How To Adjust The Rear Shocks On A Harley Davidson Sportster 

I stumbled on this myself in the manual. I'm 5'9" at 260lbs and the rear suspension on my 2021 Iron 1200 was bottoming out on nearly every moderate bump. Adjusted the pre-tension and it made all the difference. Going over bumps is so much smoother. Best adjustment I've done on the bike. Short of replacing the shocks with heavy duty progressive shocks, this is an adjustment that every sportster owner should look into.

I had no idea the tool was there. You've saved my spine, friend

Thanks Carl! Bought a 1200 2 weeks ago and have found myself on your channel multiple times already. Thanks for the quality content!

Thank you! Very helpful, informative, and appreciate the high quality video and sound. I just replaced my stock seat and didn't realize the shock tool was what was underneath! LOL

Thanks brother. I got a new 883 about a week or so ago and was getting tossed like a salad on bumps. I also thought I need to buy that wrench, your video probably saved me 40bucks. Great info and have since adjusted mine from a factory 3 to a 6. Excellent!! Keep up the vids!

Good video very informative. It’s amazing what we can learn about our bikes when we actually crack open and read the owners manual . Let us know how the rear shock adjustment worked. Thanks again ride safe

Thank you for the video, Carl. I just purchased a 2022 Sportster 48 and do not give a second thought to adjusting the shocks for my ride weight. I will check the adjustment from the factory and adjust it accordingly. Great information. New subscriber.

Thanks for this video man , I just bought a new 2021 iron 1200 and have been riding on dot #2 set from factory . I’m 5’10” 260 lbs and it was rockin my spine every time I rode . I now have it set on 7 and it’s a completely 100% different feel . Thanks!

Rider Weight 88-124 Lbs - 1 Dot 125-161 Lbs - 2 Dot 162-198 Lbs - 3 Dot 199-235 Lbs - 4 Dot If you have extra cargo or passengers you will nees to add more, this is for just 1 person riding. If you have cargo weight its usually 1-2 dots more. Mine was 3 Dots and i weight 193 pounds and it made a huge difference!!!

Thanks. My New 2020 is in the post ! Another six weeks for it to arrive!! I think this will be my first job to do on it.

Great job on clearly explaining suspension adjustment. I found this helpful.

Thank you for the info on how to properly do it. You got yourself a new subscriber!

Nice good call. I heard you on your fuel pak video talk about adjusting your stocks, man I've had mine since 2016 brandnew and never touched it, you showed how easy it was so now ima give it a shot!

I’m 238lbs I definitely need to adjust mine from the stock dealer position. Great video!

I have a 2020, love it!! But looking for ways to make it more comfortable for all the bumps and potholes around town. Thanks for the video!! I subscribed to your channel, keep up the good work!

Your video was in my feed and I was like hmm let me give this a try. Man what a difference. I was at dot 2 and the manual says I should be at a dot 4. Feels like a different bike going over bumps. Thanks bro

Hey, nice informative vid. I have 2007 and I weigh around 200lbs and ride solo, I feel all the bumps on the road, I think it needs adjustment as well. Will you be able to tell me how to adjust mine? Thank you

Another great video. Being a novice, and on the heavier side, I had no idea that was an option.

Thank you for sharing this video. I’m going to be readjusting the shocks on my 2021 Iron and soften the ride.

Thanks. I have a 2020 and I'm ALWAYS looking for ways to make more power or make the ride smoother.

I have the 2019 1200T. my weight 147lbs . Harley manual book said leave the shock at 0 position. but doing so the springs are so soft that they keep bottoming up at every small bump. So I turned the knob 3 turns and the springs now never bottom up at small bump. When i ride with passenger the same weight as me i adjust the knob to the maximum , it handel very well. My passenger was happy with the ride and asking for long distance ride now. 😄 same riders out there saying that a Sportster wouldn't handel 2 up and definitely not for traveling. I said quiet motorcycling and go get you a confie cab. I have stock 2up special shocks front and back , that what Harley are pretending, i'm quiet agree with them.

Thanks for the video. Never done anything like that before. you made it easy.

Great videos! Learning more stuff for the Iron 1200! thks

Thank you for this tutorial!! 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼 you got my sub!!!!

Thank you Carl for letting me know where that key was that's under the seat I appreciate it and I like what you had shoulders thank you

Great video man! Thank you so much!!

Hey man, cool to see your stuffs, I have some progressive shocks that the past owner installed on it, but the bike bounce like crazy on a bumpy road. I have replace the fork oil and the springs there seems to be perfect so I believe I need to adjust those progressive shocks but no idea how to do it. trying to find something online but all I see is just new installation not adjusting.

Hey Carl first off thanks for the great video! I have a 2019 iron 1200 and it didn’t come with an owners manual, could you please share a picture of yours with the weight range for each dot. Thanks man I really appreciate any help you could give

Thanks a lot man. Really helpful!

Great job, Thanks for this video.

Awesome stuff man!!!! Thanks!!!

Stay Healthy. Carl. Good video

So I have 2019 883 w/stock shocks I’m 143lbs if I want a passenger I need to put more pressure on the spring so it won’t bottom out correct?? Also will this help w/ NOT buying new shocks like most people do to the iron ? I see a lot of videos of people changing them out but to raise the height are they doing this because they don’t know about stiffing the shocks? Thanks great vid

Hello Carl, yesterday I purchased my first Harley, which is an Iron 1200 😉 (in white). I really like it. While driving home from the dealer I thought I could use a few cm’s extra. I am 164 cm (5.3 feet). Do you know if there is a kit to lower the iron 1200? I would appreciate your advise. Take care and have fun. Kind regards, Judit

Excellent, i learned something. I have a 2018 roadster and my rear shocks are at dot #3, im 200 lbs i wonder if my shocks are set right,vtwll me about this chart you mentioned that tells me where my shock setting should be, love your videos

hey carl nice video i dind't know it was so easy i've got the same shocks on my 2017 48 and i ' ve break the belt cover beacause of not knowing how to adjust, do you have the chart for those shocks, i'm 90 kilograms.

Hey my first bike is going to be an iron 883. I want to be able to flatfoot while sitting on a red light. Would you recommend just replacing the stock seat with something smaller and getting smaller rear shocks or should I just change the seat. My heels can’t touch floor I’m off by like 1 to 1.5 inches off the ground

Thanks man!!

Wow very clear instructions. I had issue putting back my seat. It’s still wiggling. Any tips ?

Hey Carl... nice video... do you have or know procedure to change the Pin on a 2022 Harley Nightdter 975... Can't find anything on youtube for this bike. thank you in advance.

Where to adjust suspension to make it softer and what is the best setting for suspension for a person weighing 85kgs

Muchas Gracias Amigo!!! Super fácil con tu ayuda!!

I have an 09 Nightster 1200 (video on my page) and when I got it was at setting 2. I’m 210lbs so I set it up one notch to 3. I can’t find any charts online. How was yours after this?

Thank you for your time.

Nice Sporty! looks great.

Nice video mate. Hey idont have an owners manual but my height is 1.78m and my weight is aboit 91kgs, where should my setting be?

I will have to change mine to 6 dots as well. Did it change the height of the bike at all?

Are the adjustment points based on weight? I’m 165lbs and don’t have a manual to reference.

Hi Carl. Greetings from Mexico, I have an 2007 sportster with rear shocks like yours, but recently noticed a leak from the left rear shock, have you any idea to fix it? Is it possible to fix it? A few days ago I fell into a hole in the freeway and from there I got te problem.

Thanks for the vid man just bought my bike and every time i hit a bump it bounced me off the seat

If you spin it, does it lower/raise the bike or just make it stiffer?

Made a world of difference on my iron 883

Will adjusting it to 5 or 6 dots lower seat height?

The rings on one side is stuck and nearly broke off the peg on the adjustment tool....any advice?

Quick question for you , I assume we have the "same sportster book" , I have a 2019 48 special, in that book you have 3 choices (short, medium and tall shocks travel) how do you know for sure which one of those 3 you have?I know I have the 11.2 inches factory shocks but that doesn't help me much.Sorry if it's a stupid question , 1st harley.

Hell yeah dude thank-you. My bike didn't come with a manual

so when you did that did it lower the back end down as well ?? I got a 2019 iron and the rear end is miles high

By adjusting the shock rings downward....did you raise or lower your seat height?

Useful video

I just bought a 2021 Iron 1200 and the dealer gave me a 2020 manual. Did anything change?

Is that a stock seat that comes with spanner wrench?

Sir is after performing this is seat height has increased or its remain same as before

Hope you enjoy this video. What a difference this adjustment made OMG!!!!!

Will this help me lower the bike . Correct ? thank you .

Did lowering the spring like they make it stiffer or softer

Ditto the 2022 883. Thanks!

I have looked everywhere for the chart on my 2020 sportster 1200. Do you mind telling me what to set mine at if I weigh 170 pounds?

Nice, how was the ride ? Did you notice a difference.

Sir my height is 5 6 can I put both feet flat on the ground while sitting on a harley?

By adjusting the shocks lower the seat height?

Does this effect ride height at all??

Hi, i'm 5'6 and 130 lb...what dot will i use pls help!!

I am amazed how many people never adjust their suspension. Most a quick to complain, but never see the ways the bike gives you options! Great article Carl. Oh. One more thing. I am 61 years old, weigh 230 and 6'1". The suspension would be really important on a Sportster for me. Good review.

So could it be that it’s 6 dots from the top of the bottom ring?

Does this change the rear height?

Did that lowered the bike or raised it at all

Do you have the number of the tool? I bought mine use and didn’t come with it. Thank you!

I lost my owner manual and want to adjust shocks to have a passenger do u know what I sld put it at

Did that adjustment help

pretty simple adjustment,i was wondering where the tool was

How many dots for 70kg.and did it make a difference after you adjusted them thanks

How many dots down can you go

Great video but the OEM Shocks on the Harley Davidson Sportsters are crap back breaking spine crush I replaced with Progressive 412 13 inch Super Duty Chrome whole new bike with a touring ride🏍️ 💪🙌👌👍🤟😎

Does this adjust the height or just the shock ?

I hope this works on my sportster XL custom 1200. I have to ride around with my organ donor card in case someone wants an old set of kidneys that have been vibrated to death. Thanks for the vid.

Chip foss?

I still haven’t been able to remove my seat.

So you’re telling me that when you sit on the iron 1200, that there’s a tool on AND under the seat?!?! Who woulda thunked

you going to lower you're bike sir, or higher,..