I just checked the pressure on my 2015 FLHTK rear suspension and it's only about 15 psi. Can I use just a regular 12 V air pump or should I get a hand pump? I ride mostly 2 up and the book says 50 psi.

Thanks

 

Use the manual for base line pressures and adjust to suit your riding weight and comfort. The shocks hold very little air a 12V compressor will quickly, a matter of seconds, over inflate the shocks. The hand pumps are the best solution and allow pressure adjustments away from home on the road.

 

I agree completely with NODYNA. I have the hand help pump from Harley. It's not much larger in diameter than my finder with a total stroke of maybe 3 inches. In one stoke I can take the pressure from 0 PSI to well over 50 PSI. You DO NOT want to be using any sort of electrical pump, or even a manual Bicycle Tire Pump on these shocks. The Harley Pump is very similar in construction to the pump I use on my Mountain Bike Suspension. The Range of the Pressure gauge is the only thing I can see that is different between the two.

 

WOW!! Thanks guys! I was ready to use my little 12v. pump but after reading your responses and doing a search on other forums, I think I saved myself a bunch of grief! I guess it will be a trip to the dealer tomorrow. Another thing I miss on the HD that was standard on the Gold Wing.

 

You might be able to go to your local bicycle shop and get a hand pump that will do the same as the Harley pump and probably save a bunch of money, I think the HD pump is around $35-$40. Just a thought...

 

The HD pump is a no loss break design, so the pressure you set stays as you disconnect. That alone makes if more valuable than a generic hand pump.

 

The Harley pump is about $50+ at dealer. There's a identical pump on eBay for $27 delivered but it doesn't say Harley.

 

True but pumping up your suspension is not an exact science like tires (36 and 40), the suspension gives you a range so you don't have to be exact. And if you're worried about air loss pump in a couple of extra pounds of pressure to
allow for a slight loss.

 

I highly recommend the Harley pump. The air system on the bike is low volume and even a loss of a few pounds will effect your ride, especially if you are two up.
For the poster that stated you can " go from 0-50 PSI in a single stroke" , you may want to get that pump or your system checked, something doesn't seem right there.

 

I'd say that there's something plugged up somewhere. I've got the H-D brand pump and there's no way it goes from 0 to 50 lbs. in one stroke.

I wonder if your shock air hose is kinked, or maybe the valve in the air fitting on the bike is blocked and you possibly may have no actual air pressure in the shocks at all?

I do agree with everything else you said, though, and so do the owner's and service manuals!