My 09 would max out at 50. I think the 08's at 30. With only 8 pounds in there I would think it would hit very hard or bottom out. I would run around 25-30 solo and 50 2 up. With that said I like my new Ohlins much,much better!

 

I know a guy that got good money for his wife........just sayin!!

 

The suggested PSI for the rear shocks in the manual does not seem to have any relationship to reality.

I have found the best way to get the best PSI in the rear shocks is to find a road with a rough section that I can make multiple passes on.

I pick an arbitrary PSI and make a pass over the rough spot. I then change the PSI 2 lbs and make another pass. I keep doing this, making the 2 lbs psi change (BOTH above and below my starting psi) until I find the "sweet spot".

It is helpful to know that, because of the shock valving, it may actually be "softer" at a higher PSI than a lower one...so I just take the time to run the entire possible range in 2 psi increments.

 

I did some experimenting with mine. I found the owners manual on the high side. Solo, I run around 20. 2 up, I run 35-40. On trips 2 up with luggage is the only time I run 50. My wife and I are only 275 or so. My manual says 50 psi max.

 

I seem to be OK with 20 psi solo or 2 up. combined weight is about 350

 

Same here...HD's "recommended" settings are just that (recommendations) and until you road test at different levels, it's hard to judge what's best for comfort in 1-up and 2-up conditions. I did this same process (found spot & tested different levels) and then placed one of those white envelope labels on the inside lid of my saddlebag with my preferred air levels. Now I just refer to my label and all is well. I'm 165lbs and wife's 120lbs so we're @ 22lbs solo and 30lbs w/passenger...cheers!

 

Comfort is a very personal thing, something we each have to adjust to our liking. One comment I will make is that in the zillions of shocks threads on HDF, few members mention a passenger. In my long experience, many shocks, including stock, can be good enough while solo, but the most important passenger in the World gets a very different riding experience back there.

IMHO it is worth spending on top shelf shocks once, rather than messing around spending on several pairs of cheap ones. Mrs B and I have never bottomed out on our custom Ohlins and she can ride much further each day when we are on long tours.

Comfort starts at the road. Use compliant tyres rather than the stock rocks, change shocks as above, then install a decent seat as the cherry on top!