Yet another shock upgrade thread

[kceder001]

Yet another shock upgrade

---

Hi all,

Without getting into a discussion about all the various aftermarket shocks, has anybody upgraded their old air shocks to the Harley hand adjustable?

Aftermarket shocks are simply not in my budget right now, and Ive been given a set of the Harley 2019+ hand adjustable with only 6 miles on them. I already have a DK comfort lift on the bike.

Is there enough of an improvement to go thru the hassle of installing them?

 

[N8DC]

Yet another shock upgrade

---

Hi all,

Without getting into a discussion about all the various aftermarket shocks, has anybody upgraded their old air shocks to the Harley hand adjustable?

Aftermarket shocks are simply not in my budget right now, and Ive been given a set of the Harley 2019+ hand adjustable with only 6 miles on them. I already have a DK comfort lift on the bike.

Is there enough of an improvement to go thru the hassle of installing them?

Ima follow this as I am in the same boat. I really love this Free but the ride in town with all the pot holes really sucks. I found a deal on some DK nexgens but the guy sold them before I could set a time to go get them. I found another set at a great price but that guy doesnt seem to want to communicate after I asked how many miles on them and why the sale. Honestly these shock prices are silly. I am on S/S and lucky to have been able to buy the trike so you get the picture.
Dave

 

[LD-Ordie]

DK advertises having a life time warranty to the original owners. I personally would not buy a used set

 

[N8DC]

DK advertises having a life time warranty to the original owners. I personally would not buy a used set

But they are rebuild able

 

[14TG]

But they are rebuild able

@N8DC ,
Agreed… in the event of a leak or failure, it’s possible there may be a fee, if one is not the original purchaser. (But chances are very slim of a warranty ever in order, I would think)

But if the deal is decent, and working on a budget, I would not hesitate to jump on any good set of used aftermarket shocks.

Keep up posted if you get that deal landed on the DK shocks if the seller responds back to you.

 

[Noodles107]

Yet another shock upgrade

---

Hi all,

Without getting into a discussion about all the various aftermarket shocks, has anybody upgraded their old air shocks to the Harley hand adjustable?

Aftermarket shocks are simply not in my budget right now, and Ive been given a set of the Harley 2019+ hand adjustable with only 6 miles on them. I already have a DK comfort lift on the bike.

Is there enough of an improvement to go thru the hassle of installing them?

KC … what kind of trike are you riding

 

[kceder001]

KC … what kind of trike are you riding

2017 Freewheeler.

Brand new BF Goodrich tires, running at 22lb. DK Customs lift kit.

 

[Noodles107]

2017 Freewheeler.

Brand new BF Goodrich tires, running at 22lb. DK Customs lift kit.

I also have the 17 Freewheeler and have actually just finished the upgrade mods (50+ very tasty additions)

Just suggesting that you don’t cheap out on the suspension. You spent a bunch of cheese on the trike and after an 18 month build I found that the suspension upgrades were the best investment of all …

 

[kceder001]

I also have the 17 Freewheeler and have actually just finished the upgrade mods (50+ very tasty additions)

Just suggesting that you don’t cheap out on the suspension. You spent a bunch of cheese on the trike and after an 18 month build I found that the suspension upgrades were the best investment of all …

View attachment 134386View attachment 134387

What do you wind up going with for shocks?

 

[Noodles107]

What do you wind up going with for shocks?

I went with 13” DK Nexgens with comfort lift in the rear and DK Intiminators in the front. Big improvement for sure

 

[Papa Zook]

I think yall are not reading Kelly's first post here in his thread. He and another member in this thread are looking for alternatives to spending $1000-$2000 (shocks & potentially install) to gain a more comfortable ride. The cost of the new generation shocks and lifts (DKs and other Popular Shocks) has steadily increased in price (and quality) and not everyone can perform their own teardown and replacement for several reasons. Kelly already has a set of HD adjustable shocks that were given to him, so let's look at that option.

 

[JTJersey]

I also have the 17 Freewheeler and have actually just finished the upgrade mods (50+ very tasty additions)

Just suggesting that you don’t cheap out on the suspension. You spent a bunch of cheese on the trike and after an 18 month build I found that the suspension upgrades were the best investment of all …

View attachment 134386View attachment 134387

That is a gorgeous Freewheeler you have there Noodles.

 

[RKplus10]

I think yall are not reading Kelly's post. He and another member in this thread are looking for alternernatives to spending $1000-$2000 (shocks & install) to gain a more comfortable ride. The cost of the new generation shocks & lifts (DKs and other Popular Shocks) have steadily climed in price and not everyone can do their own teardown and replace for several reasons. Kelly already has a set of HD adjustable shocks that were given to him, so lets look at that option.

I agree. New shocks, for free, I would invest the time to compare them and find out how well they suit you. They have to be better than the air shocks.

 

[kceder001]

I think yall are not reading Kelly's first post here in his thread. He and another member in this thread are looking for alternatives to spending $1000-$2000 (shocks & potentially install) to gain a more comfortable ride. The cost of the new generation shocks and lifts (DKs and other Popular Shocks) has steadily increased in price, and not everyone can perform their teardown and replacement for several reasons. Kelly already has a set of HD adjustable shocks that were given to him, so let's look at that option.

Thank you Zook, you are exactly right. Im getting these HD shocks for free. They are brand new takeoffs with basically zero miles. Unfortunately, the friend who is giving them to me, never rode with them, so he can't compare them to the Legends he replaced them with.

I can do the install, I already did the lift kit, so shocks are just one more bolt. So basically, other than time spent, it's a free upgrade. Just looking to see if anyone else had gone down that path and what they thought.

One of the areas HD is ahead of all the aftermarket options is preload adjustment. Both the HD shocks, (air and coiler) can be easily adjusted for preload. I find it almost impossible to believe, that with any of the aftermarket shocks, you can find one setting that's going to work for solo, and fully loaded 2up.

And while there are lots of threads touting the "transformative" nature of the aftermarket shocks, Ive read many stating "it was a waste of money and they could barely tell the difference.

But yea, all that aside, my main question is simply, are the coil overs any improvement over the air shocks. I guess if nothing else, they wont leak down over time.

 

[14TG]

Thank you Zook, you are exactly right. Im getting these HD shocks for free. They are brand new takeoffs with basically zero miles. Unfortunately, the friend who is giving them to me, never rode with them, so he can't compare them to the Legends he replaced them with.

I can do the install, I already did the lift kit, so shocks are just one more bolt. So basically, other than time spent, it's a free upgrade. Just looking to see if anyone else had gone down that path and what they thought.

One of the areas HD is ahead of all the aftermarket options is preload adjustment. Both the HD shocks, (air and coiler) can be easily adjusted for preload. I find it almost impossible to believe, that with any of the aftermarket shocks, you can find one setting that's going to work for solo, and fully loaded 2up.

And while there are lots of threads touting the "transformative" nature of the aftermarket shocks, Ive read many stating "it was a waste of money and they could barely tell the difference.

But yea, all that aside, my main question is simply, are the coil overs any improvement over the air shocks. I guess if nothing else, they wont leak down over time.

Definitely Let us know your before and after thoughts when you swap them out!

 

[N8DC]

Thank you Zook, you are exactly right. Im getting these HD shocks for free. They are brand new takeoffs with basically zero miles. Unfortunately, the friend who is giving them to me, never rode with them, so he can't compare them to the Legends he replaced them with.

I can do the install, I already did the lift kit, so shocks are just one more bolt. So basically, other than time spent, it's a free upgrade. Just looking to see if anyone else had gone down that path and what they thought.

One of the areas HD is ahead of all the aftermarket options is preload adjustment. Both the HD shocks, (air and coiler) can be easily adjusted for preload. I find it almost impossible to believe, that with any of the aftermarket shocks, you can find one setting that's going to work for solo, and fully loaded 2up.

And while there are lots of threads touting the "transformative" nature of the aftermarket shocks, Ive read many stating "it was a waste of money and they could barely tell the difference.

But yea, all that aside, my main question is simply, are the coil overs any improvement over the air shocks. I guess if nothing else, they wont leak down over time.

Similar thing on a thread on another board. One person asks a question and 10 comeback telling you you need this simply because thats what I have. The other guy spent a grand more but he knows . Or does he. Ya I am also on a limited budget.

Suggesting possible alternatives is a lot better than saying hey I got these so you need them also.
Some of us just dont have that kind of cash to toss out there. Its a shame that H/D couldnt get it right from the factory.
Keep us posted .
Ride Safe
Dave ..... Jackson,Michigan

 

[My Turn]

I rode with stock coilovers on my 2020 for about a year before changing them out. They are definitely better than air shocks. I found it was best to run them way softer than the manual calls for. I usually ran them on about zero on the preload scale.

I completely agree with the comment about remote preload adjustment, someone should offer that on their $1000 plus shocks.

 

[Papa Zook]

I completely agree with the comment about remote preload adjustment, someone should offer that on their $1000 plus shocks.

Only problem with that is they would no longer be $1000 shocks. They'd be $1500 - $1800 shocks.

 

[My Turn]

Only problem with that is they would no longer be $1000 shocks. They'd be $1500 - $1800 shocks.

Probably correct. Thing is I bet HD doesn't pay showa 200 bucks for those stock shocks with preloaders.

 

[Noodles107]

So I think that imho you guys are missing the point here. I only asked 1 question … what trike are you riding?

I only answered the question that I was asked and my experience offered by suggesting not to cheap out on the suspension.

I’m playing this custom bike thing for decades and the only reason I commented at all was because of the OP comment in bold black letters “simply not in my budget”

Now if we are fair … the people riding HD Trikes far more complain here about their ride experience and no one writes about how great the stock suspension is. Fair?

So we buy used HD Trikes for say $25k and up. A new one (always with crappy ride) will be $35k to $50k+ … all of us bolt a load of accessories and performance upgrades to our Trikes and this imo is just what we do. Fair?

So discussing suspension options is never ending on any Trike forum. When the benefit of upgrading suspension is compromised by “budgets” on a toy vehicle that we paid 10’s of thousands of dollars for always confuses me

Just my 2 cents

 

[14TG]

So I think that imho you guys are missing the point here. I only asked 1 question … what trike are you riding?

I only answered the question that I was asked and my experience offered by suggesting not to cheap out on the suspension.

I’m playing this custom bike thing for decades and the only reason I commented at all was because of the OP comment in bold black letters “simply not in my budget”

Now if we are fair … the people riding HD Trikes far more complain here about their ride experience and no one writes about how great the stock suspension is. Fair?

So we buy used HD Trikes for say $25k and up. A new one (always with crappy ride) will be $35k to $50k+ … all of us bolt a load of accessories and performance upgrades to our Trikes and this imo is just what we do. Fair?

So discussing suspension options is never ending on any Trike forum. When the benefit of upgrading suspension is compromised by “budgets” on a toy vehicle that we paid 10’s of thousands of dollars for always confuses me

Just my 2 cents

@Noodles107 ,

I’m personally with you 100% and agree … and fair on all statements!

I do realize as one member mentioned above and even the OP:
They’re obviously still on a budget and many on fixed incomes. So I do understand and respect that.

However, I agree that the suspension sucks on these trikes. It’s a solid axle and short wheelbase.. better quality shocks help out a LOT. (Much better than any OEM shock).
But these trikes will never ride like a luxury car.

Unfortunately quality does cost. And if it was not good quality, the company making the product certainly would not last long.

Another member above stated he had stock coil overs on his 2020 and also said it rode better than his previous air shocks. So that member answered the OP’s question and curiosity.

the OP also stated that he already installed the lift brackets and is capable of installing the shocks.
I’m just going say what I said earlier:
the OP should simply just change them out and report back with his personal findings and experience.

For me: The suspension upgrade was well worth it and so much better than factory.