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[mchirgwin]

They did not arrive, but I was doing some research this weekend and there were quite a bit of negative reviews on the ride quality
If anyone has these on a Ultra please let me know your thoughts.

A lot of people are saying the suspension ride is not as good as the stock.

2010 CVO Ultra
 
Thanks in advance!!!

[Midnight Rider]

They did not arrive, but I was doing some research this weekend and there were quite a bit of negative reviews on the ride quality
If anyone has these on a Ultra please let me know your thoughts.

A lot of people are saying the suspension ride is not as good as the stock.

2010 CVO Ultra
 
Thanks in advance!!!

I've had them on two different bikes...a '06 SEUC and a '11 SERGU.  The new versions have larger boots, so more air volume, and an improved ride.  I DO NOT agree with statements saying they are no better than stock.  But, they have to be adjusted for the load, and certainly should never be ridden all the way down...nothing will rub, but it'll ride much like a hardtail.  But, one has to learn how to adjust them properly while riding...it's a "feel" thing that is quickly learned.  Solo riding requires them to NOT be pumped up to full length, or if so, just barely.  The shocks like a load on them.  My personal opinion is that if one does not need the height adjustment provided by the Legends due to being short in the inseam, there are less expensive options.  But, if you need the bike lower to get your feet firmly on the ground to walk the bike while parking, etc, there is no better solution, again, IMO.  The ability to adjust them on the fly is huge...different road conditions require slightly different tweaks to the air pressure/height of the shock...again, it's a feel thing and not necessarily a fixed pressure for this situation and a fixed one for a different situation...there are too many variables: Load, road conditions, how aggressively you ride (particularly in the twisties), how much ground clearance you need in curves, etc.  IF you do not need the height adjustment, there are other options, like Bitubo shocks, which I think provide the best overall ride of anything I've ever had under me, if adjusted properly.  So on a scale of 1-10, with the stock shocks being a very poor 1, and the Bitubo's being a 10, I would put the Legends at an 8.  There is simply no better solution, factory made, for adjusting bike seat height when needed than Legends.  If I bought a new bike today, they'd be one of the first changes I'd make.  But, I have a 28-29" inseam, so need them for that reason.  On my Vrod, where reaching the ground was not an issue, I installed Bitubo shocks.  Of course, I put Traxxion Dynamics AK-20 cartridges on my bikes as well, for the front end.  I like to maintain full travel on my suspension, not 1" lower as many people do.  And I like a bike that handles as well as it possibly can.

[mrmagloo]

I tried the Arnotts and Legends and the Legends were far better, imho.  Better than stock too.

That said, like MR says, you have to learn how to adjust them.  I have a Air Pressure gauge in place of the Air Temp to give me some general status. However, I find the best start setting for one up is to simply strattle the bike, stand up, and air it up until it just stops lifting the rear of the bike and you hit the top of the travel. Then when you sit and add your weight (I'm 230 lbs) it will drop an inch or so and the ride is pretty close to perfect.  If I add a passenger, I'll give it another 5 or 10 lbs.  Once you are under way, you get used to giving it little tweaks here and there to adjust for road conditions.  I like it alot.

[ultrafxr]

I have Legends on my '07 and my '12 and really like them.  The ride is MUCH improved over stock and I cannot understand why anyone would think it is not.  I don't 'need' them all that much for flat footing the bike but do like the ability to drop it down when have to park on a slope with the sidestand on the low side - help keep the bike from leaning over too much.  I also usually ride with them at the top of their travel.

BSR absoulutly loves them and after having them on the '07 she 'made' me get them for the '12.  Friends just added them to their '11 RGU based on recommendation from my bsr to his bsr due to her complaint about ride quality.  She is very happy with them too.

[spydglide]

I have Legends on my '07 and my '12 and really like them.  The ride is MUCH improved over stock and I cannot understand why anyone would think it is not.  I don't 'need' them all that much for flat footing the bike but do like the ability to drop it down when have to park on a slope with the sidestand on the low side - help keep the bike from leaning over too much.  I also usually ride with them at the top of their travel.

BSR absoulutly loves them and after having them on the '07 she 'made' me get them for the '12.  Friends just added them to their '11 RGU based on recommendation from my bsr to his bsr due to her complaint about ride quality.  She is very happy with them too.

Agree Jerry.....a bad road, like a stretch of worn-out Interstate, esp. concrete, will make you fall in love with the Legends.     spyder

[Rakeman]

I tried the Arnotts and Legends and the Legends were far better, imho.  Better than stock too.

That said, like MR says, you have to learn how to adjust them.  I have a Air Pressure gauge in place of the Air Temp to give me some general status. However, I find the best start setting for one up is to simply strattle the bike, stand up, and air it up until it just stops lifting the rear of the bike and you hit the top of the travel. Then when you sit and add your weight (I'm 230 lbs) it will drop an inch or so and the ride is pretty close to perfect.  If I add a passenger, I'll give it another 5 or 10 lbs.  Once you are under way, you get used to giving it little tweaks here and there to adjust for road conditions.  I like it alot.

I just got my latest CVO the other day 11 RG Ultra and it had the system installed. I was worried about the ride and as was said in a previous post don't ride it all the way down. The previous owner told me he starts it up high and lowers as he goes. He only had 2444 miles on this bike so I will have to figure it out myself. I have done a couple twisties with it and all seems good. i'd love to know how you installed the pressure gauge?

[mrmagloo]

On the gauge, I just got a air pressure gauge from AutoMeter that looked as close to the stock gauges as possible. I think it's 2-1/8" and just tapped into the hose and ran the line all the way back.  I was able to get it backlighted red so it matches 'pretty good'.

The issue is however, that pressure is a relative thing.  if you aren't on the bike, and pump it up, the bike don't begin to lift until you get up to around ~65 psi.  then as it's raising, it stays at ~65 psi until you fully expand the shocks, and then the pressure will being rising above 65 psi. Again, I just pump the shocks up until the shocks without a rider fully extends. Then when you get on the bike, the reading will go up to about ~75 psi, and it will drop about an inch or so.  I find that to be about the perfect setting for one up.  If you add a passenger, you will notice the psi go up to around ~85 to 90 psi, and it will squat more.  That's where I will pump it up some more to get the right balance.  If while going down the road I hit a bump and bottom out, I'll just add about 2-3 seconds of air.

So, the gauge really doesn't give you a reading of relative height from low to high, but more what the actual psi is, and the height can be on the low side or high side with the same psi.  It more is used for a status and a note point for where the psi starts rising again after the shocks fully extend. It helps you determine where this is, and keep an eye on things for piece of mind.   I hope I explained this well enough?

[jaymedic44]

I have legends on my 09 cvo and just purchased a 14 cvo and adding legends will be my first change. Love them!

[senorjeem]

 

On the gauge, I just got a air pressure gauge from AutoMeter that looked as close to the stock gauges as possible. I think it's 2-1/8" and just tapped into the hose and ran the line all the way back.  I was able to get it backlighted red so it matches 'pretty good'.

The issue is however, that pressure is a relative thing.  if you aren't on the bike, and pump it up, the bike don't begin to lift until you get up to around ~65 psi.  then as it's raising, it stays at ~65 psi until you fully expand the shocks, and then the pressure will being rising above 65 psi. Again, I just pump the shocks up until the shocks without a rider fully extends. Then when you get on the bike, the reading will go up to about ~75 psi, and it will drop about an inch or so.  I find that to be about the perfect setting for one up.  If you add a passenger, you will notice the psi go up to around ~85 to 90 psi, and it will squat more.  That's where I will pump it up some more to get the right balance.  If while going down the road I hit a bump and bottom out, I'll just add about 2-3 seconds of air.

So, the gauge really doesn't give you a reading of relative height from low to high, but more what the actual psi is, and the height can be on the low side or high side with the same psi.  It more is used for a status and a note point for where the psi starts rising again after the shocks fully extend. It helps you determine where this is, and keep an eye on things for piece of mind.   I hope I explained this well enough?

[mrmagloo]

There's one in every crowd!   

I'll try to remember to take a photo.  I will mention that the Legend gauge I got, which is much smaller, is oil filled.  However, it's so small that it would have looked silly in the dash.  It was designed for a cylinder head mount, which looked odd, to me at least.  The point being, an oil filled air pressure gauge would be preferred to dampen the reading.

[Rooster]

The one thing I liked about the stock air shocks is once I figured out the best pressure for single, double, and double with trailer I just had to set it and good to go. The Legends I don't have the air gauge so have to adjust as I go until it seems right. If not right the BSR says more shock, more shock until she says thats good.

[jaymedic44]

The gauge is pure junk!!! I have replaced mine 3 times. Shocks are great though.

[spydglide]

The gauge is pure junk!!! I have replaced mine 3 times. Shocks are great though.

On my 3rd one also, but mine is mounted right over the rear cyl....and it's hot,hot, hot!

[flhse]

On the gauge, I just got a air pressure gauge from AutoMeter that looked as close to the stock gauges as possible. I think it's 2-1/8" and just tapped into the hose and ran the line all the way back.  I was able to get it backlighted red so it matches 'pretty good'.

The issue is however, that pressure is a relative thing.  if you aren't on the bike, and pump it up, the bike don't begin to lift until you get up to around ~65 psi.  then as it's raising, it stays at ~65 psi until you fully expand the shocks, and then the pressure will being rising above 65 psi. Again, I just pump the shocks up until the shocks without a rider fully extends. Then when you get on the bike, the reading will go up to about ~75 psi, and it will drop about an inch or so.  I find that to be about the perfect setting for one up.  If you add a passenger, you will notice the psi go up to around ~85 to 90 psi, and it will squat more.  That's where I will pump it up some more to get the right balance.  If while going down the road I hit a bump and bottom out, I'll just add about 2-3 seconds of air.

So, the gauge really doesn't give you a reading of relative height from low to high, but more what the actual psi is, and the height can be on the low side or high side with the same psi.  It more is used for a status and a note point for where the psi starts rising again after the shocks fully extend. It helps you determine where this is, and keep an eye on things for piece of mind.   I hope I explained this well enough?

Just discussing this with one of the shock engineers last weekend, his recommendation was the same.  When the shocks loaded would drop an inch that gives you the most travel and basically the best ride.  He said use that as a guideline and adjust a bit either up or down.

I highly recommend the legends.

Brad

[mchirgwin]

finally got them put on rode a couple hundred miles - love them
gauge is pretty cool  replaced the air gauge