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[bigmegina]

has anyone tried a different set of rear shocks for a better ride?my 2000 road glide took the bumps way better than my 3 CVOS.i know Harley stiffened everything up for better handling
but I would like a better softer ride.where I live the roads are all crappy and bumpy.any suggestions?

[Kingspoke]

has anyone tried a different set of rear shocks for a better ride?my 2000 road glide took the bumps way better than my 3 CVOS.i know Harley stiffened everything up for better handling
but I would like a better softer ride.where I live the roads are all crappy and bumpy.any suggestions?

The older bikes (pre 2009) rode much smoother, in part because the frame was less rigid.  The rear travel has remained a meager 3" for at least a decade.  So even with the best of suspensions (I have Ohlins HD159's in the back and Ohlins cartridges in front), you have very little travel to work with, at the rear.

Harley got rid of a lot of the high speed wobble with the 09 and up frames but made no changes to the rear suspension travel.

When I put the Ohlins in back, it really revealed the weak front (41mm) forks.  With Ohlins in back, my bike allows me to at least maximize the limited suspension travel for the smoothest ride.   From BMW to Indian, they all have at least 50% more travel than Harley.  I test rode an Indian Roadmaster and could not believe how much smoother it rode than my CVO (though I think their front suspension could use a little work).

There are a lot of good shocks out there, I just happen to choose Ohlins (you can order with springs of different compression rates) and I'm very satisfied with my choice.  Hopefully others will chime in with their selections.

[VaEagle]

I agree with above. Also many CVOs have lowered suspension which limits travel even further....... If you choose not to afford Ohlins you can find a cheaper alternative in this older thread:

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

[FlaHeatWave]

I am a fan of the HD Premium stuff F&R...

A good Sport Touring suspension for a loaded bagger.

40,000 miles so far

For any good motorcycle suspension the front and rear have to play well together

[Chief2505]

When I got my 13 CVO Ultra my wife complained about the ride the very first time she rode it! I fought the ride by adjusting the air shocks every which way. She was never happy! Finally I broke down and bought the HD premium rear shocks. I installed them the night before we were leaving on a trip. Two up, fully loaded (500# probably) and we had not gone 10 miles and she says did you change something on the bike? I said why? She says because there is a huge difference in the ride, that bump back there didn't bother me at all and it always does!
I was shocked that she noticed how big of a difference these shocks made! There is one bump that we always ride over and usually the shocks would bottom out. No bottoming out and she noticed! Unbelievable!

That was $400 into the bike that she has never complained about.

[bigmegina]

I believe that is what I have already in my 16.i do not know if they are standard or lowered length.when you spend 40 k for a bike don't they come with the premium shocks?LOL

[grc]

I believe that is what I have already in my 16.i do not know if they are standard or lowered length.when you spend 40 k for a bike don't they come with the premium shocks?LOL

You really should add to your profile what year and model bike you have, so people don't have to assume what you have.

A 2016 FLHXSE comes with the premium hand adjustable rear shocks in the shorter version (lowered).  As hard as it is to get a full length shock (13") adjusted correctly, it is even worse when you're setting up a shock that's one inch shorter and has less total travel available.  How are you setting the preload/sag?  It needs to be actually measured, versus the old WAG method.

The older models that came with lowered suspensions had a shorter version of the air shocks.  Trust me, your stock rear shocks are definitely better than the low profile air shocks.

Jerry

[bigmegina]

You really should add to your profile what year and model bike you have, so people don't have to assume what you have.

A 2016 FLHXSE comes with the premium hand adjustable rear shocks in the shorter version (lowered).  As hard as it is to get a full length shock (13") adjusted correctly, it is even worse when you're setting up a shock that's one inch shorter and has less total travel available.  How are you setting the preload/sag?  It needs to be actually measured, versus the old WAG method.

The older models that came with lowered suspensions had a shorter version of the air shocks.  Trust me, your stock rear shocks are definitely better than the low profile air shocks.

Jerry


changed my profile.so I have to spend $600 on a set of shocks to see if I can get a less stiffer ride?lol

[Kingspoke]

Welcome to Harley World , but seriously, you could sell your current shocks to someone with the standard SG, to recoup a few bucks (don't know what they're going for).  I would try out other bikes if possible, and as Jerry states you have to set up your sag (plenty of Youtube video on that, & rebound dampening), to maximize your performance and comfort.

[grc]

"so I have to spend $600 on a set of shocks to see if I can get a less stiffer ride?lol"

It's been that way pretty much forever.  The stock shocks, even on Harley's most expensive bikes, are not world class quality.  They are production shocks, made to fit a cost objective for the company.  In many cases in the old days they were just the cheapest things they could install to hold the rear end up, short of solid struts.  I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying it is what it is.  Btw, did you realize that all the other stuff on that $40k bike are also not exactly top of the line components?  Or are you like many others who mistakenly believe CVO's are made exclusively with Screamin' Eagle parts?  Nope, you don't get the fancy billet cam plate and oil pump, you get the same parts found in all other Twin Cam engines.  There are many other examples but I won't bore you listing them.  A CVO is just a high priced (and overpriced IMHO) option package like those you find at all car companies.  They aren't even exclusive these days, considering they are built on the same assembly line as the lowest priced model and in larger and larger quantities. 

If you consider the short amount of actual travel on the rear of the bike, even the highest priced shock on the market isn't going to make a Street Glide ride like an old Cadillac (floating over bumps, or as some of us used to say, wallowing all over the road).  It's one of the many tradeoffs people make, style over function.  And btw, $600 is just the entry level for upgraded shocks.  Don't ask the guys what they've spent on the really good stuff like Ohlins, or other even higher priced products.

Jerry

[bigmegina]

"so I have to spend $600 on a set of shocks to see if I can get a less stiffer ride?lol"

It's been that way pretty much forever.  The stock shocks, even on Harley's most expensive bikes, are not world class quality.  They are production shocks, made to fit a cost objective for the company.  In many cases in the old days they were just the cheapest things they could install to hold the rear end up, short of solid struts.  I'm not saying it's right, I'm just saying it is what it is.  Btw, did you realize that all the other stuff on that $40k bike are also not exactly top of the line components?  Or are you like many others who mistakenly believe CVO's are made exclusively with Screamin' Eagle parts?  Nope, you don't get the fancy billet cam plate and oil pump, you get the same parts found in all other Twin Cam engines.  There are many other examples but I won't bore you listing them.  A CVO is just a high priced (and overpriced IMHO) option package like those you find at all car companies.  They aren't even exclusive these days, considering they are built on the same assembly line as the lowest priced model and in larger and larger quantities. 

If you consider the short amount of actual travel on the rear of the bike, even the highest priced shock on the market isn't going to make a Street Glide ride like an old Cadillac (floating over bumps, or as some of us used to say, wallowing all over the road).  It's one of the many tradeoffs people make, style over function.  And btw, $600 is just the entry level for upgraded shocks.  Don't ask the guys what they've spent on the really good stuff like Ohlins, or other even higher priced products.

Jerry

my 2000 road glide rode so smooth that I almost fell asleep on it once.LOLi noticed a big difference when a got my 2009 SE road glide custom.handel better,worse ride.2012 SE road glide custom,worse yet.this one is about the same.the roads where I live in upstate new your are some of the worst in the country.pot holes,road heavings are terrible.that is why I am looking for a cushier ride.we only have 2 seasons in new York,winter and road construction.

[Unbalanced]

I went with the Ohlins with the remote reservoir and their FKC 101 cartridges in the front on my 11 SESG.   Wife says what bumps now.

Handles great too, I finally feel like the tire is firmly planted on the ground.   The American Elites might have helped some too. 

[bigmegina]

does anyone know if the air shocks off a 13 work on my 2016

[Dan_Lockwood]

They should, but they are not what you're looking for.  They perform much worse than any of the aftermarket or HD Premium shocks.

[VaEagle]

Just my .02 but I would stay away from H-D factory air shocks. Like my thread link above you don't know how bad a stock Harley suspension is until you replace it with good aftermarket system.
I like the Suspension Technologies USA shocks because they can be built for your weight and riding style.