I HAVE A CSC FRIENDSHIP 3 ON A SUZIKI CAVALCADE,AND AM WONDERING IF AN AIRSHOCK MIGHT BE A SOULUTION TO VARIBLE LOADS.KIND OF LIKE THE EQUALEAN OFERED ON THOSE CARS. THIS BIKE ALREADY HAS AN ON BOARD COMPRESSOR FOR THE STOCK REAR SUSPENSION.SO IM THINKING AN AIRSHOCK WOULD BE PERFECT.ANY THOUGHTS WOULD BE APPREICIATED
Welcome, Henry!
I have no direct experience with air shocks on bikes or sidecars but it might possibly work. One thing about air shocks though is sometimes they are less forgiving, as having a harsher ride than a hydraulic or air-over oil shock. Sort of an all or nothing effect. I use front air bag assist on my solid axle truck and it's great but very firm, different from normal shocks. Others may have better answers for you.
By the way, please don't use ALL CAPITAL LETTERS in a post as it's considered yelling and shouting in internet forums.
hey X,no offense intended,just discovered what that caps lock thing is all about.but it was a "shout-out" to all side hackers ......any way, i think newer air shocks use air as the spring and dampen with oil like the progressive units i use on another bike i have.progressive makes a great air shock,i retrofitted them on a triumph i have,which gave me this idea.thanks for the welcome/anwser.
No problem on the caps and apparently the 'Shout out' worked! Yes, it all depends on what you mean by an air shock and I'm sure you'll get some much more usable feedback than mine.
late 1980's and early 1990's Hitchhikers came standard with air shock......fly
the 1986 Kawa Z650 had self pumping air shocks in the back.
As the truck seats I fixed in former times after a soft ride the first hit might pass through but after a few bumps the right top and down pressure will be achieved.
Myself I allways was thinking about such a self adjusting air suspension, but never was urged to make things up. By the way with modern industrial neumatic pistons and magnetic sensors You are able to fiddle it up yourself.
Sven
Hey Henry,
I put an air shock on my 1970's doublewide Auburn Gemini. I'm happy with the results. Luckily the shock length matched the OEM air shocks of my '82 GL1100 Goldwing tug, so I was able to source a set of FleeceBay. Having matched components has a certain engineering elegance, me thinks!
Welcome to the forum, by the way!
I had Monroe 500 Air shock on my 1995 Turbo RK/Spyder rig. Worked great for different touring loads.
Lonnie
I had one on my Watsonian Cambridge for a while. Worked great for raising and lowering the sidecar for load, but was a bit brutal to my passengers.
It's a Watsonian Cambridge, nothing really effects how it handles...
Sorry to hijack, just wondering if the rig does not have Any shock at all, can one be added, air or regular? Thanks::::
If it has a swingarm with a shock tower or brackets. Some with torsional suspension can have shock mounts fabricated. With no suspension you're dead in the water.
Lonnie
My HD rig only has torsional suspension and I do not have a problem with it and it does not make any difference if I am empty or put 300 pounds in it rides just the same no adjustments. But I do have air shocks on back of the bike it came with them from the factory. Does seem that air shocks on the hack would be a good idea.
@Hack'n: Hi Lonnie, Dead in the water as in I should have never bought it and it's time to look for another one, or dead in the water I like can't add suspension and will just have to live with it? It's a Cali Friendship I in pristine condition.
Jersey - 3/29/2013 7:09 PM
@Hack'n: Hi Lonnie, Dead in the water as in I should have never bought it and it's time to look for another one, or dead in the water I like can't add suspension and will just have to live with it? It's a Cali Friendship I in pristine condition.
As Lonnie said you can add one but you will have to fabricate everything but the shock. Is the body on springs or something. Mine has two big leaf springs.
@46, no. Took the body off the frame last week so that some nice thick steel could be welded into the frame for ballast; getting it back on Sunday. No suspension in the form of leaf springs or shocks. Body was sitting on some urethane bushings at the bolt points and really thick foam-type adhesive backed padding type stuff all the way around. Wondering if I made a bad purchase now. If it means anything, 2 dogs will be the cargo so comfort for people isn't really an issue. Again, sorry to hijack.
