Kwelmetal air shock - does it work?

[XXX 74]

XXX 74...

Would you mind sharing your experience?

Hello Crucified,

Thanks for asking for my opinion. That is exactly what Im going to present to you. My personal experience.
There are various sides of this...

Looks:
There is no one here that can argue this: when you show your bike, you feel great when you receive positive feedback. When some one says to you: WOW that looks freaking awesome ! it is a great feeling. There is a Spyder shirt that says: I'm not a rock star. i just feel like one when I ride my spyder", that is because a lot of people are checking you out while you ride..there is no argument, riding the Spyder is a huge kool factor...hyea:
when you park your bike at any place and people go and see the bike or they simply point at it.. most of the time they complement the bike. But when you park and you drop the bike to the ground... :yikes: that is another story... That just takes it to a whole different level. then is when their jaw drops to the ground and you feel great about your ride.. is a show stopper and that is a FACT. :firstplace:

Quality:
There is no argument. The quality is top notch. When I got the kit the installation instructions were weak and I had some questions.:gaah: I figured I would call KewlMetal. I remember my conversation with Matt like it was now. I called Matt's cell and left a message. He called me back. I could not understand much of what he was saying because he was so sick that his voice was gone and he was super congested. I was impressed because he actually returned the call as sick as he was.:thumbup:
A newer instruction guide was created shortly after... The only thing that I would update is the switches.. but that has nothing to do with quality.. that is esthetics.

Ride comfort:
I finish the installation and rode the bike completely slammed... no air what so ever... just to test. that did not go well after the first pothole...but it looked awesome... not a good compromise. :roflblack:

I raised the bike all the way up to stock height releasing the pressure down. i had both switches going in opposite directions the compressor is bringing the bike up and the second switch with no pressure.
I did not like the way it worked for me. it was just way too stiff. :lecturef_smilie:
i released a little air and then added pressure down (just one switch at the time). I was standing next to the bike and pushed the bike down to check the stiffness until I felt more or less that it felt a nice balance... And I found it...:clap:
Now whenever I park the bike it goes slammed. but when I ride I bring it all the way up to stock position, then once is all the way up i release a little pressure and then add pressure in the opposite direction and let's go riding... if I'm taking a passenger (females only - i don't believe on a male riding in the back unless it is my son. :roflblack: ). All I do is release more air and add a little pressure in the opposite direction.
I now have the perfect compromise; Ride quality and killer looks... :clap:
Just for statistics: I am 165 lbs.

Would I recommend the KewlMetal air ride; Yes. 100%. That is my riding and Show experience.

About other suspension being cheaper: well, sometimes you get what you paid for.
Buy a Kia or buy a Cadillac, they are boths cars... is your choice.
You know exactly what I mean by that.

 

[RoadHammer]

Well i got it riding a little better today. I found the roughest road and ran it and reran it again and again.

It took alot of fiddling but I got it petty good. Maybe if i can fatten up my butt maybe the ride will be perfect.. The only downside is when i get home i always slam the bike so it's lower to get in my wheelchair so It's back to finding that sweet spot everytime I get on the bike. Otherwise once you have it set, set it and forget it.

Would i recommend the KM air ride. YA... Nothing else on the market that pressures both sides of the ride. I think one of the best benefits is 2 up riding. When you go 2 up your headlight at night will be directly in oncoming traffic. I've experienced this all the time 2 up and That can land you in trouble with coppers. Crank up your ride and your lights can be dialed in better compared to the stock shock.
If you have leg troubles, or cant walk lowering the bike greatly decreases any effort of getting on and off the bike.

It's worth it.

my settings are crank up to max ride height, bleed the back side. Lower the ride height one inch, Add one second to half a second of back pressure and for me its good. All in all it lowers the bike around 2 inches.

 

[pathfinderjoe]

This is a great forum. I have learned a lot - thanks to all of you. I have yet to make up my mind as to what I'll buy but I need something fairly soon - before we take off for our trip. No matter what it is I'll report back if there is anything new to add to this discussion.

 

[Mad Matt]

Well i got it riding a little better today. I found the roughest road and ran it and reran it again and again.

It took alot of fiddling but I got it petty good. Maybe if i can fatten up my butt maybe the ride will be perfect.. The only downside is when i get home i always slam the bike so it's lower to get in my wheelchair so It's back to finding that sweet spot everytime I get on the bike. Otherwise once you have it set, set it and forget it.

Would i recommend the KM air ride. YA... Nothing else on the market that pressures both sides of the ride. I think one of the best benefits is 2 up riding. When you go 2 up your headlight at night will be directly in oncoming traffic. I've experienced this all the time 2 up and That can land you in trouble with coppers. Crank up your ride and your lights can be dialed in better compared to the stock shock.
If you have leg troubles, or cant walk lowering the bike greatly decreases any effort of getting on and off the bike.

It's worth it.

my settings are crank up to max ride height, bleed the back side. Lower the ride height one inch, Add one second to half a second of back pressure and for me its good. All in all it lowers the bike around 2 inches.

Road Hammer,

Glad to hear it. It just take some experimenting. Some gages would make it easier and more accurate to repeat the settings, but like I said, once you have done it for a while, you really won't need the gages any more, although they would be kewl addition to the system. There is also one other thing you might try if you like. You can add some extra volume to the primary side of the cylinder by putting a T in the line and adding a remote pressure can. This will soften it up a little bit by lowering the "compression ratio" if you will.

BTW, my wife is about 140 lbs and she is pretty comfortable on the RS with the air ride.

Matt

 

[XXX 74]

Now whenever I park the bike it goes slammed. but when I ride I bring it all the way up to stock position, then once is all the way up i release a little pressure and then add pressure in the opposite direction and let's go riding... ]

Well i got it riding a little better today. I found the roughest road and ran it and reran it again and again.


my settings are crank up to max ride height, bleed the back side. Lower the ride height one inch, Add one second to half a second of back pressure and for me its good. All in all it lowers the bike around 2 inches.

hyea: That is exactly my setting... it works ! :2thumbs:

dont worry Roadhammer, once you do it a couple of times is super easy to find the sweet spot and to adjust to your riding preference..

Sometimes I want to ride it lower and I also found the really nice sweet spot while riding super low... The system is so flexible that you can soften or stiff the suspension to your needs... is all about preference... Glad you found your sweet spot.. enjoy, safe ride ! :clap:

 

[krusin_]

New spyder owner, first post. Roadhammer, can you tell me if you received brokerage charges when you received your kewlmetal air shock? I really want one, but I am afraid of being bent over by fedex when it arrives. I have talked to Brandon at kewlmetal and he is reluctant to ship usps...

 

[RoadHammer]

New spyder owner, first post. Roadhammer, can you tell me if you received brokerage charges when you received your kewlmetal air shock? I really want one, but I am afraid of being bent over by fedex when it arrives. I have talked to Brandon at kewlmetal and he is reluctant to ship usps...

What you need to do is ship to someone you know stateside, get them to reship to you as a gift. If thers a value to the package you'll get nailed by customs. It will cost you double shipping but it's worth it. I have some biker gang friends that help me out with this kind of stuff when needed.

You have any stateside friends, family members etc? you should be able to find someone to help you out right on SL with this for sure. On another note i dont think you'll have any regrets with KM air ride so it'll be worth double shipping charges.

 

[Firefly]

Elka is in Canada......:thumbup:

 

[krusin_]

Elka is in Canada......:thumbup:

But Elka doesn't have an air ride shock...

in all seriousness, I need something to stiff up the back when I ride with my wife and I am really torn between the elka 3 way and the air ride shock. I don't mind paying customs on stuff, but the brokerage charges are what chaps me. I got some stuff via UPS once and the package cost me $60 in brokerage charges on a $140 item...and I prepayed shipping. It took me by surprise and I will never do it again.

 

[fastfraser]

But Elka doesn't have an air ride shock...

in all seriousness, I need something to stiff up the back when I ride with my wife and I am really torn between the elka 3 way and the air ride shock. I don't mind paying customs on stuff, but the brokerage charges are what chaps me. I got some stuff via UPS once and the package cost me $60 in brokerage charges on a $140 item...and I prepayed shipping. It took me by surprise and I will never do it again.

Do what i do . Get a US address ! PM me and when i get home on thurs. I will give you the details . You still pay customs 15% but not the bond fee.

 

[Roger]

Rnet has one on his spyder and he is still tinkering with it he has a few ideas. I have one and have not put it on the bike yet thought about returning it but with a 10% restocking fee plus shipping that would be a big hit. not happy about restocking fee cause the item was on back order. But anyway i think i will put it on and tinker with it especially after reading this thread. If i'am not happy with it i will sell it and try something else. :dontknow:

 

[RoadHammer]

Rnet has one on his spyder and he is still tinkering with it he has a few ideas. I have one and have not put it on the bike yet thought about returning it but with a 10% restocking fee plus shipping that would be a big hit. not happy about restocking fee cause the item was on back order. But anyway i think i will put it on and tinker with it especially after reading this thread. If i'am not happy with it i will sell it and try something else. :dontknow:

you'll get it set the way you want it Roger.
I figure your a 200 plus pound guy so you will be able to get it set for you easily. I think the tinkering comes with lightweights like myself and some other light riders. On my way home tonight I lowered the bike and it was the most comfortable ride i ever had on the spyder. changing the height makes a difference, but I know the highway was good so I adjusted accordingly with the simple push of switch. you wont do that with elka's or as far I know any other option out ther

 

[Roger]

you'll get it set the way you want it Roger.
I figure your a 200 plus pound guy so you will be able to get it set for you easily. I think the tinkering comes with lightweights like myself and some other light riders. On my way home tonight I lowered the bike and it was the most comfortable ride i ever had on the spyder. changing the height makes a difference, but I know the highway was good so I adjusted accordingly with the simple push of switch. you wont do that with elka's or as far I know any other option out ther

Thanks ROADHAMMER i was going to have the dealer install it while i was on vacation but he just got it yesterday so i will pick up my bike and bench build the shock add pressure and let set overnight. Yes you are right 6 months ago i weight 228 3 months later i was 214 i got to get below 200 before i go back to the doctors. He said for a guy my height 5'6" i should be at 135# yeah ok. i'am thinking some where between 160-180 realistically.

 

[NancysToy]

Thanks ROADHAMMER i was going to have the dealer install it while i was on vacation but he just got it yesterday so i will pick up my bike and bench build the shock add pressure and let set overnight. Yes you are right 6 months ago i weight 228 3 months later i was 214 i got to get below 200 before i go back to the doctors. He said for a guy my height 5'6" i should be at 135# yeah ok. i'am thinking some where between 160-180 realistically.

:roflblack: These guys crack me up! My dietician said at 6'0", I should reach 147. Doctor said he'd settle for 163. They are both dreaming, 175-180 is all I can manage. If I try to drop below that, my metabolism shuts down, and my pancreas gets mad at me. As long as the diabetes stays away, they should be satisfied. You will find your sweet spot.

 

[Roger]

:roflblack: These guys crack me up! My dietician said at 6'0", I should reach 147. Doctor said he'd settle for 163. They are both dreaming, 175-180 is all I can manage. If I try to drop below that, my metabolism shuts down, and my pancreas gets mad at me. As long as the diabetes stays away, they should be satisfied. You will find your sweet spot.

That is the exact goal i'am trying to get to. dam diabetes. i will beat it. I'am pretty close now.

 

[Roger]

OH anyway i got the shock installed on my bike yes it is stiff but i have only began to try and dial it in. i will post when i do. may have to confer with my pal ron.