This was a more complicated process than I thought. I ordered the Traxxion AK-20 and the Bitubo HD 300 mm rear shocks. The AK-20 arrived within a couple of weeks and we then waited another 3-4 weeks for the Bitubos. Finally everything came in and I brought my bike to Appalachian HD to do the install. After disassembling the front end they realized the AK-20 were not set up for my bike. A few calls between Appalachian the Traxxion and it appeared the AK-20 were set up for a 1998 Ultra. Appalachian HD did not feel comfortable modifying the cartridges and sent the whole assembly to Traxxion.
3 more weeks pass with my bike partially disassembled and on a lift at Appalachian. I am 1 week out from my bike being packed to ship to Germany and panicking. What was I thinking to have done this during riding season and prior to PCSing! How am I going to get my bike to Germany?
Knowing my dilemma Appalachian HD kept calling Traxxion who express shipped my front end back to Appalachian. Brian Quizenberry called yesterday to let me know that my AK-20 had arrived. Everything was finished this morning and I just picked up my bike. Talk about cutting this close!
First ride:
I took the long way home on my bike going on I 81 at well over the legal limit past trucks with a cross wind - no more bike buffeting like a kite with a short tail (this was a complete surprise as I have not read any posts about this). I braked hard and immediately noticed no front end dive! Rather when you hit the brakes it depresses about 1/2 inch and immediately, even before you release the brake, it returns to it's prior position. Releasing the brakes it does not rebound up at all as it did with the stock shocks. It felt completely different than prior and much more stable. I think this will help on the Autobahn where there are no speedlimits.
Then off to the side roads with ridges, ripples, etc. Not as smooth as I had hoped on the bumps, but less harsh than prior. I did not manage to bottom out or top out the bike even with it now being 1" lower than prior. Oddly I did not scrape the floor boards either (Appalachian adjusted them and the kickstand I believe) as I had expected on the S curves and long sweeping corners, many with ripples and dips. It felt glued to the road compared to prior, I wonder if I had more wheel hop prior than I had realized?
The feeling of the bike wandering around a curve is gone. The feeling of it being unstable if taken into a curve a bit too suddenly is gone. It used to corner OK if I did a smooth deliberate corner, but felt unsteady if I abruptly cornered or changed my path while cornering. It no longer does the S curve or slalom "wiggle" that made the rear end feel as if it was cornering differently than the front of the bike. If I apply the brakes while cornering it feels sure footed and not as if I are going to either go over the handlebars or dump the bike. Low speed cornering seems easier, but that might be because it is now 1" lower. When I come to a stop I can touch, nearly flat footed!
I will see you all when I am set up on the other side of the pond!