Proper suspension setup hinges on two major components with our products: proper mounting and proper adjustment. Proper mounting and adjustment of our suspension are critical to ensure you get the best possible ride out of our suspension products. 

First and foremost is proper mounting. Our shocks incorporate spherical bearings where the shocks physically mount to the bike. All of our shocks (excluding pre-2018 Softail models) come with spacers specific to the model of the bike the shocks are going to be mounted on. These spacers play a crucial role in ensuring the shocks are allowed to pivot on the spherical bearings. The purpose of the spherical bearing design is to prevent any side-to-side movement in the swingarm (as a result of worn-out swingarm bushings), from being transferred throughout the rest of the chassis. This means the tire can essentially "walk" side to side through corners and you won't feel any kind of oscillation or unstable condition as you are riding. The install guide that comes with your Legend Suspensions product will depict the correct spacer orientation, in order to ensure your shocks are mounted straight up and down, and also with enough room to pivot as the tire moves side to side, and up and down throughout the range of suspension travel.

Please refer to our article on Improper Mounting in the "Common Installation Errors" section. 

Once the shocks have been mounted properly, the next step is to ensure you set your sag correctly. This step is extremely important to ensure you get the best ride and performance out of your shocks. Our sag adjustment procedure will also ensure you are getting the most travel out of your shocks, while also leaving clearance on the top side of the stroke to allow for "top out". If your sag is not set correctly, you are going to either bottom the shocks out or feel as though the shocks are way too stiff. Proper sag adjustment ensures you are riding within the "sweet spot" of the travel range for optimal ride quality.

For shock models that include rebound adjustment, think of the sag adjustment as your "macro" adjustment, and the rebound and/or compression adjustments as your "micro" or fine-tuning adjustments. Always get your sag set first, and then fine-tune the ride with your rebound adjustment and/or compression adjustments.  

Feel free to email service@legendsupensions.com with any other questions you may have!