Air Ride Suspension - Recommendations?

[LDESTRUKTO]

Is anyone running an air ride suspension on their R3? I am wanting to ditch my factory shocks, in favor of something both, Black, and Air ride if possible.

I have looked at the Progressive 440s, and have been reading that a lot of people like them better than stock, but also find them stiff.

I do want to drop the rear 1" with whatever I get to replace the stock shocks, but the bill for 2 Progressive 440's is near $900 - $1000.

I have standard air filled forks, and rear air shocks on my 83 Goldwing. Not a "true" air ride system, as you just charge it with your own air compressor, and it isnt adjustable with an on board tank or anything. However it still rides like a dream on the long rides, and since using my Rocket more I get beat up on the same long rides the wing took in stride. Granted, it could just be my back snapping out of alignment with the throttle response, but...im feeling a lot more of those "bone jarring" bumps everyone always talked about, that I never notice on my wing.

If anyone has any air riding advice let me know....if not...I guess I will throw some money at a new problem and post whatever i do here again

 

[TOMCAT]

Only RIII i've ever seen with rear air shocks was Garys heavily customised Rocket, the bike that won peoples choice at RDU. He has Air-Ride brand shocks on his , paid over $2000AUD for them he said. He told me they are half the price these days... He was still complaining about the bumpy track we went down on the last PackRats ride.... that being said both Mitch and Tekcor where right up the front of the pack on the same ride , both have standard shockies f#cked if i know if that was any help mate.

 

[emwolb]

air shocks for Rocket III

i'm glad someone mentioned the use of air ride for the rockets. i have a pair of air shocks i removed from my 08 streetglide in favor of taller ones from a same year electraglide standard. 1" taller made a huge difference on my streetglide. anyway, i'm tempted to install them on my 08 rocket III classic. they're really easy, eye to eye bolt on, and the plastic tubing that connects the two together so there's one fill point. i'll measure to check dimensions, but harley air shocks have been in use for quite a while on their touring bikes and might be a good alternative to our stiff triumph shocks. i know my rocket hates potholes and other road irregularities.

 

[TOMCAT]

Please let us know if you go ahead and fit them... be interested to see how they go on a Rocket.

 

[ponters]

hi mate, cant comment on air ride on a rocket as ive never ridden one. i have recently ridden 2 vrods one with air ride and one with the exact same wilbers as im running on my rocket.

the air ride was nice but when i took it up a stretch of road that tests your suspension it was either bottoming out or too stiff if you pumped it up on the go. i feel it is good suspension for just bumming around on decent roads then it is nice but challenge it and it has its limitations.

the vrod running the wilbers was amazing. got to admit, had i ridden this bike before buying my rocket i may have bought one.

the secret with wilbers is to use a softer spring than what is recommended. what they specify is usually still a bit stiff as they are 100% about performance. I completely love my wilbers front suspension and as soon as my bike gets home from interstate I will be replacing the springs on rear to a softer spring. I am informed this will give me the dream ride I am seeking.

Finally, if you are going air rides make sure you get the Kevlar bags as i have heard of people having major issues dealing with the weight and not getting good results with the cheaper set ups.

I think the fella from up QLD way that TC was referring to is considering changing his but cant remember exactly if he was interested in my forks or total setup. Id recommend trying to chat with him as he'd tell you straight out what he reckons.

Probably confused you more but all i can say is ive had 3 different suspension setups on my R3R and the Wilbers is by far the best IMO. I have the rear set too firm but as said above am going to get that sorted and personally I wouldnt be changing for anything else. The only other option is Fitting Ohlins on the rear and chaining the fork inners to Suzuki GSRX1000 suspension. I have had it on good advice that this is a brilliant setup. My problem was it was going to cost more than fitting the Wilbers to get it done and then I figure it will only be as good so stuck with the Wilbers.

Hope this helps.

 

[TOMCAT]

Gary is intending on having Wilbers internals fitted to his front forks . Can't remember if he intends to hang onto the Air-Rides on the back.

 

[happyhenry]

been runing progressive 416 air shocks for 4 years now on a 2005r3,they are awsome .went with a longer unit 13.5.416 1609 a was the part #. bolted right on, even had the correct boshings right out of the box.you cant beat them for the money,i think i paid 321.00 on line.

 

[rash_powder]

If you look on the Progressive Suspension website, the rear shocks for an R3 are the same part numbers as for a Gold wing or Valkyrie. So I figure what I am going to do is snag a set of factory takeoffs from a Wing on eBay. I will need the distribution manifold too. Then plumb it all, together with a 1 balloon tank and compressor sufficient for the air horn (think Mac truck) I will mount.

Basically, I have found for the rear end, if it fits a wing it will fit a R3. And if it can hold up a Wing, it should hold up a R3.

 

[happyhenry]

phat performance, part # is above,they can be had for 308 w/free shipping.rebuidable multi stage valving,brand new,warranted,why blow money on used parts with no way of knowing their history.mine cross w/ a vtx or harley,i dont think progressive lists 416s for the rocket3,and you are right 1" makes a great improvment on an r3 also.i went with a 13.5 shock giving 1 " over the stock 12.5" i think they come in an 11" also

 

[barbagris]

I use Fournales Air Shocks - Not Air-ride as such as they do not use an on-board compressor.

But BE CAUTIOUS. The final drive shaft on the R3 only has 1 universal joint. It's all made for the angle on the UJ to be the least possible under normal use.
Chain/belt drives do not suffer with this - UJ's can. an 1" either way will work - but expect increased spline wear.