Will GL1500 Goldwing shocks air shocks fit a Valkyrie?...YES!!

[deez]

A while back I posted a request to see if anyone knew wether Goldwing rear air shocks would fit a valkyrie. Only one other thread was present where the individual put on GL1200 shock, and they fit. I, by all accounts am for lack of a "PC" term ...cheap, and didn't want to pay big dollars for Progressive 416 or alternatives. I had tried the Showa air shocks off a harley with limited sucess. (  geometry  required higher then recommended air pressures to even be close to working) so it was back to the drawing board. I started thinking about what other dresser would have air suspension (well duh!) so I checked out the older wings (dual air shocks but they looked identical  to the harley's I already tried. then I saw the Gl1500 system ( shock with progressive wound spring on the left side and an air damper on the right. since it's all hidden behind the saddlebags on my tourer anyway the appearance was not a primary concern and frankly they dont look all that bad anyway. So I got a set off ebay ($49.00 plus $10 to ship) from a trike conversion company. ( low mile take-offs) The only difference between them and my stock valk shocks is they are 1/2" longer center to center on the eyelets and the top eyelet has to be narrowed approx 1/8" ( I just used my belt sander and took a 1/16 off each side and used the bushings out of the old valk shock.) Straight bolt on!!!! I made a small mounting plate that attaches just below the ignition switch to place the schrader valve to fill the shock and ran the air line. The Goldwing uses a banjo fitting for the air damper, but it was easy to drill and tap the damper with a 1/8" pipe tap and insert a standard air shock connector (napa) with only a couple of pounds of air in the shock it rode like a dream! I am 6' and weight 250 . so if your like me you might want to give this alternative a try!

[fudgie]

So do it have the air line with the shocks? What about a gauge?

[deez]

The shocks that I got did not have the air line (only one side is air assisted)  so I only needed to run one  line. The current set up I am running does not have a gauge (it would be easy to install though) I am thinking of running on onboard compressor system like they do on the wings, I just haven't gotten that far yet. I will keep everyone up to date and add pictures later.

[Smokinjoe-VRCCDS#0005]

The shocks that I got did not have the air line (only one side is air assisted)  so I only needed to run one  line. The current set up I am running does not have a gauge (it would be easy to install though) I am thinking of running on onboard compressor system like they do on the wings, I just haven't gotten that far yet. I will keep everyone up to date and add pictures later.

Yes a few pictures would be nice.Good thread 

[JimC]

I am interested in pictures and a report on how they work also,
I owned a 1500 for about 6 months and never realized that they only had one air shock.
Jim

[fudgie]

I looked them up on ebay and saw 1 side had air and the other had springs. kinda weird.  ???

[Hotrodwing]

Yes it is a strange set up, my brother in-law has a 94 1500 and the stock air shock started to leak so we replaced with the 416's. He said it rode nice and smooth.

[Madmike]

I looked them up on ebay and saw 1 side had air and the other had springs. kinda weird.  ???

The 1500 wings are exactly as you describe -  2 shocks, 1 is air.  They have an onboard compressor and a control for the air shock on the dash (RH side of fairing above your knee)  when you activate the system you can check the air pressure and it displays through the digital readout on the dash.  You can increase or decrease system pressure from the controller.  The stock system can only be adjusted while in neutral.

Most guys will calculate pressure readings for the different situations that they need such as solo riding, solo with touring luggage full, two up, two up with trailer etc.  There was an extensive write up by Stu (last name escapes me at the moment but it could be Oltman or similar) a guy that does Tech stuff for the GWRRC about properly adjusting the suspension.  His method suggested that you sit on the bike with no air preload and then increase the suspension pressure sufficient to raise the bike a given amount with the various loads applied (seems  to me it was about 1 1/2").  I tried his method and it gave good results.

The Wing also has an adjuster on the dash that allows you to trim the headlight up and down to compensate for load.  The GW shocks are fairly plain as they are concealed by the body shell

98 GW 1500A rear shocks.

[ssober]

You can do a simple air system on your bike.  On my dragbike I have an air shifter and I installed an onboard compressor by stripping the guts off of a cheap walmart compressor and tucking it behind my sidecover then i went right to my tank which could be a schrader on the shock.  got a cheap 200 psi gauge and mounted it on the handle bars.  Works slick as can be.  I even left it on the lighter plug and used a socket tied into my battery tender pigtail.

Just screw a T into the shock and put a schader on one side for the compressor and a quick connect on to the other and run it to the gauge. 

[deez]

That.s not a bad idea! I just bought another complete air system off ebay so I could get the control valve to be able to raise or lower the bike as needed , but the stock compress is a bit big. your suggestion may be just what I need to keep the project moving forward! thanks! ( finally got a break in the weather and took the bike out for an extended test drive and I am still happy with the results. either my old shockS with only 25k on them were worn out/undersized or the wing system is just that much better. another plus when I go to the "darkside" I won't need to be concered about clearence isues)
Deez

[deez]

a couple of early shots of my change over http://photo.vrccservices.com/thumbnails.php?album=lastupby&uid=3083

[John Schmidt]

Deez, how long are they?

[deez]

My o.e.m. shocks measured 13" from center to center of the eyelets. The GL1500 Wing shocks measure 13.5" eylet to eylet. So they are only a halve inch longer then stock. I went for a one hundred mile ride this last weekend and played with pressures . I am 5' 11" with a 32" inseam and weight 250 lbs. (ok..I am on a diet) I found my best solo ride was with approx 15 lbs. of air in the shock. At stops I can sit flat footed and not feel like I was tipping side to side trying to balance the bike.( something I struggled with on my old yamaha venture with the shocks pumped up) I started with 0 pressure (would bottom out on hard bumps) and worked up from there. at 10 psi it felt good and soft but I like a bit firmer ride.

[John Schmidt]

Set the bike upright in a stand or using someone to hold it. Let all the pressure out of the shock, then find a good spot on the bike to measure the distance from the floor to that spot. That gives you a "no pressure" height. Then, sit on the bike and see what the measurement is, naturally it's going to be lower. Now, add air a little at a time while on the bike until the measurement is at or nearly the same when you weren't sitting on it(the very first measurement). That should give you a good reference point in any case.

When towing a trailer, that's the method to use to determine how much air is needed in the shocks on the trailer if it has air shocks. Hook it up to the bike empty, measure the trailer height, then load it up. Then add air until it's back to where it was empty.

[deez]

great advice John, I'll try it this weekend. I just got my controls today that I bought off ebay. the solenoid system will not be a problem as it fits nicely under the seat if I make it removeable to service the battery. the compressor will take some thought, It's not huge but space is limited on a valk. I would like to keep everything o.e. if possible , but I may need to follow up on a previous post and look at cheap " emergency air" type compressors. anyway  I got another good used air shock out of the deal to play with.

[deez]

Well.. I pulled the compressor apart this  afternoon and checked it out-good to go, cleaned and tested the manifold and solenoids -working great. Got my air damper clean,degreased and painted-looks good! so I started to play around with component placement and I believe I have a workable plan. the manifold easily fits under the front saddle. And if you remove the pressure sensor and block off the port it dosen't even interfere with the battery. Also the factory hoses will reach the damper cleanly. I will be placing the compressor just below the tank and slightly in front of the fuel selector after I make a mounting bracket ( actually looks "factory" there but I still might make a vanity cover for it from plate aluminum.) I will post better pictures when I get to that point. But the project is comming along nicely!

[deez]

These pictures are where I believe I will be mounting my air control system  http://photo.vrccservices.com/displayimage.php?album=random&cat=13083&pos=-15367

[deez]

Well. other then finding the right air pressure gauge to match up with the factory gauges , the system is done and operational. It has met all my expectations, the ride is great and the system is fully adjustable for load changes. Total cost has been less then half the cost of a single Progressive 416. ( got all the parts off ebay, plus an extra air damper for under $100) For me this experiment was about getting a decent air suspension system at an affordable price that the "little guy" can duplicate. There are nicer switch assemblies (Show Chrome makes a nice two switch  block that could be used ) but the cost would have gone up another $100 , so I oped to keep my original schrader valve plate and mounted a couple of momentary switchs along side the factory aux air port.
The gauge can  be placed later on the handle bar, but I thinkI will mount mine next to the controls as I don't plan to make adjustments while riding just at stops (just seems safer!) if anyone wants any specific information on the process just PM me ! http://photo.vrccservices.com/thumbnails.php?album=869

[deez]

  This will probably be my last post on this. The system now has over 5000 miles on it and has worked flawlessly. I recently changed over to the "darkside" and being able to alter the ride height according to the load ,has been a real blessing in keeping a good road feel! I would absolutely do it again!
deez

[deez]

 :cooldude:just an update, two years and running now, also pulling a trailer and after almost 10k miles still no show of failure, leaks or trauma. Give it a try if your industrious!

[gordonv]

I'm wondering how the GW shocks would work, if you used 2 of the same. Either 2 air or 2 coil over, and replaced your Valks shocks with them?

[deez]

with the 1500 set up it would not work as the right side is only an air cylinder with no rebound dampening . the left side has a high rate spring (holding the majority of the bike weight up and doing all the dampening. I believe if you used two of them the bike would be over sprung, with no way to adjust the rate. just my opinion
 deez

[deez]

unfortunately my photo links are dead. you can see the pictures in Valkyrie just pictures. Just search my name (deez)  and it will hook you up.
or you might try this link    http://photo.vrccservices.com/thumbnails.php?album=lastupby&uid=3083