I also hated the air shocks, they didn't work that well and always seemed to leak air, some faster than others. The adjustable shocks on my 12 CVO Street were better and I didn't have to worry about air leaks but they would still bottom out sometimes but I believe some of that was due to the shorter travel for the lowered ride height. I think almost anything would have been better than the old air shocks, I just wasn't sure if the Ohlins would be better than the new shock system on the 17's. Thanks.
The hand adjustable premium shocks that came on the 12 and 13 CVO road glides, kings and street glides are better than air shocks. Not near as good as the Ohlins.
I had been saving to put Ohlins on the King. Figured when I traded that the 17 would get the Ohlins. However the new and improved premium hands adjustable shocks for 17 are significantly better than whats on my 13 King. So the Ohlins from the 15 went to the king.
The front suspension on the 17 is also significantly improved. Because of that my 17 handles slightly better than the 15 did, because I did not upgrade the front on it.
Like Alan, I am not sure if I will upgrade the rear on the 17, they are not as good as Ohlin, but are much better than any thing in the past, and with the improved front end, bike handles real good.