When to replace shocks?

[Toledo Mark]

I have a 99 standard with about 52k miles and am wondering if I should replace the rear shocks and do some work on the front.  All are original and it seems to ride fine but I could be used to it.

How can you tell if you need shocks?

[old2soon]

I've got a 99 I/S with a little over 64000 miles showing and i'm still on stock shocks. Sometimes they start puking oil. I know the springs can and will get tired but i don't know the symptoms. I try to keep gals in excess of a certain weight off my M/C. Don't ask as i don't wanna P O nobody.  RIDE SAFE.

[hubcapsc]

I have a 99 standard with about 52k miles and am wondering if I should replace the rear shocks and do some work on the front.  All are original and it seems to ride fine but I could be used to it.

How can you tell if you need shocks?

Does your bike wallow in the turns when you're riding fast? Do you feel like maybe your rear
wheel is skipping down the road (not staying constantly in contact with the road) when you're
braking hard in bumps? A rule of thumb is that you don't want your shocks to bottom out except
on the harshest of hits... if they never ever bottom out, you're not using all the travel...

Progressive (brand) springs and the fresh oil that would go along with them would improve
your forks... less dive under braking for a specific thing, and just generally better... there's
wear parts inside the forks that could/should be changed out by now too...

-Mike

[sandy]

Replace as soon as you have the money. Forget miles and years, you won't regret it.

[Ricky-D]

I have a 99 standard with about 52k miles and am wondering if I should replace the rear shocks and do some work on the front.  All are original and it seems to ride fine but I could be used to it.

How can you tell if you need shocks?

I guess you are simply looking to do something to your Valkyrie.

You should not contemplate changing out the shocks, even in view of the comments urging you to do so.

The benefits derived (from a shock absorber change out) are questionable and hardly an improvement.

See some recent threads regarding shock absorber changes and how most are going back to stock configuration because of the unhappiness of performance from the aftermarket devices.

Some will still recommend a change out however even in face of the complaints stated on this forum.

Hard to explain!

***

[hubcapsc]

Some will still recommend a change out however even in face of the complaints stated on this forum.

Hard to explain!

Some don't even care if their shocks have oil in them  , others want their shocks to work right 

-Mike

[Jess from VA]

Personally, if they are working, not leaking, and you have no ride complaints, I'd forgetaboutit until you do have a problem.

[donaldcc]

Personally, if they are working, not leaking, and you have no ride complaints, I'd forgetaboutit until you do have a problem.

+1 

[X Ring]

Zeus, don't listen to Ricky D.  As we all know, shocks do wear out.  How many times have you had to replace them on your car?  When I bought my 97 Tourer it had about 30K miles and the rear shocks were worn out.  They guy I bought it from was well over 6 ft and 300lbs.  Punisher recommended I find a set of low mileage I/S shocks.  I found a pair with 6K miles on them, installed them and I couldn't be happier.  When I am riding solo they are set on 1.  When I have a backseater, I turn them to 3. 

Marty