How does changing my shock length affect my motorcycle?

It dramatically changes both the look and handling. Shorter shocks lower the rear of your bike for that classic, low-slung look, but they also reduce your ground clearance for cornering and limit suspension travel. Longer shocks, like 14-inch shocks on a Sportster, will raise the rear, providing much more cornering clearance and quicker steering, but can make the bike feel taller at a stop.

What's the real difference between standard and high-performance shocks?

Standard shocks are designed to be a direct replacement for your stock units for casual riding. High-performance shocks have vastly superior damping capabilities. This means they control the spring's rebound much better, preventing that "pogo-stick" feeling over rough roads and keeping your tire planted on the ground during aggressive cornering or when riding with a passenger.

How do I know if these shocks will fit my Harley Sportster?

There are two critical factors: length and mounting hardware. First, decide on the length you want (e.g., 11", 12", 14"). Second, and just as important, you must check the size of your mounting eyelets. Different year ranges use different size bolts (e.g., 1/2 inch is common). You must measure the inner diameter of your stock mounting hardware or shock eyelets to ensure the new shocks will bolt up correctly.

7 Heavy Duty Motorcycle Shocks

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Progressive Suspension 413 Series Shocks - Heavy Duty - 15" inch - 1986-2020 Harley-Davidson Sportster XL
2 reviews $351.95

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