My "brick" now comfortable

[Slimboybinz]

I have a 2015 street glide special which has the left hand side adjustment for rider weight.
No matter where I set this from lowest to highest it was like riding a brick.
Even riding over a matchstick I nearly got bucked of the saddle.
In desparation I took off both shocks and took them to an engineering company and asked them to compress both shocks to the shortest level.
I watched when this was done and on the left hand shock there was as audible PSSST about 2/3s down.
The RHS just went down to the stop.
After refittting and setting the LHS to my weight it was heaven.
Not saggy or wallowing, but riding over a street bump I was not tossed off the bike, just a smooth ride over.

Can anyone explain what happened?

SLIM

 

[fishin1789]

Very interesting! My 2015 SGS rode the same way, hard as a brick! No matter how the shock was adjusted. I finally made the switch to a DIY air ride system. Now I love the ride! Can't wait to hear what may have been the issue with the stock adjustable shock. I still have mine and I am tempted to try compressing them to see what happens. Hope someone that knows shocks can help explain why they work better after compressing them.

 

[NGOT8R]

So what did they use to compress the shock and are you saying the left shock had air in iT?

 

[Slimboybinz]

It was a framework that had a kind of jack at the bottom that was pumped up by hand compressing the spring.
The shock was obviously well secured during this process.
Not too sure about air in the system, but there was a definite "PSSST" about 2/3rds the way down.
Could be that a valve inside was blocked and this released it???

SLIM

 

[azglocker]

So what made you want them to be compressed like this? Is there a general practice of compressing shocks to break them in or was this something that they or someone else suggested?

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[GlideLife]

I didnt take it to an engineering outfit or anything, but it rode like a hard tail for the first couple weeks I had it. Every little bump was a literal PITA. Coming up on R/R tracks made me wanna' turn around & find another route. Two up was NOT GOOD for either of us. For the first month, I adjusted many times & I tried every setting I was told by my dealer. Started looking at AIR RIDE systems...
Then, as a last resort, adjusted the knob until it was as low as I could set it. My wife and I (just for kicks) started bouncing up & down on the seat while I held the bike upright.
We took it for a ride, & felt a positive change. Not perfect, but more comfortable.
Then stopped in a parking lot & adjusted the knob per the manual. I'm 207 & shes 125. Had about 12 lbs in the bags. Adjusted accordingly & now it rides like a Rolls. I've passed that to riding buds that have had similar issues, and all but one says it worked.

 

[Slimboybinz]

So what made you want them to be compressed like this? Is there a general practice of compressing shocks to break them in or was this something that they or someone else suggested?

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Not too sure really; I noticed that when I sat on the bike, the shock went down only 2 - 3mm.
I got it into my head that i wanted to see the shock going down properly.
It took quite some force to get the shock moving down, and as I said about 2/3rds down there was an audible "PSST".
After that it took much less force to move the shock dow.
I have no idea how these things work, but to m y simple mind it sounds like there was a blockage in a valve or somesuch and compressing the shock unblocked it.
The one thing is for sure and that is the bije is now a joy to ride and I set the LHS setting to four clicks.

 

[Slimboybinz]

I didnt take it to an engineering outfit or anything, but it rode like a hard tail for the first couple weeks I had it. Every little bump was a literal PITA. Coming up on R/R tracks made me wanna' turn around & find another route. Two up was NOT GOOD for either of us. For the first month, I adjusted many times & I tried every setting I was told by my dealer. Started looking at AIR RIDE systems...
Then, as a last resort, adjusted the knob until it was as low as I could set it. My wife and I (just for kicks) started bouncing up & down on the seat while I held the bike upright.
We took it for a ride, & felt a positive change. Not perfect, but more comfortable.
Then stopped in a parking lot & adjusted the knob per the manual. I'm 207 & shes 125. Had about 12 lbs in the bags. Adjusted accordingly & now it rides like a Rolls. I've passed that to riding buds that have had similar issues, and all but one says it worked.

Hi glidelife, looks like you did the same as me but on the bike.

I would be interested to hear from some of our technical experts as to what is happening.

 

[hulkss]

All the knob does is change the spring preload on the left spring. You can see it move if you look while turning the knob. The right shock has compression damping and the left adjustable has rebound damping.

I believe the nitrogen gas in these shocks is mixed with the oil (emulsion) so there is no way to leak gas without leaking oil too.

My guess is that the problem is seal friction. The shock rod has a high pressure seal with a lot of friction of it is dry. When the shock rod goes into the shock body it enters a space filled with oil. When it re-extends this lubricates the rod and seal. The outer seal lips are still pretty dry though. Put a drop of motor oil on the shock rods and spread it with your fingers, bounce on the bike, then wipe off any excess.

 

[Slimboybinz]

Thanks hulkss.
you have helped me a few times - I owe you one.

 

[jm1797]

Hello folks....I wanted to rehash this thread because I've noticed this hard/stiff suspension on my 2015 SGS. I'm a first time Harley owner and this is my second motorcycle that I've ever owned. So I was thinking this is just the way the OEM Harley shocks are. I tried adjusting the pre-load knob after verifying I have the correct setting. Still don't feel much of a difference and it's pretty jarring riding over small bumps that my previous motorcycle would smooth out. I had a 2008 Yamaha Road star 1700 and that bike's suspension felt like a Cadillac compared to my SGS. I'm wondering if many more street glide owner have noticed this problem? Especially if they notice a difference when compared to other Harley's they've owned.

I'm probably going to try the "jump on seat" method with some oil on the shock rods and see if I can feel a difference.....any other suggestions or ideas?

 

[shaochieh.young]

My bike was a brick until I changed the shocks out. I went with progressive 944 and there are other options out there like Ohlin.


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[Mojo]

Hulkss- Do you know if the 2017 "improved" suspension addresses this?

 

[hulkss]

Hulkss- Do you know if the 2017 "improved" suspension addresses this?

I believe the problem is high seal friction in the 14-16 year shocks. I've seen reports that there are different part number shocks in the 17 models and that they are improved.

 

[jm1797]

Have you heard if it's a problem enough to justify HD replacing them? Or can they test out shocks for serviceability.


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[hulkss]

Have you heard if it's a problem enough to justify HD replacing them? Or can they test out shocks for serviceability.


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I would just put a drop of oil on the shock rods and go for a ride. I bet that will remedy the problem.