Rear Suspension

FirstTrike · Nov 22, 2022

Hey Everyone,

What is the best upgrade for the rear suspension on the 21 Tri Glide. Can't afford going to IRS, not sure that is much better than doing something else. Please give me your thoughts. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Mykneesbehurtin · Nov 22, 2022

Before spending lots of money, have you tried lowering the air pressure in the rear tires to 24-26 lbs. Good rear shocks are pricey although much better than stock.

Jack Klarich · Nov 22, 2022

FirstTrike said:
Hey Everyone,

What is the best upgrade for the rear suspension on the 21 Tri Glide. Can't afford going to IRS, not sure that is much better than doing something else. Please give me your thoughts. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

Mykneesbehurtin said:
Before spending lots of money, have you tried lowering the air pressure in the rear tires to 24-26 lbs. Good rear shocks are pricey although much better than stock.

The 21 models have way better rear shocks than the previous stock air shocks, that said play some with the adjustment knob and lower rear tire PSI to 22-24 range

I have found at least on my 21 Freewheeler ,the owners manual shock adjustment table does not seem correct to me and my riding style

Zammy · Nov 22, 2022

I'm with Jack, it took us several weeks of playing with the shock numbers to get it right for the Misses and I, I think the manual recommendations are way off. We run 36# up front and 22# in the rear tires, works for us.

hydraglide · Nov 22, 2022

FirstTrike said:
Hey Everyone,

What is the best upgrade for the rear suspension on the 21 Tri Glide. Can't afford going to IRS, not sure that is much better than doing something else. Please give me your thoughts. Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.

I installed a set of Legend REVO A shocks and have been quite happy with my ride.

I ride with the stock recommended tire air pressure in the rear (25-26 lbs) and all is well.

I also added a Legend Axeo spring kit to the front forks as well. I felt it was important to upgrade the suspension all the way around and not just half the trike.

https://www.legendsuspensions.com/product/legend-revo-a-tri-glide/

Olddog · Nov 23, 2022

I ride a 21TG, mostly solo, and my manual recommends position 5 on my shock adjustment for my 190 lb. weight. Any alternate settings recommendation? The current setting seems a little harsh, but I don’t have lot of experience riding a TG.

JTJersey · Nov 23, 2022

Olddog said:
I ride a 21TG, mostly solo, and my manual recommends position 5 on my shock adjustment for my 190 lb. weight. Any alternate settings recommendation? The current setting seems a little harsh, but I don’t have lot of experience riding a TG.

Same spec for my 21 Freewheeler. I'm 180ish and I set it on 0 and it rides fine.

Trampas · Nov 23, 2022

Can't believe nobody said anything about pro action shocks, just a thought, the people that have them love it

All for now Trampas

nucseal · Nov 23, 2022

Trampas said:
Can't believe nobody said anything about pro action shocks, just a thought, the people that have them love it

All for now Trampas

I have Pro Action shocks with DK Customs lift kit. No more back pain with the harsh ride from HD Shocks. Was the best upgrade that I ever made. Pricey, but well worth it.

Notgrownup · Nov 23, 2022

I have 14” Pro Action with the lift kit from DK as well. I do like the ride a lot better

DOKK · Nov 23, 2022

I installed the DK Customs 14" NexGen Shocks with lift on mine before going on a road trip this past summer. Made a world of difference for the better. Replaced the front fork springs with the FST Mono cartridge and that was the icing on the cake. Rides like a Cadillac now.

FirstTrike · Nov 24, 2022

Mykneesbehurtin said:
Before spending lots of money, have you tried lowering the air pressure in the rear tires to 24-26 lbs. Good rear shocks are pricey although much better than stock.

Good idea, I run 26 per the book. I will lower to 24 and try that.

Thanks

hardwickbv · Nov 24, 2022

DOKK said:
I installed the DK Customs 14" NexGen Shocks with lift on mine before going on a road trip this past summer. Made a world of difference for the better. Replaced the front fork springs with the FST Mono cartridge and that was the icing on the cake. Rides like a Cadillac now.

I did the same this year and it is the best upgrade I have done to my 17 TG!

Bob

FirstTrike · Nov 24, 2022

hydraglide said:
I installed a set of Legend REVO A shocks and have been quite happy with my ride.

I ride with the stock recommended tire air pressure in the rear (25-26 lbs) and all is well.

I also added a Legend Axeo spring kit to the front forks as well. I felt it was important to upgrade the suspension all the way around and not just half the trike.

https://www.legendsuspensions.com/product/legend-revo-a-tri-glide/

Did you install the lift kit from legend's also?

hydraglide · Nov 24, 2022

FirstTrike said:
Did you install the lift kit from legend's also?

Yep… I did.

I’ve been very happy with this setup.

FirstTrike · Nov 25, 2022

hydraglide said:
Yep… I did.

I’ve been very happy with this setup.

How much of an improvement overall to your ride would you say? 25%, 50% 75%. Do you ride with a passenger and did they like the new ride?

Since I have a 21 like you, I am interested to know how much it improved the comfort over stock.

Thanks

hydraglide · Nov 25, 2022

FirstTrike said:
How much of an improvement overall to your ride would you say? 25%, 50% 75%. Do you ride with a passenger and did they like the new ride?

Since I have a 21 like you, I am interested to know how much it improved the comfort over stock.

Thanks

Truth be told, after I had heard from so many others just how bad the stock Tri Glide suspension was, and after attending a suspension upgrade clinic at my local dealership, I had them installed before I even picked up my trike.

I do plan on riding a stock Tri Glide at some point to compare, however I can tell you cornering is sure and “controlled”, and bumpy roads are as manageable (IMO) as can be expected without the benefit of an independent rear suspension.

It will ALWAYS ride harsher than a two wheeler… But after 10k this summer, and plenty of 400+ mile days in the saddle, I’d do it again in a heart beat.

I see plenty of low mileage Tri Glides at the dealer where riders have given up on them and traded them in.

Not so here!

Sorry I can’t give you the comparison you’re looking for. There is a YouTube video from a rider down in the Ozarks where he compared before and after Legend front and rear installation on his Tri Glide while riding on the same bumpy road to and from installation.

He said it’s a 3x improvement over stock and wished he’d had done it sooner. His wife on the back also had a similar review FWIW.

nucseal · Nov 26, 2022

I have a 20 Tri Glide. Anyone who has changed out their shocks to Legend, Pro Action or Nex Gen Shocks, will tell you that the ride was significantly improved. It just a matter of which one, you want to go with. Compare and decide!