12" or 13" rear shocks
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 434
Likes: 2
From: Wisconsin
13" 444's just got put on my bike the other night. Harley's don't have much travel to begin with, plus riding 2 up and fully loaded beg for full travel. I've never been able to put my feet flat on the ground with any bike I've owned, so I'm used to it after 35 years of bike'n.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
Howard offers a wide variety of builds of Ohlins with has his own valving, which he himself developed, and in a range of different strokes and standards of damping. So his build may ride different (I would guess better!) to stock Ohlins. He also offers HDF members discount.
Shock travel isn't everything, bearing in mind that not all shocks are the same. In my conversation with Howard he satisfied me that the higher standard of damping in his #3 range gives a superior ride than a longer stroke version of his #2 range. That takes into account riding my Glide close to max weight limit on occasions.
All he needs to discuss the matter further is a little basic info, such as rider weights etc, which is easy enough to supply.
Shock travel isn't everything, bearing in mind that not all shocks are the same. In my conversation with Howard he satisfied me that the higher standard of damping in his #3 range gives a superior ride than a longer stroke version of his #2 range. That takes into account riding my Glide close to max weight limit on occasions.
All he needs to discuss the matter further is a little basic info, such as rider weights etc, which is easy enough to supply.
Last edited by grbrown; Mar 28, 2014 at 08:22 AM.
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 1,474
Likes: 1
From: Acworth, Ga
I went with JRI full sized and couldn't be happier with the ride, Money well spent..should have done it sooner. My wife even said how she doesn't feel beat up after a ride, ive noticed my back and bum bum feel better also after a long trip
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 25
From: NorCal
Is there that much of a difference in the 12" vs the 13" rear shocks? Will the 13" raise the rear of the bike an 1". I'm shopping for rear shocks and trying to decide on what to get. I have called "Howard", he wants a build sheet before he will give me a for sure price. I do see that Fuelmoto offers Ohlins at a decent price. I'm looking at JRI's or Ohlins or Progressive 444's.
2010 Streetglide, Progressive monotudes with 1" lowering.
thanks your your input.
2010 Streetglide, Progressive monotudes with 1" lowering.
thanks your your input.
They give you 3.7" of travel in a 12" shock if you don't care about adjustment.
So, 13" travel in a 12" shock. For real, not like the progressive 944.
There is a huge difference between 2" and 3" of travel. Don't let anyone tell you any different.
I have the 12" premium hand adjustables on my 14 FLHTK.
Shocks can get expensive.
I also noticed you have your front lowered, correct?
There are a lot of folks smarter than me, but I would do some checking before raising the rear. I've been told that you can drop the front of a SG with no worries, because it is already lower in the rear, but on a UC, STD, LTD, RGU, RK or Classic in order to drop the front you also had to drop the rear. You are talking about going to basically stock height shocks form the bikes mentioned above, with the front lowered.
Something to look into anyways...
Shocks can get expensive.
I also noticed you have your front lowered, correct?
There are a lot of folks smarter than me, but I would do some checking before raising the rear. I've been told that you can drop the front of a SG with no worries, because it is already lower in the rear, but on a UC, STD, LTD, RGU, RK or Classic in order to drop the front you also had to drop the rear. You are talking about going to basically stock height shocks form the bikes mentioned above, with the front lowered.
Something to look into anyways...
Thread Starter
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Tourer
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 476
Likes: 0
From: Kennett Square, PA
Thanks for the info everyone, I called "Howard" he wasn't much help over the phone, but he told me to put in a build sheet. So I have build sheet in and waiting on a return email or phone call.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 2,132
Likes: 25
From: NorCal
Is there that much of a difference in the 12" vs the 13" rear shocks? Will the 13" raise the rear of the bike an 1". I'm shopping for rear shocks and trying to decide on what to get. I have called "Howard", he wants a build sheet before he will give me a for sure price. I do see that Fuelmoto offers Ohlins at a decent price. I'm looking at JRI's or Ohlins or Progressive 444's.
2010 Streetglide, Progressive monotudes with 1" lowering.
thanks your your input.
2010 Streetglide, Progressive monotudes with 1" lowering.
thanks your your input.
I've been in your position, and it's difficult. I've spent thousands on different suspension products. In the end, though, I think you'll get the best bang for your buck dealing with Howard. Mass-market crap like the progressive 944, any air ride, anything not built specifically for your application is going to be a compromise at best.
I am waiting on some JRI B's. They have the same travel as the 13" Ohlins 3-3's, but in a 12" body. They also have a sweep valve like the Ohlins. The main difference is that there's not a separating piston in the shock.
My main preference is for adjustable dampening, I got hooked on that with my BMW's. And I like the lowered look of a 12" shock. Easy answer for me, especially with the JRI B having the same travel as other brands' 13" units.
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Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 9,980
Likes: 5,218
From: Michigan
I have the HD Premium 13" hand adjustable shocks on my 13' RG and they work good.
I'm 6'5"...and a svelt 325lbs and bottomed out once on a crater !! May eventually go to Ohlin's but for now I don't see a reason to spend the extra $400+.
Got my shocks @ Kutter HD...$379 shipped.
I'm 6'5"...and a svelt 325lbs and bottomed out once on a crater !! May eventually go to Ohlin's but for now I don't see a reason to spend the extra $400+.
Got my shocks @ Kutter HD...$379 shipped.
I have a '13 CVO Ultra and I can't seem to find an air pressure that makes much difference.
That's a good price for those shocks where is Kutter H-D located?
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 6,532
Likes: 132
From: SoCal
JRI's give you 3" of travel in a 12" shock (The B model)
They give you 3.7" of travel in a 12" shock if you don't care about adjustment.
So, 13" travel in a 12" shock. For real, not like the progressive 944.
There is a huge difference between 2" and 3" of travel. Don't let anyone tell you any different.
They give you 3.7" of travel in a 12" shock if you don't care about adjustment.
So, 13" travel in a 12" shock. For real, not like the progressive 944.
There is a huge difference between 2" and 3" of travel. Don't let anyone tell you any different.