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[FlaHeatWave]

I agree Ed. The stock front suspension and rear air shocks on my 13 Ultra were HORRIBLE!!. I changed the fronts after the first good ride I was on, went with HD Premium. After I put Bitubo's on the rear and the HD premiums front and I've been very happy.

I only have a couple hundred miles on the '14 RK with the Rushmore suspension changes, but so far I'm happy and impressed with the much improved stock offering. Suspension upgrades aren't even on my list at this time.

Yea, the fact that Harley completely redid the front suspension on the Rushmore bikes and pretty much left the rears alone tells us something...

[Road Dad]

Even the Rushmore bikes have crappy suspension. Front and rear. Changed my rear to Ohlins and the front will be updated to Ohlins as well. The Rushmore versions might be better than they used to be but still poor compared to competition.

[ultrarider123]

We all agree on the poor ride/handling on the stock air shocks.  You would think the MoCo would go ahead and scrap the air shock at least and change completely over to their premium shocks .....sorry, lost my head there for a minute....

I'm of the opinion the larger front forks on the Rushedmore bikes are much improved over the pre-more forks and that opinion is from MANY miles with the previous forks.  I removed the rear air shocks and replaced them with the HD premium and am pleased with the change.  While the Ohlin, Works, Progressive options are viable, the cost was prohibitive for me.  I'm into the HD premium shocks for around $300 from a member here off a new bike.

How2, your '15 came with the premium shocks so if you aren't happy with them, your only option would be aftermarket.  From all the posts I've read, Ohlin shocks seems to be the "norm" for most of the forum members.  Also, most of the members that utilize them put a butt-load of miles on their bikes so those opinions count to me.  If I wasn't happy with the HD premium, I would tend toward the Ohlin option just because of all the positive reviews here.

Whatever you go with and if you put a lot of cross-country miles on your bike, you need to consider customer service, too.  The best shock with the crappiest customer service won't do you any good if you have shock issues in the middle of nowhere....

[FLSTFI Dave]

Most of my heroes run Ohlins, but I run Progressives.  Have for years.  I think they're 944 HD's.  Works for me.  Anything's better than those junk air-shocks the MOCO puts on 'em.  Those things will get you killed, IMO.  Like going hot in a curve, they'll hop. Later--HUBBARD

My 15 SERGU is my 3rd Road Glide. When I got this bike I had already rode over 90K on my other 2 road glides.  First couple curves scared the crap out of me.  Thought something was wrong with the bike.  Back end felt loose or unstable in the curves.  Played with air for a couple weeks trying to make bike handle right.  With never got it right, replace rear shocks with Ohlin HD-159 now it handles better than my last two did.  The Last one had HD Premium, on the one prior had Progressive 944's.

Stock air shocks are JUNK and weigh a ton.

[JKM]

Like someone else mentioned, I also like the Progressive shocks.  I went with the 944 series on the back of my 2008 SERK.  Combined with the progressive monotubes upfront.  Made a world of difference.  Price point was much better then Ohlin when i did mine.  Ohlin may be better, but not sure it would be that much better to justify the price difference.

[Dan_Lockwood]

Howie,

Would you please PM me, or e-mail me, you have both.

Thanks.

[jimcb1]

how much better are the hd premium over the stock air shocks

[ultrarider123]

how much better are the hd premium over the stock air shocks

Night and day difference with the premium a much superior product ride/handling/comfort wise. 

[FLSTFI Dave]

how much better are the hd premium over the stock air shocks

Night and day difference with the premium a much superior product ride/handling/comfort wise. 

Yep, what Haird said.

To give you an idea, I traded a 12 SERG with the HD premium hand adjustable shock for the 15 SERGU with the Air Shock.  I thought there was something wrong with the new bike.  Back end never felt planted in corners, it felt like it wallowed through corners.  I never felt confident running the curves hard.  I change to my Ohlins on the rear, and now it handle great.  Only a little better than my 12.  So yea the HD premium are enough better I thought something was wrong with my bike because of the air shocks.

[HighOnHD]

Agree with Haird and Dave. My old street glide had the air shock ( not good ) and I put on Ohlins which were much better. My 15 street glide came with the premium shocks and they have been good enough, so much so that I have not bothered stealing the ohlins off of the old bike. They are firm, but I like it that way for the corners and handling in general.

[Jbbrown73]

Last year when I was out in MV on my '15 CVORG I had to put 65 pounds of air in the shocks just to make the rear end feel like it wasn't trying to slide out from under me on curves. I just put a set of Ohlins on it last week, and I'm ready to see how great it will handle now!

If you're looking for a good shock at a very good price check out the suspension technologies shocks. I have a set of them on my '12 CVORG and I like them better than the Harley premium shocks. I put the 13" shocks on there, and that extra travel really helps the ride. I like the extra height of the 13" shocks for the additional lean angle with the higher ride height. The suspension technologies shocks can be bought for about 400 bucks a set.

[MrSurly]

Ohlins 159 rear--------------------awesome
Progressive monotubes front-----better than stock. not awesome.