Why Don't Harley-Davidson Touring Bikes Use Rear Spring Suspension? | ANSWERS

Q. I'm a first-time Harley-Davidson owner this year and, for the most part, am quite pleased. But among its many newly discovered "Harley-isms," my 2014 Ultra Limited has this wonky air-ride suspension that I just haven't sorted out. When I asked the dealer's techs about suspension setup I feel like they looked at me cross-eyed and walked away.

So here's my question: Do I have to pump this up every time I load the bags for a trip then dump pressure for commuting? Why can't we just use springs? I know the "click-click" of preload, compression, and rebound. This pneumatic whiz-bang gadget just has a nipple. I would love an MC explanation.

Dillan Masellas
York, ME

Got tech questions that need ANSWERS? Email us at mcmail@bonniercorp.com.

A. When this question came up, MC's Road Test Editor Ari Henning raised his hand to answer it:

“If you’re loading the saddlebags and the top case, yeah, you should probably pump up the shocks to help maintain chassis attitude and thus handling and ground clearance. Check the owner’s manual to see what pressures H-D recommends for your weight.

“Pumping up the shocks for a weekend ride and then bleeding them down for Monday’s commute might sound like a pain, but I’d be willing to bet it’s quicker and easier than turning the collars on a pair of spring shocks, which on your bike would require removing the saddlebags.

“Part of the appeal of air shocks is that they can be made to handle a wide range of loads with just a few strokes of the pump. The air is the spring, and by forcing more air into the shock you’re making a stouter spring. The other benefit is that air shocks have a very progressive rate, which is important on a bike with such limited suspension travel.”

One final thought. Air springs aren’t a new gadget. For many years, manufacturers used air to supplement steel springs as a way to fine-tune the suspension. Even for Harley, this is nothing new.