Harley shocks

[stereomind]

Hey folks.

Would Harley air shocks (off an '08 Ultra) be too stiff for a reasonably light-weight XS1100 build? Or is that more of an air pressure/oil viscosity thing?

Thanks!

Vlad

[DiverRay]

They should work, just keep the air pressure down(spring pre-load). You will probably need to fit different bushings in the shocks so there is no slop in the bolts, though. Main thing is keep about 11-12 inch length on the shocks, plus/minus.

[stereomind]

Cool, thanks! I shall give them a try then.


Vlad

[IanDMacDonald]

Got the chrome Showas on mine. Beware, they're shorter than stock.

[BA80]

As far as stiffness you should be fine. Measure that one shock that was on there eye to eye center to center, if the Hardley shocks are shorter you'll lose some cornering clearance.

And, the OEM shocks have different size eyes on the lower mounts.

[bikerphil]

Harley shocks may have a wider eyelet (at least mine from a Dyna did), so you may need to cut some off with a sawzall/hacksaw.

[Bonz]

IanD, I have the Showa's as well, didn't notice a change or difference in ride height? How much are we talking? Rides a butt-ton better than the old beginning-to-leak stockers fo'sho.

[IanDMacDonald]

IanD, I have the Showa's as well, didn't notice a change or difference in ride height? How much are we talking? Rides a butt-ton better than the old beginning-to-leak stockers fo'sho.

Yes sir, Mr. Bonz. I belive it's not much, but u can def tell putting the bike on the centerstand, etc. 1/2" difference if I were to guess?

[stereomind]

Well, they seem to be about the same length as the one shock I have on this bike right now (LOL Greg), but the eyelets are definitely bigger on the HD shocks, so I need to come up with a way to make them fit.

[IanDMacDonald]

It's been awhile, so I can't remember what I did:

I either pressed the OEM grommets out, or I had extra one's from the other air shocks.

And, as Phil said, you'll have to grind on the eyelet to gwt it to fot on the bottom.

[BA80]

the eyelets are definitely bigger on the HD shocks, so I need to come up with a way to make them fit.

Build some sleeves to go into them.

[stereomind]

yeah, that's kinda what I was thinking.

Build some sleeves to go into them.

[bikerphil]

Now that I think about it more, I had to also drill 3 of the shock mount bushings out to 14MM, I think the Harley uses 1/2" or 13MM.

[IanDMacDonald]

Yup, you're right Phil.

[MindWebs]

my 2 cents.. they work good...... some work needed.

the ID eyelet hole(rubber gromet for the steel) is the same diameter as our stock xs11 shocks on all the H-D shocks i've played with.

use a socket thats a touch smaller then the eyelet.
drive out the rubber and steel, from the H-D.
drive them out oh the stock XS11.
drive the stock rubber's into the H-D shocks

do one at a time and if they are air shocks you may needs to remove a bit of aluminum from the frame side to make them fit up to the frame.

an angle grinder make short work of that.

happy modifying.

Ride on.

also use a mighty vac to switch out "fork/shock oil"
the "air hole" i think is 1/8" MPT threads
so 1/8" MPT to 1/8" hose barb fitting ($1-$2)
flip shock upside down to remove all oil with mighty vac.
flip shock right side up and install hose into vac cup fill cup with oil.
pull a vacuum, and release, with the hose it will "suck" all the oil into the shock.

oil QTY?

well.....

put in 300-500cc oil, then you have to full compress the shock to full bottom out position. oil will come out.

this must be done with the shock in the vertical orientation as it will be mounted.

this will give you full travel on the shock.

if you do NOT do this.

IT WILL BE BAD!!!!

the oil will become a "hard stop' with nowhere to go, and you will have made a "Hard-tail" motorcycle.

Good luck