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[muddypaws]

Is it normal for the shocks to loos air and if so what is normal.

[VaEagle]

I have had two H-D with factory air shocks, they both lost air but it depended on the load and sometimes temperature changes as to how fast they leaked down. I got in the habit of carrying the pump with me and checking each day.
On my 2009 I decided to get a good set of shocks from Metal Dragon made by Suspension Technologies USA. Best decision I have ever made and will never settle for H-D air shocks again!

[muddypaws]

What's the cost? I only keep my bike for two years and trade with 50,000.

[Twolanerider]

There is a difference between "normal" relative to the standards of Mother Harley's QC on the one hand and what should be expected on the other. 

It is entirely "normal" for the stock air shocks to leak down.  In many cases relatively quickly.  Since it's what we get used to and what the dealers preach to us is normal it is what we come to expect and choose to live with.  It is not, however, the standard we should expect.

A primary safety component like rear suspension that requires us to pull a saddlebag and carry a cheap assed little hand held air pump to keep that primary safety component in even it's minimal operating capacity is asinine.  It is, however, what we accept.  If you're willing to accept that spend more money with Harley and buy their branded pump too.  If not lose the shock and buy something that's actually good from anyone but Harley.

[VaEagle]

What's the cost? I only keep my bike for two years and trade with 50,000.

Take a look at this thread :

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=76154.0

I think they were around $450 and you get them built for your weight and riding style. You also choose what style you want, all chrome, all black, black with chrome or chrome with black.

Great service and questions answered. Shocks arrived in just a couple of days from Florida and they are American made.

[ultrafxr]

What's the cost? I only keep my bike for two years and trade with 50,000.

Put the stock ones back on before you sell/trade and put the aftermarket ones on the new bike.  I've just about worn out several items that I've moved from bike to bike over the years, lol.

[jaymedic44]

Stock air shocks are junk. I switched to legend air on mine and love them!

[tennisman]

I ran lower HD air shocks on the rear for 50k miles then they failed (but not for the loss of air).  If you are losing air, you may have a fitting issue.  When I change the rear tire (I do them myself), I often would dislodge the seal of the quick-connect air tubing that HD uses.  You might need to check the fitting that the little black tubinb goes in.  To properly seal, the fitting is pulled outward to clamp the tubing.  If it still leaks, the tubing may be damaged and might need to be trimmed to an area that is not damaged and re-inserted into the sealing fitting.  I have found that it helps to use a low pressure air tank (with about 20 psi) to check which shock is leaking and where.

[DaBigNuttedMan]

There is a difference between "normal" relative to the standards of Mother Harley's QC on the one hand and what should be expected on the other. 

It is entirely "normal" for the stock air shocks to leak down.  In many cases relatively quickly.  Since it's what we get used to and what the dealers preach to us is normal it is what we come to expect and choose to live with.  It is not, however, the standard we should expect.

A primary safety component like rear suspension that requires us to pull a saddlebag and carry a cheap assed little hand held air pump to keep that primary safety component in even it's minimal operating capacity is asinine.  It is, however, what we accept.  If you're willing to accept that spend more money with Harley and buy their branded pump too.  If not lose the shock and buy something that's actually good from anyone but Harley.

well put  mine loose to much  too soon

[WesternWind]

Sorry to say, but Harley air shocks are very poor quality, on my FLHRSEI i bought the harley gauge and pump and came very shortly after upset with the overall attention those shocks needed, also very hard to come with the right level of air in it, so i change them for PROGRESSIVE suspension shocks, really like them. The only other thing that i really did not like about the bike was the clutch, find it to smooth, not aggressive enough for my taste, I put a "RIVERA RACING CLUTCH" wow what a difference, crisp, great fun at power shifting.........

[Midnight Rider]

It's a damn shame on a 35K bike, but one of the first things to replace should be the rear shocks...they are crap when brand new, and even more crap with 10K on them.  Buy some good shocks and do as Jerry suggested...take them off when you trade the bike and either transfer them or sell 'em.  Just keep the stock shocks stored in an upright position, or use a piece of air tubing with a plug in it to keep the oil from leaking out.  You can replace the oil, even if it does leak out, but it's easier to just avoid it in the first place.