Originally Posted by MapleShadeHarley

Hi,

I just bought a 2009 Nightster with 70 miles and I really love it. Traded it for my 98 Jeep Wrangler and was happy with the deal. I am new to riding and am getting pretty comfortable on two wheels. Took the Rider's Edge course and did well in it. I really love riding and have put on 200+ miles in the last week.

Ok, here is the background: I have a stock Nightster and I weigh about 200lbs (very solid musclehead) and am 5'7". I liked the Nightster cause my feet could be flat on the ground due to being vertically challenged and it was a 1200.

Problem: whenever I hit potholes/bumps/manhole covers, the absolute jarring of my whole body (if I didn't see it and wasn't able to take up the slack by rising off the seat) and the bike is RIDICULOUS. The bike has 300 miles on it now. I realize it has to "settle" and then at about 1,000 miles take it in for the stealer to make necessary adjustments.

Ok, I know I need to be looking out for these things and avoiding them, but I feel like I am ready to be bounced off the freakin' bike. Am I too heavy for this bike? Do I need to get better shocks for it? Do I trade up and get a HD that is bigger and can absorb these gut-wrenching issues? Is it me?

Everyone told me when I bought my bike that I should have bought my second bike first. Is this what they mean?

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.

Thanks,

John

Originally Posted by Osco

Raising the rear changes effective front end rake which
will quicken steering.
A bit too steep and you can Induce a wobble or worse cause a
dangerous "Tank Slapper".

Leveling the lower frame rails generally produces a nice lighter steering feel, quicker easier turn In.
The 48 has a fork brace which limits fork flex, shorter forks will also
have less flex.
Fork flex and fork sag can Increase when going to longer shocks due to
more weight on the front.
Proper fork set up can also make the bike ride better, smoother.

Originally Posted by JohnFromBrooklyn

EVERYONE told me to expect a rough ride from my new sporty. People were talking about upgrading front and rear suspension, air shocks etc I thought how bad could bumps really be? Until I hit my first pothole and WOW, was it rough!. More of a BANG then a bump.

But then I remembered to get my *** up off the seat a bit before hitting a bump, What a difference! Getting my *** up a bit off the seat pretty much solved the problem. It seems like most Harley riders want to sit back and never move lol. This is a SPORTY! So before spending a ton of cash upgrading suspension, give it a try. Just get your rear end up off the seat SLIGHTLY before hitting bumps. Night and day!

Originally Posted by Jesla

I heard that....

But with a fat *** and forward controls it a little hard for us old farts to do.

Originally Posted by mattk22

How do you adjust the preload on your OEM shocks?