Ride Sucks

[ChicagoRocket]

Yeah, as others have said there is a couple great combos in the aftermarket for nice shocks...and trust me, it's not just a triumph thing to toss on some cheap suspension...I've had SEVERAL 20K BMW motorcycles with incredibly cheap suspension and HD isn't even worth mentioning! Hell, it wasn't that long ago that HD got ABS brakes...lol.

I went with the progressives, but at your weight you will need the right spring. Not only are the progressives a great price but they also totally transform the bike!

 

[Bigj1955]

A good tip! I liked the Hagons, but for a beefy fellow (260 here), I found the Progressive 444s were the best . . . so far.
Definitely follow @Tripps suggestion on the front springs.
The OEM shockies are crap and even worse for a big guy!

Thanks for the info and feedback - I'm 325 right now, looking to get down to 290 (I'm also 6'8" tall) - will check out the options and pricing for springs. Is it a b**ch to change out the front fork springs??

 

[1olbull]

Thanks for the info and feedback - I'm 325 right now, looking to get down to 290 (I'm also 6'8" tall) - will check out the options and pricing for springs. Is it a b**ch to change out the front fork springs??

You will need the special tool.

Not particularly fun, but not the worst job. I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 for PITA.

 

[Jim Wissmiller]

You will need the special tool.

Not particularly fun, but not the worst job. I'd give it a 3.5 out of 5 for PITA.

Don't know much but here's what I do know, just traded the rocket off for a 17 road glide special. The ride in my opinion is excellent. 5 miles down the road my wife leans up and says "dam this thing rides nice, I don't even feel the cracks in the road". As far as the handling, all you have to do is think about where you want to go and this thing goes there. Trust me guys, I have never been a person to Buy into the HD scenario but I do have to say that they are building a nice bike these days. Again, just my opinion, been riding for 50 years and short of a v-rod, this is my first harley and am very happy. The rocket was fun in its own way but lets face it. Again, just my opinion.

 

[scot in exile]

You know what baffles me - actually I'm starting to get a little annoyed at the amount of time and money it takes to get the rocket "nice" - why couldn't they make the improvements like this on the drawing board, they have to had gotten feedback on the crappy suspension??

Over the years when one is talking about the crappy suspension one common factor is --the weight of the rider-- the lets say rather large gentleman complain the most now I did change my rears on both my Rockets and I am a 185# greek god look a like.
When Triumph designs the bike cost is a factor as is every bike sold when you pay Ford Escort prices for a bike do not expect Rolls Royce parts on it that is where the after market parts come into play.

 

[scot in exile]

Don't know much but here's what I do know, just traded the rocket off for a 17 road glide special. The ride in my opinion is excellent. 5 miles down the road my wife leans up and says "dam this thing rides nice, I don't even feel the cracks in the road". As far as the handling, all you have to do is think about where you want to go and this thing goes there. Trust me guys, I have never been a person to Buy into the HD scenario but I do have to say that they are building a nice bike these days. Again, just my opinion, been riding for 50 years and short of a v-rod, this is my first harley and am very happy. The rocket was fun in its own way but lets face it. Again, just my opinion.

How much was the HD(congrats on the new bike) compared to the rocket, a little guess I would say about$10000

 

[Jim Wissmiller]

How much was the HD(congrats on the new bike) compared to the rocket, a little guess I would say about$10000

yes you are correct. For $11000. more dollars than the rocket you should get a nicer bike. I did love the torque of the rocket, undeniable power.

 

[WyldCFH]

Over the years when one is talking about the crappy suspension one common factor is --the weight of the rider-- the lets say rather large gentleman complain the most now I did change my rears on both my Rockets and I am a 185# greek god look a like.
When Triumph designs the bike cost is a factor as is every bike sold when you pay Ford Escort prices for a bike do not expect Rolls Royce parts on it that is where the after market parts come into play.

I'm going to consider myself a "rather large gentleman", @1olbull & @EasTexRIII will agree with agree with that.

I have no issues with the suspension for a "normal" ride. Once things get spirited and corners come into play is where there are issues for me. So much so that i've not changed the fork springs or shocks yet. Though I plan to because i am not a normal rider.

 

[Rocket3Pilot]

At 185lbs I didn't think there was anything wrong with my stock 2013 R3R. Some one posted this link:

and I watched the entire series of videos on suspension tuning and technology.
What an eye opener! So, after I let that info stew for a couple of months, I thought what the hell, I 'll just see if there could really be that much difference?
I decided to go with Wiburs on the rear first. They are set up from the factory for your specific weight. Took about 1 hour to swap them out as I had to remove the Corbin beetle bags to gain access, otherwise it would have taken like 20 minutes.
First few minutes down the road I couldn't tell anything different. Just about the same shock absorption for straight and level. I was thinking, "well there went $1,000.00 dollars" Then I got to the foot hills and out of traffic and, OMG! The handling difference was immediate and incredible. I had no idea what I was missing. If I had known this I would have changed them as soon as I bought the bike. It also makes me think about all the bikes I've had where I just accepted the stock suspension as being "ok"? The stability going into and out of turns is as if I'm on a completely different bike.

Now I can't wait to do the front forks this winter and plan to use the Traction Dynamics AK-20 Gas cartridge inserts. In fact I was planning to do their drive-in-drive out option but the winter is here already and not likely I can get to Atlanta before spring, so I may just ship the front forks to them and have them tuned and returned?

BTW, my son just did the Drive-in-drive out option with them on his Yamaha FJR 1300 before heading out to the west coast and he hasn't stopped raving about the difference. They ran into some issues that are not his or their fault from previous "NewYork mechanic maintenance" which really complicated the installations and shop time and Traxxion Dynamics bent over backwards and went way out of their way to make it all correct. KUDOS to Traxxion Dynamics for their effort and service!

 

[sonny]

yes you are correct. For $11000. more dollars than the rocket you should get a nicer bike. I did love the torque of the rocket, undeniable power.

Glad you are happy with the Harley but as far as being a NICER bike is highly debatable. With minor upgrades on shocks and tires the ROCKET X is one of the best handling and most comfortable bikes I have ever had the pleasure of owning. True it is a big bike with very little extras attached but that was why i bought it. Harley in the last couple of years have really made a effort at playing catch up on their suspension and performance which is good but at the same time have increased the price of there bikes. With the improvements Harley has spent a lot of money advertising their larger bikes as female friendly. WOW there went that image of the big bad Harley rider. If I was in the market for a comfortable bike and that was my only concern it would be a GOLDWING.