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[ultrafxr]

For over eight years I've been a fan of Legend Suspension's air shocks.  I first learned of them right here on this website (just one of the many benefits I've enjoyed from being a member) from our very own Terry Crain, aka Midnight Rider.  Based on Terry's review I purchased a set for my then brand new 2007 FLHTCUSE2.  When we got our 2012 FLHTCUSE7 Legends were one of the first mods we made and we are enjoying the suspension on both bikes to this day.

So when I learned Legend would be introducing an improved version of their already fine air suspension system I immediately contacted them and stayed in touch over the course of this project.  Now I've had the opportunity to test the new system for myself.

Since I got the Legends for my 2007 they made a modification to the Kevlar reinforced boot making it larger to provide more volume and adjustability.  These new shocks take that concept even further providing an even larger boot with more air volume which provides a greater margin of adjustability to find that sweet spot for a comfortable ride.  And Legend has added adjustable rebound dampening to this new design.

There are six settings for the rebound with '1' offering the least dampening and '6' the greatest.  Rebound adjustments affect how quickly or slowly the shock rebounds, or re-extends, after hitting a bump. It will make the shock feel a bit firmer and more controlled, or looser.  Turning the adjuster to a higher number slows the shock down.  A lower setting allow the shock to bounce right back up. If set too high the shock will continue to pack down over a series of bumps, because it cannot react fast enough and this will make the ride harsher. Too low a setting and the shock will bounce like a pogo stick.  Picture a car with worn out shocks bouncing down the road and you get the idea.

Since I mostly ride two-up the extra weight of the second rider will cause more compression and I must dampen the rebound more that if riding solo.  So I began my two-up riding evaluation with the rebound set at '4'.  Rebound can be adjusted without removing the saddlebags.  Just be careful in that the exhaust and the rear brake rotor get very hot after riding so be cautious of them should you wish to make rebound adjustment after riding for a while.  But after you get everything dialed in I doubt there will be need to make adjustments unless riding conditions change - solo vs two-up, unloaded vs loaded, etc., and you'll probably make those adjustments before riding anyway.

The initial setting on the air is as I've always done it:  With the bike on its side stand I add air until the shocks are at their maximum extension.  Then once we are both sitting on the bike I add air to get to the ride height that felt comfortable.  As we ride I added more air until I got an amount that was very comfortable.  Your preferences may be different so please do not take these as being optimum in all cases.  We will continue to experiment and refine on future rides.

The design (larger boot) of the new shocks provides a more linear compression as compared to the previous style which is more progressive.  This makes for a smoother more compliant ride which I and my co-rider noticed right away.  In fact the ride was so smooth the only bumps I felt were from the front suspension.  

And these new shocks have a much improved level of ride comfort when riding solo.  The previous versions seemed to ride smoother with more load as these do also but solo riding is more compliant with reduced air pressure and less rebound dampening.

Here are a few photos of the shocks and the installation:

Existing shock on the bike:




Existing shock compared to the new version.  Note the larger boot for more air volume:





Rebound dampening adjustment dial:




New shock installed:




And to top everything off I added one of Legend's new air gauges.  They have models in black, silver, spun aluminum, titanium and diamond cut the latter of which matches the gauges on my 2012 FLHTCUSE7, CVO Ultra absolutely perfectly.  Looks great I think.


 


All in all we were very, very favorably impressed and would recommend the new Legend Air Suspension to anyone wanting to improve on the factory rear suspension.

[Rig Magician]

Awesome, I am getting ready to install these on my bike soon.

[FlaHeatWave]

Awesome write-up
How are you going to get by without the outside air temp gauge???

[ultrafxr]

Awesome write-up
How are you going to get by without the outside air temp gauge???

Gosh I don't know.     I mean it is so very accurate and all.   

[SmokeyJoe]

I did not see this system listed on there web site, do you have a part number?  If you don't mind, what did you pay for this setup?

Would you say this system is far more comfortable that the older system while riding solo, or just somewhat?

Sorry so many question, but your the SME on this system.

[CircleRacer]

Smokey Joe,
For some reason if you go to Legend air web sight from a favorite list that you have stored the new shocks will not show up, I don't know why I am computer stupid. enter a web search www.legendsuspension.com go to the top information bar and click on products then click on motorcycle then click on the bike you have if you have a FLH/Touring click on the right aero by the bikes it will move to FLH/Touring click on the word FLH/Touring. The page will open with the first new design Legend Aero the next one down is the shock that Jerry wrote about the new Legend aero A. You can read about them there. I hope this helps!!!

[Midnight Rider]

This system looks alot like the stock system that came with my 2012 CVO SG. I guess HD did get something right.

There is nothing similar about any HD shock and this system...I can say that with 100% certainty.

[ultrafxr]

I did not see this system listed on there web site, do you have a part number?  If you don't mind, what did you pay for this setup?

Would you say this system is far more comfortable that the older system while riding solo, or just somewhat?

Sorry so many question, but your the SME on this system.

Here is a link to the current systems for FLH/Touring models:  http://www.legendsuspensions.com/Products.aspx?VMID=4&VIEW=Search

Yes I would say it is more comfortable than the older system while riding solo for a couple reasons imo.  I am not an engineer but here is my understanding:  There is a greater volume of air and a wider range of adjustment so you have a wider 'window' of finding the sweet spot.  Either model Aero (without the rebound adjustment) or Aero-A (with the rebound adjustment) have a new damping system (piston and shims) that take out some of the harshness for lighter riders (and solo for sure) and improve damping at higher speeds.

I have no experience with them but for a while Legend has offered their Revo shocks which are not air shocks for considerably less cost.  These too are available without rebound adjustment - Revo; and with rebound adjustment - Revo-A.

[Gnarl78]

Thanks for the great writeup. I'm glad to see Legends improving their product line. Are their gages backlighted now? I remember the oil-filled one I had before was not backlighted which made adjustment somewhat of a crapshoot at night.

[ultrafxr]

Thanks for the great writeup. I'm glad to see Legends improving their product line. Are their gages backlighted now? I remember the oil-filled one I had before was not backlighted which made adjustment somewhat of a crapshoot at night.

Yes. Back lighted.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[CowboyBagger]

This system looks alot like the stock system that came with my 2012 CVO SG. I guess HD did get something right.

I don't know how your FLHXSE3 came but mine had the HD Premium spring shocks.  Legends are high quality air shocks.  The only thing similar is that they are both shocks.

Cowboy

[porthole]

Jerry, the rebound adjustment covers both compression and rebound?
Is it 50/50?

The larger bag should give a softer, nicer ride. Should be able to get a "given" load capacity with less air.
That is one of the reasons on pickup trucks with AirLift brand air bags they tend to ride softer then trucks with Firestone bags.

[Rooster]

So will or can they rebuild the older versions to be like the new ones or???

[Trapperdog]

Jerry, the rebound adjustment covers both compression and rebound?
Is it 50/50?

The larger bag should give a softer, nicer ride. Should be able to get a "given" load capacity with less air.
That is one of the reasons on pickup trucks with AirLift brand air bags they tend to ride softer then trucks with Firestone bags.

Wouldnt the air volume/pressure control the compression and the rebound knob solely control rebound?

[ultrafxr]

Wouldn't the air volume/pressure control the compression and the rebound knob solely control rebound?

That is my understanding also.  The air adds preload to the shock and from there it is hydraulic on the compression and the rebound.  The adjustment knob works to control the rebound.