Motorcycle shocks

[Rogue1]

Why are motorcycle shocks so expensive? I can buy top line shocks for my truck for a couple hundred

dollars. Top of the line shocks for my TG are as least $700 to $1000 a set. All shocks perform basically the same function.

Sure, internals are a little different but they do the same thing. I know Harley wants $1000 for their best TG shocks. Others are about the same.

 

[Sidecarbill]

Maybe research and development for a much smaller market? I don't know I just paid 100 bucks for a new bicycle tire. Why's that? You could probably make 30 bicycle tires with the same amount of material as a 100 dollar car tire. We can't tell people what we wanna pay. But they can tell us what we need to pay to get there products. Capitalism?

 

[Rogue1]

Maybe research and development for a much smaller market? I don't know I just paid 100 bucks for a new bicycle tire. Why's that? You could probably make 30 bicycle tires with the same amount of material as a 100 dollar car tire. We can't tell people what we wanna pay. But they can tell us what we need to pay to get there products. Capitalism?

I definitely believe part of the answer is a smaller Market. Many more car shocks are sold than motorcycle shocks. Especially for the Tri Glide. I'm all for capitalism but...

 

[rhino 2]

I definitely believe part of the answer is a smaller Market. Many more car shocks are sold than motorcycle shocks. Especially for the Tri Glide. I'm all for capitalism but...

You answered your own question ..And I’m sure that’s one of the reasons..

Remember what Henry Ford said over a hundred years ago produce more sell for less.

 

[hardwickbv]

You're looking at it all wrong.

I get way more enjoyment out of my $700-$1000 TG shocks than I do the $200 Truck shocks.

It's all about perspective!

Bob

 

[Rogue1]

You're looking at it all wrong.

I get way more enjoyment out of my $700-$1000 TG shocks than I do the $200 Truck shocks.

It's all about perspective!

Bob

I agree with that.

I looked all around and ended up going with the Progressive 444 shocks. I will install them as soon as I get a chance. I also went with the DK bearing retainer plates. I will probably wait till winter to install those with the new bearings.

 

[ksuvalk]

I was looking at the DK comfort kits including the shocks and the lift kits, and didn't realize until I pulled it up that the combo is over $1,000

But like you said above- it's all about perspective I guess...

 

[Highaltidude]

Why are motorcycle shocks so expensive? I can buy top line shocks for my truck for a couple hundred

IMHO a couple of hundred is not quite gonna be "top of the line".....

Here's the ones I run on my truck/camper:

https://iconvehicledynamics.com/acc...-ford-f250-f350-25-stage-5-suspension-system/

As they say "cry once" and get it set up correctly and you'll enjoy the ride for years!!!

Chuck

 

[DK Custom Products]

I don't know anything about car or truck shocks.

I do know that Devin and I spent 1.5 years with a Baja race building professional, testing, tweaking, testing tweaking until we came up with the NEXGEN™ 14" Trike Series Shocks™.

These shocks provide a substantially better ride quality than any other shocks on the market for the Harley Trikes.

They are made with top quality components & they have a Lifetime Warranty, and each shock has 68 different components in them, ALL hand assembled. Then, each pair is hand tuned to the Customers weights & riding style prior to shipping.

They retail for $925. I wish they were less, but even at that price we are making less profit on them than we do on most other parts we manufacture. They are just very expensive for us to manufacture.

BUT, we were totally focused on providing the best possible ride quality, and in doing that, it used a lot of expensive parts.

Kevin

 

[Rogue1]

Deleted

 

[arnie]

I agree with that.

I looked all around and ended up going with the Progressive 444 shocks. I will install them as soon as I get a chance. I also went with the DK bearing retainer plates. I will probably wait till winter to install those with the new bearings.

Report back if you will. I rode my friends 17 trike last yr. He installed new handle bars & wanted me to try them out. He never told me about shock upgrade & just wanted to see what i thought. I pee'd him off, i said i liked the bars but never replied about the ride. He asked what i thought of the ride & i asked what he did to improve because i didn't notice! He commenced to explain cost of his upgrade & i told him i must not be that sensitive to tell. I felt bad, but i just never noticed.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Report back if you will. I rode my friends 17 trike last yr. He installed new handle bars & wanted me to try them out. He never told me about shock upgrade & just wanted to see what i thought. I pee'd him off, i said i liked the bars but never replied about the ride. He asked what i thought of the ride & i asked what he did to improve because i didn't notice! He commenced to explain cost of his upgrade & i told him i must not be that sensitive to tell. I felt bad, but i just never noticed.

Yeah, some are more sensitive to bumps than others, just like some of us are more sensitive to heat than others, and some of us think some exhaust is too loud while others think the same exhaust is too quiet.

But, in our thousands of hours of testing suspension, rear shocks are one part where there are HUGE differences between different shocks that all claim to great.

Kevin

 

[ultrafxr]

I don't know anything about car or truck shocks.

I do know that Devin and I spent 1.5 years with a Baja race building professional, testing, tweaking, testing tweaking until we came up with the NEXGEN™ 14" Trike Series Shocks™.

These shocks provide a substantially better ride quality than any other shocks on the market for the Harley Trikes.

They are made with top quality components & they have a Lifetime Warranty, and each shock has 68 different components in them, ALL hand assembled.

They retail for $925. I wish they were less, but even at that price we are making less profit on them than we do on most other parts we manufacture. They are just very expensive for us to manufacture.

BUT, we were totally focused on providing the best possible ride quality, and in doing that, it used a lot of expensive parts.

Kevin

When I got my first TG in September, 2017, I had already joined this great forum. And I was seeing all the posts from and about DK and was looking over their product offering. When I learned they were only about 40 miles south of me I phoned and set an appointment to go down and meet with Kevin. Over the years I've spent quite a bit of time with Kevin, his lovely wife Mary, Devin, Dwayne and the crew at DK. I've been around the block as they say and know the real deal when I see it and DK is that in spades. They are meticulous in their offerings and evaluate extensively before offering them. I've no vested interest in DK other that being a huge fan and friend. Just my $.02.

 

[Rogue1]

Progressive does not recommend the use of a lowering or a lift kit on the trike as it voids the warranty on the shocks. I am in the process of installing the shocks. Except for CYA, does anyone have a safety reason for this? I am currently running a lift kit.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Progressive does not recommend the use of a lowering or a lift kit on the trike as it voids the warranty on the shocks. I am in the process of installing the shocks. Except for CYA, does anyone have a safety reason for this? I am currently running a lift kit.

Progressive shocks do not test out well, but they do run smoother with a lift kit.

The lowering blocks and lift kit both put the shock a a little more of an angle. This results in the shocks working a bit harder (which is why it is a bit of a better ride) so that is possibly why they don't warranty them with those.

Kevin

 

[Rogue1]

Progressive shocks do not test out well, but they do run smoother with a lift kit.

The lowering blocks and lift kit both put the shock a a little more of an angle. This results in the shocks working a bit harder (which is why it is a bit of a better ride) so that is possibly why they don't warranty them with those.

Kevin

Thanks kevin. I was hoping you would reply. That's the answer I was looking for.