how often do you check shock pressure

borto1990 · 05-13-2009, 08:04 PM

After really bottoming out a few times lately I invested in a progressive shock pump.. upon my trusty UPS delivery guy's arrival I took the bags off and hooked the pump up.. I had about 2 lbs in each shock. Now I just got the bike 2 months ago and the dealer says they fill em. How often do you guys check your shocks? do you just go by feel of the ride? also, I think on gadgets site there was a little plastic tubing fiting to adj both shocks at once. does anyone know if this setup will let me air my shocks without removing my bags? ALSO.. what's the max pressure you guys are using if your riding loaded up..

VulcanE · 05-13-2009, 08:18 PM

I do have the progressive shock balancing kit. I used to check it pretty regularly, but found that I only need to check it about twice a year. I ride with 27 lbs of air in them when loaded down. I haven't had any bottoming out, and that's with the bike LOADED down, and riding 2-up. When you first get your bike, the shocks have "atmospheric" pressure (Kawi recommended). You get this by raising the bike off the ground, letting the swing arm hang loose, remove the shrader valves from the shocks, then replace them. When the weight of the bike is supported by the shocks, that'll give you 2-3 psi in the shocks. The balancing kit is really nice, because no matter what pressure you have in them, it's equal in both shocks.

Yellow Jacket · 05-13-2009, 08:35 PM

It looks like you have a 2008 model. I hope it came with the owners manual. Starting on page 135 is the information about air pressure and the rebound damping force settings. There are a couple of charts included for both pressure and rebound.

The main thing is to ensure that you don't exceed 43 psi pressure in the shocks.

Netnorske · 05-13-2009, 09:38 PM

Not too long ago I set both of mine at 24 psi. I recently checked them both and one of them was down to about 15, while the other one stayed close to 23-24. Does this seem normal for one shock to lose pressure like that..??? Makes me think I should check them more often...

!

I boosted them both up to 30 psi and have the damper set at III. It seems to ride nice now with the wife and I and some extra gear. I have a pretty big Tour Pack on the back though as well...so I think the extra air helps with that too....

Bob is right though.....never more than 43 psi or you will blow the seals...!!

**Cajunrider** · 05-13-2009, 09:49 PM

I have the Progressive balancing kit and check the pressure every couple or 3 months. It's always a little lower by a couple of pounds than what I put in them. I've checked for leaks with Snoop and none were apparent.

**schoeney** · 05-13-2009, 10:44 PM

I have only checked them twice in the last year. I put 12# and set them on 1. I ride solo and weigh 190-200. If I load up for an overnighter I will change to #2.

strobe · 05-13-2009, 10:55 PM

Fully loaded and 2 up I will check them every day on a longer trip. Normal riding, 1 up I check them once or twice a month at most.

dank · 05-14-2009, 07:45 AM

I using 14 lbs in mine for solo and two-up. If I know it will just be me riding and I'm heading on a long trip with lots of freeway miles I drop it to 11. (My wife is a light-weight, so I don't need to add much for her and a little extras smoothness is best when she is riding. Almost lost her on a freeway joint the first year when I tried 21 lbs in it.) I check a couple times each summer, but have never had to add unless I was intentionally changing the pressure to try something new. I just squeeze (jam) my hand in and work the fitting on without taking the bags off. It's very awkward but doable.

cactusjack · 05-14-2009, 09:32 AM

I check mine whenever I have my seat or saddlebags off.

**BudMan** · 05-14-2009, 06:02 PM

I also have the progressive shock kit. I placed a "Y" in the hose and mounted a 1 1/2" guage
near the valve. That way I can tell at a glance.

**ringadingh** · 05-14-2009, 07:47 PM

I usually check 2-3 times a season or when I bottom out somewhere. I have 35psi in mine and set at #2. This seems to work for me.

ponch · 05-14-2009, 08:00 PM

2x a year.

**Cajunrider** · 05-14-2009, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BudMan

I also have the progressive shock kit. I placed a "Y" in the hose and mounted a 1 1/2" guage
near the valve. That way I can tell at a glance.

Good idea Dave....

ballast · 05-15-2009, 12:40 AM

Do you have to have the rear off the ground to add air??

**Cajunrider** · 05-15-2009, 08:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ballast

Do you have to have the rear off the ground to add air??

I never do Charlie, I maintain my pressure with it sitting on the sidestand.

05-13-2009, 08:04 PM	#1
borto1990 Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: grand rapids, mi Posts: 475	how often do you check shock pressure After really bottoming out a few times lately I invested in a progressive shock pump.. upon my trusty UPS delivery guy's arrival I took the bags off and hooked the pump up.. I had about 2 lbs in each shock. Now I just got the bike 2 months ago and the dealer says they fill em. How often do you guys check your shocks? do you just go by feel of the ride? also, I think on gadgets site there was a little plastic tubing fiting to adj both shocks at once. does anyone know if this setup will let me air my shocks without removing my bags? ALSO.. what's the max pressure you guys are using if your riding loaded up.. Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-13-2009, 08:35 PM	#3
Yellow Jacket Top Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Fayetteville, Georgia Posts: 5,792	how often do you check shock pressure It looks like you have a 2008 model. I hope it came with the owners manual. Starting on page 135 is the information about air pressure and the rebound damping force settings. There are a couple of charts included for both pressure and rebound. The main thing is to ensure that you don't exceed 43 psi pressure in the shocks. __________________ Bob KawaNOW/VBA 210 Green/Silver 2006 Patriot Guard Riders 2009
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05-13-2009, 09:38 PM	#4
Netnorske Top Contributor Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Everett, Washington Posts: 5,709	how often do you check shock pressure Not too long ago I set both of mine at 24 psi. I recently checked them both and one of them was down to about 15, while the other one stayed close to 23-24. Does this seem normal for one shock to lose pressure like that..??? Makes me think I should check them more often... ! I boosted them both up to 30 psi and have the damper set at III. It seems to ride nice now with the wife and I and some extra gear. I have a pretty big Tour Pack on the back though as well...so I think the extra air helps with that too.... Bob is right though.....never more than 43 psi or you will blow the seals...!! __________________ *Kris Olsen* VBA #0691 2017 HD Ultra Limited Low 2013 Victory Cross Country Tour 2012 1700 Vulcan Voyager 2008 1600 Vulcan Nomad 1997 Vulcan 800 Classic *"Growing old is mandatory,* *but growing up is optional"* Custer 2009\|Kalispell 2010\|Cortez 2010\|Crescent City 2011\|Kanab 2012\|Canmore 2012\|Estes Park 2013\|Orofino 2014\|Lake Tahoe 2015\|Red Lodge 2016
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05-13-2009, 09:49 PM	#5
Cajunrider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: (SE Louisiana) Posts: 8,340	how often do you check shock pressure I have the Progressive balancing kit and check the pressure every couple or 3 months. It's always a little lower by a couple of pounds than what I put in them. I've checked for leaks with Snoop and none were apparent. __________________ 2016 Electra Glide Ultra Limited CVO Palladium Silver / Phantom Blue 110 cu in SE 2012 Electra Glide Ultra Limited (Traded 6/22/16) Tequila Sunrise / HD Orange Vance & Hines true dual headers Rinehart 4" slip ons Screamin Eagle Super Tuner Screamin Eagle Stage 1 intake Dyno tuned H.O.G.# 4514015 2007 Nomad 1600 (Traded 6/23/12) VBA #482 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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05-13-2009, 10:44 PM	#6
schoeney Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: NW Region Posts: 5,222	how often do you check shock pressure I have only checked them twice in the last year. I put 12# and set them on 1. I ride solo and weigh 190-200. If I load up for an overnighter I will change to #2. __________________ VBA #659 2003 Nomad 1500 (Gone but never forgotten) 2005 Honda ST1300 - Sweet and still kickin 2006 Honda Goldwing - Best Boat in the Marina
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05-13-2009, 08:18 PM	#2
VulcanE Sr. Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Cartersville, Georgia Posts: 4,838	how often do you check shock pressure I do have the progressive shock balancing kit. I used to check it pretty regularly, but found that I only need to check it about twice a year. I ride with 27 lbs of air in them when loaded down. I haven't had any bottoming out, and that's with the bike LOADED down, and riding 2-up. When you first get your bike, the shocks have "atmospheric" pressure (Kawi recommended). You get this by raising the bike off the ground, letting the swing arm hang loose, remove the shrader valves from the shocks, then replace them. When the weight of the bike is supported by the shocks, that'll give you 2-3 psi in the shocks. The balancing kit is really nice, because no matter what pressure you have in them, it's equal in both shocks. __________________ Cliff "VulcanE" Evans 2005 Blue & Silver 1600 Nomad VBA # 320 VROC # 20381
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05-13-2009, 10:55 PM	#7
strobe Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1,200	how often do you check shock pressure Fully loaded and 2 up I will check them every day on a longer trip. Normal riding, 1 up I check them once or twice a month at most. __________________ Cory 2013 Honda GL1800 Goldwing 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 (for sale) 2007 Honda ST1300 (sold) 2005 Kawasaki Nomad (sold) 2004 Suzuki Hayabusa (sold) http://www.strobel.ws VBA #01021 VROC #29389
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05-14-2009, 07:45 AM	#8
dank Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Michigan Posts: 1,595	how often do you check shock pressure I using 14 lbs in mine for solo and two-up. If I know it will just be me riding and I'm heading on a long trip with lots of freeway miles I drop it to 11. (My wife is a light-weight, so I don't need to add much for her and a little extras smoothness is best when she is riding. Almost lost her on a freeway joint the first year when I tried 21 lbs in it.) I check a couple times each summer, but have never had to add unless I was intentionally changing the pressure to try something new. I just squeeze (jam) my hand in and work the fitting on without taking the bags off. It's very awkward but doable. __________________ Dan K Member #100 2009 ST1300: Performance exceeding even Victory riders' boasts.
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05-14-2009, 09:32 AM	#9
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	how often do you check shock pressure I check mine whenever I have my seat or saddlebags off. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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05-14-2009, 06:02 PM	#10
BudMan Join Date: May 2009 Location: Greenwood, Ark. Posts: 4,736	how often do you check shock pressure I also have the progressive shock kit. I placed a "Y" in the hose and mounted a 1 1/2" guage near the valve. That way I can tell at a glance. __________________ Dave Jesse 2012 1700 Gray/Black Voyager 2006 1600 Nomad Green/Silver Sold VBA #1108 2010- Eureka Springs - Antlers - 2011- Maggie Valley - Antlers 2012- Margaritaville Ride - Van Buren - Antlers - 2013- Estes Park - Antlers 2014- Mountain View - Antlers - 2015- Eureka Springs - Antlers 2016- Salem - Antlers - 2017- Eureka Springs - Lake George - Antlers - 2018- Custer - Antlers
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05-14-2009, 07:47 PM	#11
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	how often do you check shock pressure I usually check 2-3 times a season or when I bottom out somewhere. I have 35psi in mine and set at #2. This seems to work for me. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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05-14-2009, 08:00 PM	#12
ponch Sr. Contributor Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Way East Valley Posts: 12,014	how often do you check shock pressure 2x a year. __________________ Ponch VBA 0019 VROC 8109-R BMWMOA 162849 BMWRA 41335 BMW: When you care enough to ride the very best. My Motorrad Blog My Motorrad YouTube 2009 BMW R1200RT Previous bikes:2007 Nomad \| 2001 Vulcan 800 Classic \| 1984 GPz750 \| 1978 KZ1000A2 Rallies: Custer '09\|Prairie Du Chien '10\|Crescent City '11
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05-15-2009, 12:40 AM	#14
ballast Sr. Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Orting, WA Posts: 1,394	how often do you check shock pressure Do you have to have the rear off the ground to add air?? __________________ Charlie "Ballast" Krogh 2005 1600 Nomad "Tangerine Dream" VBA #999 VROC #29355
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