case of air hammer, for a lack of a better term, when such a quick compression gives a "hit" like bottoming out? If I were to try changing the shock oil, (if that's possible) would I increase the viscosity or reduce it? Thanks for any help, the wife isn't liking these bumps in the road, literally! So short of going straight into a replacement shock, I'd like to try some other solution before having to do that.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 4,741
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From: Indian Land, SC
I can't tell exactly what is happening. 2009 FLTHCU, 4500 mi. on this bike. This is yet another rear suspension issue. I ride 2 up 98% of the time (wife loves it, I can't sneak away on my own very often, good problem I suppose). Anyway, I adjusted the air pressure according to the manual for our riding weight, (we aren't big people, combo weight 320-330) approx 50psi. When we're riding and hit a "sharp" dip, or speed bump type spot in the road, it feels as if the shocks bottom out, that is physically hit the stops. I've read others in here riding on pressure a bit less, 40-42psi and say it makes a difference. I reduced mine to 42psi, but I still get the bottoming out effect. Am I feeling the shocks truly bottom out, or is this more a case of air hammer, for a lack of a better term, when such a quick compression gives a "hit" like bottoming out? If I were to try changing the shock oil, (if that's possible) would I increase the viscosity or reduce it? Thanks for any help, the wife isn't liking these bumps in the road, literally! So short of going straight into a replacement shock, I'd like to try some other solution before having to do that.
I'm thinking the shocks pressure setting are different between the 2007 and the 2009 models.....or maybe it's different between the Ultra and the SG shocks, I'm not sure. We ride 2 up a lot at about the same total weight. I was running my shocks on the upper end of the recommendations and it rode hard. I back it down and the ride has improved considerably. Double check the recommended pressures and maybe try a lower amount.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
One thing I will observe is that many owners are happy as can be with their stock air shocks, however it is as if they are not very consistent, from bike to bike. Shocks are a very frequent subject on HDF and if you check recent threads you will be reading for many hours, so while going through a few of them is worthwhile, don't spend too long doing it!
Mrs B and I found the solution, in phoning Howard of HDF sponsor Motorcycle Metal and have a set of custom-built shocks. They are not as expensive as that may sound! Much more important we no longer bottom out, the ride is so much smoother as to be sublime and we can spend longer in the saddle.
Mrs B and I found the solution, in phoning Howard of HDF sponsor Motorcycle Metal and have a set of custom-built shocks. They are not as expensive as that may sound! Much more important we no longer bottom out, the ride is so much smoother as to be sublime and we can spend longer in the saddle.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 10,946
Likes: 822
From: Nevada
I carry my air shock pump in my saddle bag. This allows me to make on the fly adjustments if my wife doesn't like the ride quality.
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Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2013
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From: DFW
I know, right. The original owner took 1 ride and then parked her. I bought like new with 3004 miles on her, sweet...anyways, thanks all for the input...I thought reducing some air pressure vs. adding pressure might dampen the hammer effect on those bumps. Am I able to change the oil in these air shocks? I have the manual but not at home to answer my own question. I thought if I could, I might change the viscosity to see if it makes a difference. Seems to me I would lower (thinner) the viscosity to soften the "bump". Any thoughts?
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Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,505
Likes: 56
From: Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Something's not right there supra. I took my wife on the back of mine two days ago for the first time since selling my Goldwing. I forgot to increase the air for the added passenger and we rode about an hour at 28 psi. Now that was a horrid ride. Pumped it up to 40 for the return trip along the same road and it was beautiful, the same, if not smoother than when I'm solo at 28 psi. You have something wrong I think. Our combined is 430 lbs, less riding apparel.
Extreme HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 14,670
Likes: 139
From: East of the Sun, West of the Moon
One thing I will observe is that many owners are happy as can be with their stock air shocks, however it is as if they are not very consistent, from bike to bike. Shocks are a very frequent subject on HDF and if you check recent threads you will be reading for many hours, so while going through a few of them is worthwhile, don't spend too long doing it!
Mrs B and I found the solution, in phoning Howard of HDF sponsor Motorcycle Metal and have a set of custom-built shocks. They are not as expensive as that may sound! Much more important we no longer bottom out, the ride is so much smoother as to be sublime and we can spend longer in the saddle.
Mrs B and I found the solution, in phoning Howard of HDF sponsor Motorcycle Metal and have a set of custom-built shocks. They are not as expensive as that may sound! Much more important we no longer bottom out, the ride is so much smoother as to be sublime and we can spend longer in the saddle.
Last edited by UltraNutZ; Aug 27, 2013 at 12:28 PM.