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[Barmats]

I've found the ride on my 2012 skunk to be very rough and jarring at highway speeds to the point where my vision is blurred. I've adjusted the left-side preload to match my weight, but it didn't improve the ride quality. I'm also looking to lower the ride height by an inch, if possible. I've seen the seat kits from FBI that drop 2-3", but have a custom Corbin seat that is slightly lower than stock and would hate to give it up. I'm 5' 10" with a 32" inseam and can't quite flat-foot it when stopped. Even with my riding boots on.

My dealer has recommended Legend air shocks to address both needs. I think it's a great solution, but very expensive at around $2200 installed. I would have to lower it every time I stop at a light, then raise it while riding. I have a set of Arlen Ness lowering blocks that need slight modification to clear the left shock (by grinding off a bit of the block), but I think these will degrade the ride by altering the suspension's geometry making the already rough ride even rougher.

I haven't been able to find any aftermarket shocks that are lower than the stock ones on the bike. But if I could switch out the stock shocks for something with a smoother ride, that alone would be an improvement. I think the FLTRXSE is already slightly lowered over a stock RG and I'm concerned about tire-to-fender clearance with a shorter shock, if one exists. Dropping the front suspension would yield minimal results at the back, but may be worthy of consideration.

Any recommendations? Thanks in advance.

[paddywack]

In the same situation myself being vertically challenged for a CVO 2011 FLTRUSE, have looked at various options and am considering buying Progressive 944 shocks, they give the best of both worlds ie same size as standard 13 inch shocks but with the bike on the stand a compensator spring lets it rest one inch shorter even before you get on it.  Get full shock movement as a standard 13 inch when on the move, Progressive also do reduced shocks eg 444 with a range down to I think 11.5 inch but obviously loose a degree of suspension travel which the 944 dont. Check out their web site. Thought of legends and also Progressives Air Draggers variable shocks but was put of by the noise, like being in a tyre changing shop.  Dont want to be a scare monger but recently talked to a Harley master mechanic and ex road racer and he had heard of two cases of belts snapping which had lowering blocks, but not enough detail as to size of blocks eg 1-2 inch or the mileage / age of the bikes but as he explained the bigger the angle the blocks move the shocks out the geometry changes and the shock isnt at its optimal angle therefore he queried that stresses could be imparted on the final drive belts. Reference front suspension, Progressives monotube cartridge lowering kit for the front end will deffo improve handling but is'nt absoloutley neccessary for lowering but nice if you can afford it.Harley also do a super reduced seat reducing height by two inches. Hope this helps if not get a pair of platform shoes lol.

[timo482]

lower AND smoother

those two are mostly at opposite ends of the reality.

lower will get rougher since there is less travel.

eventually lower means - "struts"

which are just fine - no issues - just dont think its going to get smoother as it gets lower.

to

[Mr D]

I rode my '12 SESG for the first 1K mi and found the front end harsh in the bars over bumps & tried all adjustments on the rear shocks, could not find a happy medium on the rears at all

Took the bike in for the 1k service at selling dealer & also had them install a set of Progressive monotubes in the front
(Std height) which sits 1/2" lower due to sag compared to the OE springs & in the rear went with a set of standard 12" Progressive 444's

She rides & handles like a different bike,,, all the harshness is now gone,,other than the Fullsac stage 1
The best mod done by far 

[grc]

A lot of folks 5'8" and less with 30" or less inseams have posted about not being able to get their feet flat on the ground, but I would certainly think someone 5'10" tall with a 32" inseam shouldn't be having problems on a bike that already comes with a lowered rear suspension like the FLTRXSE.  So I'm a bit confused.  Are you sure your custom seat isn't the problem?

Jerry

[Barmats]

A lot of folks 5'8" and less with 30" or less inseams have posted about not being able to get their feet flat on the ground, but I would certainly think someone 5'10" tall with a 32" inseam shouldn't be having problems on a bike that already comes with a lowered rear suspension like the FLTRXSE.  So I'm a bit confused.  Are you sure your custom seat isn't the problem?

Jerry

Good point. When I had the seat designed, I requested a 1" reduction in cushion height. This sacrificed a bit of padding but the seat is actually quite comfortable - it's not cushy at all, but it fits perfectly and is comfortable on long rides. I've looked at the width, and do not think it could be made any narrower due to the attachment point by the tank and frame rails along the front-side area.

I can flat-foot it while stopped if I reposition myself towards the front of the seat (wearing riding boots). I'm hoping for another inch or so further down but it seems like it will be a compromise in shock travel and comfort.

[SmokeyJoe]

A lot of folks 5'8" and less with 30" or less inseams have posted about not being able to get their feet flat on the ground, but I would certainly think someone 5'10" tall with a 32" inseam shouldn't be having problems on a bike that already comes with a lowered rear suspension like the FLTRXSE.  So I'm a bit confused.  Are you sure your custom seat isn't the problem?

Jerry

I could not agree more, somehting else is going on here.  With my stock seat (maybe you should retry yours) or with my Mustang I can flat foot my bike all day long even on slight grades.  I am 5'10" with a 31" inseam.  Are you sure you are not quoting your jeans size vs your actual inseam?  Just a thought, regardless its sounds like you are have some issues with fittment and I hope you can get them sorted out.

[Midnight Rider]

Do NOT use lowering blocks unless you want to rub the wiring under the rear fender.  Your bike is already lowered an inch in the rear....a 12" shock.  Stock is 13".  If you have any mechanical skills, installing a Legend system takes about 2 hours, so $600 for installation seems outrageous to me unless they are going to route the switch wiring internally on the handlebars.  If you have a jack stand...something like the J&S jack, Bulldog, etc, and basic tools like sockets, torx drivers, and a few wrenches, it's an easy job to install them.

I've had Legends on two different bikes that had stock height shocks (13").  I have a 29" inseam on a good day (I'm shrinking).  The only time I needed the shocks to be lowered all the way down was when I was parking the bike (backing it up, particularly).  If you're in town and going from light to light, just pump the shocks up about 1.5" and the ride will be fine, plus you'll be able to get a good foothold for all but extremely unusual situations, then pump them up to the desired ride quality for the load on the bike when you get out on the open road.  The nice thing about the Legends is that the ride in infinitely adjustable on the fly.  I would not recommend riding the bike with them lowered all the way...it won't hurt anything, but the ride will NOT be good. Enough air to keep the shock from bottoming out is where you want the shock to be.

With a 32" inseam, I would never have needed Legends.  The Legends drop the bike 3.25" on a bike with 13" shocks.

If I went to a normal shock, I'd look hard at Bitubos, or the higher end Progressives.  Bitubos are adjustable in three different ways...rebound damping, spring tension (sag), and compression damping. One of the best shocks out there, bar none.  Several people here ride on Bitubos and I've yet to hear a single person complain once they are set up properly.  They come in a 300mm (12") version and 330mm (13") version.  There are other good shocks out there as well, but IMO, there are none any BETTER.

BTW...the front forks on a HD....ANY HD...suck as much or worse than the rear suspension, so I'd consider upgrading that end as well.

[JJAA]

I have a 29" inseam on a good day (I'm shrinking)...
 
Wish my bike should too !

[Barmats]

I could not agree more, somehting else is going on here.  With my stock seat (maybe you should retry yours) or with my Mustang I can flat foot my bike all day long even on slight grades.  I am 5'10" with a 31" inseam.  Are you sure you are not quoting your jeans size vs your actual inseam?  Just a thought, regardless its sounds like you are have some issues with fittment and I hope you can get them sorted out.

   Well, I'm embarassed to admit that I had my wife measure my inseam and it is 30". My jean/pant inseam is 32", and it never occurred to me that this measurement was not the same as my actual inseam. Were it not for this forum, I would probably have spent the rest of my life thinking that these two were the same thing.

The Corbin seat, even with it's reduced foam padding, puts me at about the same height as the stock seat; therefore, it must be a bit wider even though I'd asked for the nose to be as narrow as possible, or I'm sitting a bit further back on a wider section. I think I've ruled out lowering blocks, and am down to 3 possible options: a) Legend or Arnott air shocks, b) Progressive or similar aftermarket shocks of same height to improve ride quality, or c) leave it as is. The heels on my riding boots are 1.5" with a .5" sole. I don't think I'd want to go any higher than that. If I scoot forward on the seat up to the tank I can just flat-foot it... so I'm almost there. Another inch would be perfect!