DK Customs New 14' Rear Shock
#11
#12
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Red Banks, Mississippi
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I purchased this new rear shocks and the only thing I can saw Wow! The difference is day and night. The shocks are not cheap but they are worth it. I am planning to purchase the front forks upgrade for a winter project. With the rear shocks in my opinion you get a 75% better ride. You wont regret it buying this shocks.
#13
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With the 14" Trike Series Shocks™ there is no lift kit needed at all. You can install them and have the better ride quality And a net 1" lift at the shocks, and about 1 1/4" higher at the tail pipes.
We do make a Special 14" Convertible Comfort Life™ that does two things-
It can be set to lift the back an additional 3/16". So with the 14" shocks the net height increase is 1 3/16" at the shocks and 1.5" at the tail pipes
It can also be set to DROP the shock 3/16", so the net lift with the 14" shocks is 13/16" at the shocks. This is for some of the 2017 models that have clearance issues with big weld beads on the exhaust.
BOTH settings also cantilever the shock a little to improve the ride quality.
Full details can be seen HERE.
We do make a Special 14" Convertible Comfort Life™ that does two things-
It can be set to lift the back an additional 3/16". So with the 14" shocks the net height increase is 1 3/16" at the shocks and 1.5" at the tail pipes
It can also be set to DROP the shock 3/16", so the net lift with the 14" shocks is 13/16" at the shocks. This is for some of the 2017 models that have clearance issues with big weld beads on the exhaust.
BOTH settings also cantilever the shock a little to improve the ride quality.
Full details can be seen HERE.
#14
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Red Banks, Mississippi
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I have the "1.25-2" lift kit from Triglide Stuff and Progressive 13" (standard length) shocks. The rear is high enough for me, for example, the bottom of my V&H mufflers is now 6" above ground which is plenty of clearance.
I don't know how high the rear of your trike is with the lift kit and 14" shocks but I didn't feel the need to install longer shocks.
Like you said, the ride is much improved.
I don't know how high the rear of your trike is with the lift kit and 14" shocks but I didn't feel the need to install longer shocks.
Like you said, the ride is much improved.
Absolutely, Improved ride is what is important. The 14" TSS gives extra travel, above what a 13" shock can, and that is a significant factor in improved ride quality.
#15
Wouldn't the travel of the shock depend on how much pre-load is set and if they have regular or heavy duty springs?
#16
Yes the travel of the shock depends on how much pre-load, when I ordered the rear shock from DK Custom, they asked my style of riding and they setted the shocks for my ride style. I am happy with their settings. I rode 2 up and my wife noticed the changes right away. You always can change the pre-load they set for you if necessary.
#17
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The pre-load is what controls the sag...if you increase the pre-load there is less sag. But you do not want to have less than 15%, or more than 25% sag, or your handling will suffer.
That leave 2.25-2.55 inches of available travel.
Take a 14" shock that has 4 inches of travel, but again you set the sag at 15-25%, which is .6" to 1".
That leaves 3.0-3.4" of available travel. Which is significantly better than 2.25-2.55 of travel.
If the spring rate is right on both the 13" shocks and the 14" shocks, and the compression and rebound damping is right on both, then the one with more travel is going to be a much better ride quality.
The above is a bit of an over-simplification, but the more travel (everything else being equal) the better, and travel is not dependent on spring weight or proper pre-load/sag setting, it is dependent on how much the shock can move up and down, which is more on a 14" TSS than any 13" PS shock.
There is a lot more good info in this REPORT on the subject.
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frenchbiker (07-23-2017)
#19
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#20