What we know of air ride suspension systems is the fact that it is the kind of vehicle suspension that is fed power by an electric pump or a compressor that pumps the air into flexible bellows built from textile-reinforced rubber.
First built specifically to accommodate heavy aircraft, the air ride suspension systems’ prime objective was to reduce weight by compact construction and achieve a self-leveling suspension. Consequently; allowing vehicles to be axle independent of the weight of it’s cargo.
Furthermore, you have to fine-tune before installing the touring system since some systems work reliably only after the tuning has been done efficiently and according to the rider’s weight and personal riding preferences.
There are endless items that promise fake claims consequently wasting your bucks. However, to save you from the hassle and make a well-informed decision, we have brought out a review guide to meet you halfway through the decision making and to help you navigate through the endless options.
Not a big fan of reading? Here is a quick comparative yet conclusive table we drew out for you for an overview required to make a prime choice!
5 Best Air Ride Suspension Systems - Reviews
1. XFMT Rear Shock Absorber Suspension
Pros
- Budget-Friendly
- Offer the best fitment for the Harley Touring Models 2009-2016
- Features adjustable height rear air suspension system
Cons
- Fail to fit with the cross-under exhaust pipes.
- The compressor is slow
- Lack of a manual guide
The XFMT brand is best known for offering air ride systems that can run even with the shocks fully deflated without relegating your Harley’s overall performance and thus is most reliable. Featuring a linear actuator to raise and lower the legs not manually but electronically, the Rear Electric Stand offers flexibility.
The two aluminum legs offer a very sturdy base beside, allowing the motorcycle to have an upright position while parked. The Rear Electric Stand employs metal, aluminum, and stainless steel and can be bolted on in minutes without breaking a sweat.
Featuring an air ride kit, the Rear Electric Stand serves as the best replacement for stock touring shocks with a height-adjustable air shock. The shocks themselves measure up to an extended length of14.17 inches (36cm) and measure up to approx. 9.64 inches (24.5 cm) when fully collapsed, thus offering suitable height adjustments. The kit offers two main rear air suspension shocks, that can lower down the bike by 2 to 3 inches by releasing all the air in seconds.
2. Legends Aero HVG Air Suspension
Pros
- Smooth adjustability
- 6 external knob ensures maximum weight to height rebound performance
Cons
- Offers a little difficulty in mounting the adjustability rate for beginners
The Aero HVG is the only air ride suspension unit that outweighs its rivals by featuring an air kit that doubles your Harley’s air suspension and is thus suitable for all-terrain conditions making it a perfect unit for Harley touring.
Featuring a Kevlar air spring that brings forth an adjustability rate of varying degrees, the Aero HVG Air Suspension can be easily accommodated along with the wheels thus maximizing the spring up to a staggering 13 inches.
The anodized aluminum body gives Aero HVG Air Suspension a premium classic look, besides dealing with all-terrain type roads without becoming prone to wearing out. It breaks tradition by employing spherical mount bearings instead of rubber shock bushings, allowing lateral play while eliminating the up-and-down movement.
3. SLMOTO Air Ride Suspension Kit Fit for Harley
Pros
- Waterproof and Dustproof
- The kit comes with a complete and easy to follow manual guide
- Made from nickel-heavy plated brass and so can withstand high pressure with zero damage
- Height adjustability feature up to 2 to 3 inches accordingly
Cons
- The compressor requires some time for height adjustment.
Offering versatility with its adaptability, the SLMOTO Air Ride Suspension Kit serves as the best fit for Harley touring models ranging from 2019 innovative to the 1994 classics.
Built from nickel-plated heavy-duty brass, the SLMOTO Air Resistance Suspension Kit is highly durable and stable. It features an air tank that allows flexibility by including a height-adjustable rear suspension system to lower your ride’s height by 2 to 3 inches as per requirement. Thus, ensuring your ride goes by smoothly.
The upgraded gas nozzle offers 360-degree rotation and a direct connection that can easily defend against air leaks. Furthermore, the SLMOTO Air Resistance Suspension Kit offers a zero air pressure ride without rubbing against the fender, ensuring the bike doesn’t maneuver out of control even in high wind conditions.
4. Legends Aero-A Adjustable Air Suspension
Pros
- Reliable performance after proper installation
- Comes with a height adjustability feature
- Trailers last longer with the vibration dampening feature
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a complete manual guide
- The quality isn’t as durable as the other gadgets
Offering maximum weight to height rebound by employing 6 external knob adjustments irrespective of the rider’s weight, personal riding quality choices, and style. The Legends Aero-A Air Suspension allows the rider to fine-tune the rebound dampening.
The Legends Aero-A Air Suspension provide all benefits of the innovative AERO suspension systems and further offer fine-tuning performance features for both, light and heavy riders.
Also, the Harley riders belonging to aggressive or casual style community can tune to desired quality and preferences. The kit comes with a compressor, few couplings, soft pipelines, some mounting brackets, and a fuse beside other spare parts.
5. Arnott MC-2904 Fox Series FLH/FLT Air Suspension
Pros
- Offers a patent-pending kit that includes a variety of essential tools
- Durable and not prone to wearing out
- Budget-friendly gadget
- Lowers friction and offers touring ease
Cons
- Doesn’t include a complete manual guide
- Poor adjustability even after pre-tuning before touring
With an innovative chrome rebound adjustment, the Arnott’s FOXR Air Suspension System is designed to accommodate Harley Davidson Touring models in the target. Ensuring optimal control of the ride besides the fast height adjustability feature and shocks custom valving, the Arnott’s FOX offers a highly comfortable and safe ride.
The Arnott FOX offers a patent-pending kit which comprises of a True AIR technology Goodyear air spring bladder and shock damper design besides an air-assisted unit or no air cylinder. For enhanced comfort levels, the kit also includes an adjustable rebound control dial which allows you to easily and efficiently adjust the shocks’ internal damping characteristics, a feature classic to the Arnott FOX series alone in the wide air suspension market.
Conclusion
With no shortcomings from the traditional coil-based air suspension systems made from specific thickness that is based on the wires, the innovative aero suspension offers greater adjustability irrespective of the track type without relegating the performance which is the prime hunting goal for Harley riders.
To be able to pick the best air ride for Harley and making sure your budget doesn’t hit the roof is surely a hassle. But we have done the research for you and narrowed down our options to the best 5 air suspension system for Harley touring. Purchasing one would mean buying a package full of the essentials that offer high adjustability rates through the external knobs that can stay as your wear-resistant partner to the next spring.
If your budget can’t bend around to accommodate either one of the top 5 picks, we suggest that you don’t sweat and instead save up until next time. Hopefully, you can now build criteria as to which air suspension system best suits your Harley Touring since it is high time that you make the prime move!
