When considering a suspension upgrade it is well worth considering whether you ride mostly or entirely solo, or like to take a favourite passenger. The choices for solo riding are quite good, as most of us will find a decent improvement with many of the brands of suspension upgrades that get mentioned around HDF.

However when we add a passenger, especially if you do long rides together, then the rules change! The riding experience for a passenger is quite different back there and some of the frequently mentioned suspension options are not up to the job. That is when deeper pockets are a godsend, as many loving passengers will agree!

 

Awesome to hear! Thanks for the info! Do you feel the Ohlins 30mm are worth more than double the cost of the 25mm? Subjective I'm sure, but having ridden them both, was it a no brainer or more of a diminished return when compared to the 25mm?

 

I have Ohlins front and rear, but shallow pockets, relatively speaking! I have #3-3 shocks and FKC101 cartridges, both supplied by Howard, of Ohlins fame. My shocks have limited adjustability and the cartridges have none, so they are the 'budget' version from the Ohlins range!

The #6 shocks are fully adjustable, as are Howards 30mm cartridges, so they represent the best there probably is. Ride quality will reflect the difference in quality of the design and hence cost. I very much doubt if there is anything subjective and that the difference between the two set-ups will be obvious with a very short ride.

 

They were better than stock certainly. I thought they were better than the Progressive but not as good as the Ohlins

 

Depends what you are running on the rear. If I was using the Ohlins #3 on the rear I'd run the 25mm and have a great combination. When I went with the #6 shocks I decided to run the 30mm. My are set up different than most. I had them built longer than stock for added stroke , then I raised them in my triple tree so the bike sits at stock height, then I cut holes in my nacelle so they come out the top and I can adjust them without removing anything. See the attached picture.

 

Have you had a chance to review the FKC101? Very interested to hear how they perform.

 

Sorry no, not yet - all part of a bigger rebuild.

 

I now offer a 25mm fully adjustable cartridge system that is also drop in (sort of as all are) that do not require fork tube modification. Good: easy to do and 2nd best cartridge system for Harley's. Fits all 49mm forks and easy to adjust from the top fork cap just like tj316. Bad: when you do not remove the check valve you can not pick your stroke of where it starts or stops or how long you want it. Maybe a little longer than the OEM 4.6 stroke but can be made to stop any place and can reduce the stroke to make the shock/cartridge shorter. Highest quality and made in the USA. It will not ride or control your bike as well as a NIX 30mm however. tj316's front end disappears. Stop on by and see the truth and not dazzled with BS.