I have a 2007 harley ultra classic with a tle sidecar. In the service and installation manuals they both say to pump the shocks up to 35 psig which is the max pressure for these shocks. The rear end still sags to 2.5 of its 4 inch travel. This reduces the effectiveness of my 5 degree triple trees. So my question is - has anyone tried progressive 416 trike shocks ( flhtcutg) or other harley trike shocks on their sidecar rig? Else, what pressure have you tried? ( I'm a big lad) . Ideas please.
I have a 2004 Electra Glide with the TLE sidecar. The motorcycle leans 1.5-2 degrees to the left. 5 years ago my mechanic exchanged the stock front shocks with heavy duty ones, because the handlebar started to wobble upon releasing. This made straight steering extremely stable, but of course did not change dampening of the rear end.
This summer I (190 pounds) was about to quit the rig because of really rough and bad rides in Portugal, where there are lots of cobble stone roads. On my total 60k miles with this rig I had lots of brilliant riding, but also miserable riding on all kinds of roads all over the world, from devilish pot holes on Louisiana-90 to washboard dirt roads in Elba island, Italy. My worst experience was Sir Francis Drake Blvd to Point Reyes, Ca., in summer 2012.
I guessed it was due to the fixed no-spring sidecar wheel and the rear air shocks on the motorcycle. The sidecar situation cannot be (easily) changed, but the stock air shocks can: I tried several air pressures between 30 psi (recommended) up to nearly 50 (allowed maximum). Not much better. Clearly, all the elevated pressure does is increased dampening without changing the suboptimal 4 inch travel of the stock shocks. I ended up sitting on a camping air cushion, which dampened ok but was too high and unstable to sit on.
This week I replaced the air shocks with 444 Progressive, gas damped, heavy duty 13 inch spring shocks. These are maintenance free and the spring stiffness can easily be changed by hand. Its shock travel is at least the double of the stock, I guess. The replacement ist easy, for once you don't have to remove exhaust pipes :-). Just 4 inserts (to be inserted with a rubber hammer into shock eyes) and 4 screws...
The test rides so far with minimal spring stiffness over bumpy roads are dramatically smooth. Not one bottom out. Like day and night. Previously, I could ride only half speed there and still experienced rough bumps.
If only I had replaced the rear shock earlier. Now I'm looking forward to the next 60k miles brilliant rides.
