In need of some advice/tips.. (suspension for dirt roads)

[wkheathjr]

I am new to the forum, and I have owned a 1998 Sportster for few months now. For details on my sportster, see my intrdoduction here.

In few years, I am planning a road trip traveling deep south to the bottom of South America (Argentina) and then all the way up to Deadhorse Ak. I plan to start my trip in Key West FL and travel to Ushuaia Argentina to Deadhorse AK so I can attempt to earn two certifications for two challenges: 'Ultimate Coast to Coast' (Key West FL to Deadhorse AK) and 'Trans America' (Ushuaia Argentina to Deadhorse AK). Of course, partial of the roads in Mexico/S. America and major part of the road in Alaska are dirty and/or gravel. After doing some research on the road and weather condition that can affect the road condition, I feel that I need to explore my option on suspension system. The goal is to find a right point where the Sportster can absorb some "beating" from dirt roads.

Having own Can-Am Spyder for 2 years and when I rode on dirt road off I-40 in New Mexico going to Indian's Spirit Community, I was surprised how well the shock responded to bumpy dirt road! Not saying it was smooth ride because it was not but I can see that instead of a full blown thump, it was a light bumpy road. And owning a Harley since mid October with 2,000 miles on it until last week- I can see that I experienced a lot of "thumpy" on the road. I made some adjust to the shock and it did better (bearable for me!) so far..

I have already shipped my seat to Russell's Day-Long custom seat because my experience with them were so great I think they are superior to other seats I have tried. Now I am hoping to find a solution on suspension. Prefer a setting that is smooth ride on the highway and reduce(minimize) the "thumpy" feeling off-road.

Any advice/tips would be helpful as I have very little knowledge on any motorcycle and harley. Thanks in advance for answering my question!!

[Quay]

Ground clearance will help. MY XL1200R has Progressive 412's that are 14-14" long. Helps absorb backroad potholes. Race tech and other specialists can help with your forks.
While many people have done rides like yours on various H-D's, it would be easier done on a lighter machine like a Kawasaki KLR650, which also has massive fuel capacity and decent tolerance for low-octane fuel. If what I read on your bike is correct, you could be in trouble with fuel south of the border.

[jharback]

Check out this thread. Cavebiker started the same trip from Wisconsin (?) on his rigid sporty a couple of years ago. He did a great job of documenting it in this thread.

http://xlforum.net/vbportal/forums/s...ad.php?t=85290

[HandOverFist]

Sounds like you need to do something like this guy did...

[XLXR]

How much money do you want to spend? I suppose you know there are not many bikes that could actually be worse, and a whole lot of others that will be a lot better for a trip like that. I'd set it up like a flat tracker with saddle bags, comfortable seat and BIG gas tank.

http://www.motorcyclemetal.com/gpage17.html

These guys can put Ohlins front and rear. Those skinny stock fork tubes are very marginal in strength. I wouldn't even try a ride like that with the stock fork tubes.

http://store.ricorshocks.com/

If you insist on keeping stock fork tubes, you can't do any better than Ricor Intiminators in the forks and Ricor IAS shocks. Add a fork brace, Works Dual Rate fork spring kit, heavy duty spokes, rims and tires.

http://www.storzperf.com/

These guys have some neat stuff and high pipes.

There are cheaper alternatives, Road King air shocks can carry all the weight you need to, but hope they don't blow out 10,000 miles from nowhere.

Read the "7 Pages of Suspension" in the Suspension Sticky Index for a lot of basic information about suspension set up.

[wkheathjr]

HandoverFist, tire is probably the only option I am willing to consider Hold the exhaust (too high and where to put pannier boxes?) and the fork..

XLXR,
I have Dyna Wide Glide fork on my sportster and it handle ok although it is time to replace the seal according to the guy who sold it to me last October. He told me to put in 10oz fork fluid in it and I have new seals and fluid with me. Was going to make it a winter project while my seat is being done in California by Day-Long. How much money am I willing to spent?? Well, that's a good question but let's be honest.. nobody like to break his pocket unless it is truly proven! Just like I am willing to spend $900+ on getting that seat done because I am a repeat customer.

I talked with most adventure riders and they said that these highway I was thinking of riding on (Pan American Highway and Dalton Highway) are pretty much passive dirt road compared to many other roads that pretty much any type of motorcycle can ride down that dirt road. Even a 250cc Kawasaki Ninja made it up there to Deadhorse AK!! In fact, about 100 bikers have done the Ultimate Coast to Coast Challenge by Iron Butt Association and 9 of them rode on Harley-Davidson. Major were BMW(53) 1 was sportster while other were RK and Ultra Classic. I haven't checked Trans America statistic yet but I know three have done it so far.

Yes, I have thought about looking for BMW R-Series and saw few 2005 with under 10,000 miles for rough $5k to $6k but I honestly think that Sportster will do just fine. If CaveBiker can do it then I think I can!

So that's why I am looking for advice/suggestion on suspension and fork. For fork, I thought that somebody probably will tell me to put in this amount of fluid instead of 10oz to help out or whatever, you know? Is Motorcyclemetal.com your website or ? I did read about your thread going through many suspension system to find the right one and I admit I really feel you!! I weight 250lbs and I am 5'11" so not really a tall guy but a big guy. The seat I am getting done will install a suspension before putting special foam over it but I fear that that alone won't be enough with the shock I have on mine. I might do just OK with the progressive 440 but not sure?? I probably just need to get few inches taller than the one I have to be OK? I am not sure myself but my riding pal said he think it will do the trick for me. I will post pic of my bike soon..

[wkheathjr]

Well, maybe when I can post a pic on my gallery I will do that but for some reason I am unable to add a photo to my gallery! Oh well!

[HD_XL rider]

Use photo bucket or image shack.
Here is a write up that I found:

The easiest way to post a picture is through Photobucket or Imageshack. Both are free and require you to make an account. Once you upload a picture you can copy/paste IMG code here.

EDIT: Here's a copy/paste of a write up I did a couple years ago for putting pictures on another local riders site. Same rules here though.

Use Photobucket.com or ImageShack.com. I prefer imageshack because it will resize picture for you (just one less step to do). So here's some directions using Imageshack. But before we do that, go to imageshack.com and make an account (free). ok, done? Close imageshack (just so me and you begin at same exact place, but stayed logged in to imageshack. Just close window). Let's begin:

1) Keep this page loaded where it is. Towards top of browser, open another window/page.
2) On new page type in: imageshack.com.. it'll re-direct to to http://imageshack.us/
3) Click the grey browse button that is in about middle of screen.
4) Pick a picture from you computer you wish to upload to ImageShack. Click on that picture (one time). Then click Open at bottom right of that same box.
5) Click "Upload Options / Resizing >>"
6) Click on "Do Not Resize" box, and from drop down menu select 640x480 (for message boards)
7) Click big blue Upload Now button
8) When green bars are finished loading, go to your name on top right and click "my images". This will be right next to your name you created for account.
9) Click the itty bitty "i" icon next (to the right) of picture you wish to share. A box will appear. In that box, in the forum section highlight the [img] yada yada yada [/img]. Right click and select copy.
10) Come back to this site, and just paste (right click, select paste) that IMG code you copied. When you post, tada, through the magic of computers, a picture will appear.
11) Pat yourself on the back, order Starleak a pizza, and enjoy

lol, hope this has helped.

[XLXR]

I'm glad to see you have some idea what you're getting into.

I have Dyna Wide Glide fork on my sportster

See if Ricor makes a set of Intiminators to fit. I'd also get new Works Dual Rate fork springs just to be sure your old springs don't sag out before you get home. Then get the longest shock Ricor makes. They may be able to make one extra long for you. I have read shocks up to 14 or 14.5" long will fit on the frame mount bikes, but I have not done it myself. You will need heavy enough springs to carry all the weight you plan on carrying.

I would NOT get shocks so long that you cannot flat foot with both feet. Falling over in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night is not fun. Don't ask how I know.

I frequently ride my Ricor equipped Roadster on nasty roads where the only other bikes are adventure type bikes. But not loaded like you will be, and not for the same distances. That's what my Honda XR 650 R is for.

I don't know anything about motorcycle metal. I did a lot of test riding for Ricor to help develop their shock set up. I don't have any idea how much oil your forks should take.

[XLXR]

MY XL1200R has Progressive 412's that are 14-14" long.

Doesn't the lower run of the belt drag on the rear brake linkage?