OEM I/S shocks different settings?

[98valk]

has anyone used a different setting for the left vs the right shock?  for me it seems they are either too soft or too stiff. Looking at the spring rates it looks like a one setting and a two setting will be good.

insights and opinions please.
Thanks

[Jess from VA]

I cannot see how different setting would be helpful.

But I can see that 14-20 year old shocks might not be uniform in their decrepitude.  IE, one might be worn, and the other might be shot.

[Houdini]

I wouldn't do it, I'd be worried about getting into a death wobble at higher speed.

[98valk]

I wouldn't do it, I'd be worried about getting into a death wobble at higher speed.

thought about that. however they are connected together via the swing-arm and axle and then thought about the GL1500 goldwing that uses a spring shock one side and the air shock the other. could be completely unbalanced if the air shock is lower or higher in psi. and the valkyrie swing-arm is beefier than the GL1500.

[cookiedough]

have mine set at 4 of the 5 being firmest.  Seems to be fine with me compromise should be 3 setting riding solo and 4 or possibly 5 if riding 2 up with heavier riders loaded up as well.

I do think my 98 std. just bought though seems awfully FIRM to be riding solo vs. my I/S, but that could be something to do as well with an older car tire on back which is probably not as forgiving over road imperfections as a car tire, right?  Since not going to ride 2-up much with that one, been meaning to bump it down to 3 mid-range firmness.

[98valk]

I cannot see how different setting would be helpful.

But I can see that 14-20 year old shocks might not be uniform in their decrepitude.  IE, one might be worn, and the other might be shot.

bought these I/S shocks a few yrs ago, only had 30k on them. have them on my std/tourer now. they are much better than the std shocks. if I can't dial them in, I have a set of rebuilt 416s I can install and try.

[Pete]

If the frame and swing arm are rigid and I assume they are, I see not problem.
I had one that was miss set  by a prior owner and I never noticed it until I was checking the settings.
I also did not notice any difference when corrected.

Suggestion set the right one higher that the left because of the road crown???

[Paladin528]

You are contradicting yourself.  If the swingarm is rigid then why a different setting for the road crown?
There is still a significant amount of flex in the swingarm when riding especially in the corners.  The shocks would always be set the same to prevent instability.  That is why it is designed as it is.

[Houdini]

I read in a Goldwing forum once that packing saddlebags with the weight not distributed evenly could cause tank slappers. 

My .02¢, why risk it, set them the same.  What is to gain by having them set at different settings?