Rear Shocks for Standard Valk GL1500...Need something really heavy duty

[romachado]

Hi, guys. i need a little help with my '97 Valkyrie GL1500, and I am hoping one of you guys will have some ideas for me. My issue is weight.

My wife and I do a lot of long-distance riding and she, like most women, does NOT pack lightly. I have the shocks set at the highest setting.

Here is what I have. I added some Tsukayu Jumbo Saddlebags (which I whole-heartedly recommend ... thick fiberglass construction) and when my lovely wife and I hit the road we tend to fill the bags to the brim. We usually have a bag on the luggage rack behind the sissy bar and do not exactly adhere to the "7 lbs limit" called for by the little yellow sticker on it. We also have a Uni-go trailer that adds to the tongue weight. Geez...the Hitch Doctor bracket alone must add another 15 to 20 lbs to the bike.

That leaves us. I add 3 solid bills to the scale and she adds another 160 lbs.

What I am wondering is if anyone has had experience adding aftermarket, heavy duty shocks (if they even exist) to the a standard Valkyrie? Also... does a Valkyrie Interstate have heavier duty shocks that could fit a standard Valk? Has anyone ever tried that?

I know that I am asking a lot of questions. But you guys have always been a great resource for me. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas that may help me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for your time, and Ride safe,
Ramón

[olddog1946]

I would think your best bet would be the progressive air shocks..then you'd be able to adjust your shocks to the load you are carrying..

[John U.]

Ramon, yes the I/S shocks are more heavy duty. They are pretty pricey if purchased new. You can search Ebay for Valkyrie parts and accessories to find used ones, low mileage I/S shocks are getting scarce but they come along occasionally.
Progressive Suspension makes several heavy duty shocks the 440s are well liked by those who have them. They're not cheap but carry a lifetime guarrantee if you save your receipt. They also make air shocks that can be made stiffer or softer by adjusting air preasure. The company has a web site, but once you decide what you want, shop around, prices vary widely.
Good luck

[gordonv]

I'm going to go another way. You didn't say you had any problems, just that you are exceeding the weight limit of what the bike was designed for.

Since I just parted my IS, it only had 50K miles on it when I had my accident, both rubber bushings on the tops of the shocks where shot, and NEEDED to be replaced. I would have done the bottoms also, since they where no longer round, but oval.

If you are not actually having any problems, even if you are, I would check your shock bushings. Gary the Shock Guy has replacement neoprean (?) bushings, that should also stiffen the ride a little if yours are worn at all.

[romachado]

Good point, Gordon. I did not specify that there was a problem. The problem is that I can feel the bike "buttom out" ... and by "bottum out" I mean that I can fel the shock displacement max out and I get a hard "thump" when we are weighted down.

Thank you for suggesting the bushings. They were, in fact, recently replaced. My tops too were pretty worn out.

You stated that you parted your bike post accident (I hope you are/were ok). Any chance that you still have the shocks?

[chrise2469]

A very popular option is works shocks.  These are custom made shocks.  They ask your weight, what % of 2 up, the misses weight, trailer tongue weight, and if you have a heavy saddlebag load tell them that as well.

They aren't cheap 405-689 but I think they are worth it.
http://www.worksperformance.com/html/street.html

Ride safe.

[Cliff]

A very popular option is works shocks.  These are custom made shocks.  They ask your weight, what % of 2 up, the misses weight, trailer tongue weight, and if you have a heavy saddlebag load tell them that as well.

They aren't cheap 405-689 but I think they are worth it.
http://www.worksperformance.com/html/street.html

Ride safe.

+1 on the works shocks, installed my set early last year and we are very happy with them, riding a 2000 Interstate,  our combined weight 440lbs plus both saddlebags loaded, trunk loaded, top of trunk loaded.  Not sure of the total weight but the works shocks handled it all just fine.

[eric in md]

Hi, guys. i need a little help with my '97 Valkyrie GL1500, and I am hoping one of you guys will have some ideas for me. My issue is weight.

My wife and I do a lot of long-distance riding and she, like most women, does NOT pack lightly. I have the shocks set at the highest setting.

Here is what I have. I added some Tsukayu Jumbo Saddlebags (which I whole-heartedly recommend ... thick fiberglass construction) and when my lovely wife and I hit the road we tend to fill the bags to the brim. We usually have a bag on the luggage rack behind the sissy bar and do not exactly adhere to the "7 lbs limit" called for by the little yellow sticker on it. We also have a Uni-go trailer that adds to the tongue weight. Geez...the Hitch Doctor bracket alone must add another 15 to 20 lbs to the bike.

That leaves us. I add 3 solid bills to the scale and she adds another 160 lbs.

What I am wondering is if anyone has had experience adding aftermarket, heavy duty shocks (if they even exist) to the a standard Valkyrie? Also... does a Valkyrie Interstate have heavier duty shocks that could fit a standard Valk? Has anyone ever tried that?

I know that I am asking a lot of questions. But you guys have always been a great resource for me. If anyone has any thoughts or ideas that may help me, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thank you for your time, and Ride safe,
Ramón

      ok im a little guy i do have the 440s there great by myself ok with loaded two up i could do it again i would go with the works heavy duty.. just my take

[Kaiser]

Eric - for those of you who don't know you (or have never seen you), perhaps you should post a pic of yourself so that everyone knows what you mean when you say "little guy". 

[Jabba]

A very popular option is works shocks.  These are custom made shocks.  They ask your weight, what % of 2 up, the misses weight, trailer tongue weight, and if you have a heavy saddlebag load tell them that as well.

They aren't cheap 405-689 but I think they are worth it.
http://www.worksperformance.com/html/street.html

Ride safe.

+2

I bought mine after a great recommendation from Cliff.

I am 325, the wife is 220.  Plus gear on a 1999 IS.

I am VERY very happy, and they are about the same as 440's.  I have 440 HD's on my Standard by the way so I own both. 

I'll take the Works over the Progressive's all day long.

Jabba

[Momz]

You could also find a wrecked 1500 GoldWing and purchace the OEM air shocks.
They are the correct length and adjustable for varying weight.
And they should be cheap to boot!

[jimprojectmgr]

A very popular option is works shocks.  These are custom made shocks.  They ask your weight, what % of 2 up, the misses weight, trailer tongue weight, and if you have a heavy saddlebag load tell them that as well.

They aren't cheap 405-689 but I think they are worth it.
http://www.worksperformance.com/html/street.html

Ride safe.

Yep, +3 on the Werks shocks. The wife actually insisted that we get new shocks as she was bouncing around on the OEM's. The folks at Werks are very good to work with and the shocks are very adjustable.
Jim

[romachado]

I want to thank everyone for their input and experiences. Now, it is just a matter of which shocks to chose.

Thanks again...

Ramón