[AL-CI]

I ride a '01 Roadking Classic. The air suspension is set to factory recommended settings but when riding on bumpy rodes, someting feels like it is thuding/banging it is as if it is bottoming out at times. Any comments as I have just checked air levels and all is as supposed to be ???

Cheers

 

[wyodude]

AL-CI,

The stock pressure in your airshocks is 6 psi. I'm a big dude so I have mine pumped up to 15 psi (max is 35 psi). Get yourself a low pressure pump and add some air. May take a time or two to get it as you like it.

regards,

wyo

 

[Paladin1]

I noticed the same think riding w/ my girlfriend (together we are almost as heavy as Manny, LOL). When i checked the pressure, it was at 2 pounds.

ps: AL-CI, if you use the search function, I posted a thread a couple of months ago regarding the "special" pumps needed for this. Great investment!

greg

 

[baldbeauty]

My RKC air didn't even register when I just checked it for the first time today......I put 20 psi in per the owner's manual...........Do you think me riding 200 miles already with low air psi could have damaged anything??

 

[stannen]

Could you tell me how you calculate 20 psi, based on rider/s weight.

 

[harleyhog]

...........Do you think me riding 200 miles already with low air psi could have damaged anything??

No I'm not very heavy, and let ALL the air pressure out of mine.
(since pumped it up for better handling reasons)
Manual says 0-whatever you need for the weight you're carrying.

 

[harleyhog]

Could you tell me how you calculate 20 psi, based on rider/s weight.

Taken from the 2000FLT manual.

 

[HIPPO]

When I had the RK I never ran any air in it and adjusted the damping and preload with fluid viscosity and level. Worked like a dream.

 

[Paladin1]

Hippo, any reference as to how to do this?

 

[HIPPO]

Heavier fluid increases damping, rebound damping in particular.
Increasing fork fluid volume increases preload much like air would, but you have to be very careful as you can increase it only so much and a little goes a long way.
The stock fluid is a 10W equivalent. For me 15W worked fine but some heavier people might do better with 20W.
I increased volume by 1.5 OZ and never used air.

On the 02 RK you would have to modify the fork caps to the ones from an air suspension just to allow rapid fluid changes. The RK's do not have the cartridge in the left leg, they are just conventional forks.

 

[thomas_l]

I had been running 20psi in mine which made for a slightly stiff ride solo but just right with the OL on the back. Before riding to FL last weekend I dropped them down to 5psi just for kicks. Bumps are much more forgiving but definitely a mushier feel when cornering. At 5psi I haven't bottomed out (yet).

 

[tbirris]

I heard a similar thump on my 01 RK and thought the same thing. This happened only on pretty good bumps. What it ended up being was slight movement on the removable passenger backrest. What was strange about my bike was when I check the air pressure, red fluid came out of one valve (like tranny fluid) and fluid like oil came out of the other valve. Got all of the fluid out and put 10 lbs in. I don't know if there are bad seals in the shocks, but it seems to ride fine.

 

[harleyhog]

I don't know if there are bad seals in the shocks, but it seems to ride fine.

'Some' fluid weepage is considered normal. So long as its only out the valves when you open them when adjusting.

 

[tbirris]

It's good to know that. That's the only place the fluid came out. There's nothing around the lines or the shocks. Enough came out that I had to spend some time cleaning off the rear disc.