[gmyers92]

First post and new owner.
I've had my Denim black 2015 Road Glide special for about 2 months now.
Getting close to the 5k service. Love/Hate this bike. Much more love... but dam! there are a few annoying issues.
I just got back from my local dealer and was trying to buy a detachable sissy bar. Turns out that I'm the first person to claim it will not instal. They have sold dozens and never had a complaint.
This is the scoop. The top of the right shock on the Special has a higher and more rounded head than the left sided shock. The bracket from the sissy bar will not slide in.
This item will fit perfectly on the Road / Street glide 2015. But not on the special due to the different shocks.
How does this happen? How can a product be released, without testing it on all new models?
The sales manager brought in the service manager and reluctantly they had to admit that the bar will not install on the Special model.
I got my refund and they will get back to me once they spoke to HD.

 

[Major99]

It will fit if you flip the right shock upside down. I have the same bike and have a factory harley backrest.

 

[gmyers92]

It will fit if you flip the right shock upside down. I have the same bike and have a factory harley backrest.

Thx for the response
Interesting idea... Any safety/warranty issues with that?
I have no clue...

 

[ridebabyride]

I have a new back rest for my '15 Road Glide Special and I am not having any trouble at the shock point of attachment, left or right. I am having a little tussel with the right rear attachment point. I have to spread the bottom back part of the backrest a little to get it to line up on the attachment point. And it is stiff getting the quick release to unhook. I just figured it must have gotten bent somewhere along the line. It really is just a slight spread to get it on. Once the weather clears up some and I get a minute I planned to check it for any obvious out of line area and try to stress it back to where it needs to be if it looks like an easy fix, if not it's only a minor PITA. Good luck with it.

 

[Major99]

Thx for the response
Interesting idea... Any safety/warranty issues with that?
I have no clue...

It was already done when I picked mine up. I heard it was a bulletin that was distributed to dealers.

 

[surfrat2]

My shock was installed upside down as well...there will be clearance issues if you don't flip it right side up. It was an issue in the factory, they issued a bulletin onit . I flipped mine yesterday, took three minutes. Did it right on the jiffy stand.

 

[gmyers92]

My shock was installed upside down as well...there will be clearance issues if you don't flip it right side up. It was an issue in the factory, they issued a bulletin onit . I flipped mine yesterday, took three minutes. Did it right on the jiffy stand.

Thx guys
I'll head back to the dealer tomorrow and run it by them.

 

[TLKurtz]

Thx guys
I'll head back to the dealer tomorrow and run it by them.

What they said. Today was the first *real* day I got to get out for a little ride. I noticed my shock needed flipped before I could install the quick detach backrest also. It takes 5 minutes. Very easy to do yourself and no issues. There is a HD TSB about this.

 

[ridebabyride]

I looked at my shocks last night - looks like my right one had been flipped before I got it. But I gotta say I cannot see how the clearance would be any diff if right side up. When it stops raining I'll flip it and see. lol.

 

[mray81]

There was a service Bulletin specifically for this issue. Your dealer should maybe read the TSB's MoCo sends out?

 

[Speedie]

I agree. This morning I installed my 4 point and sissy bar. Had to flip the shock. Else the shoulder of the shock prevents the detachable from fully connecting. Easy fix.

 

[Dbrockman1972]

I had the same issue on my 15 RGS. I was in a hurry and didn't even think about trying to flip the shock. Took the sissy bar to the bench grinder and ground off a couple mm, dabbed some silver paint where I ground it down to help with rust. Can't notice it when it's on the bike, and it fits. The shock is mounted like I would normally mount a shock. Guess that's why I didn't think to try to flip it.
Edit! I was looking at the wrong shock. Just looked and it is upside down. Not sure how I didn't notice. Like I said, got in too big of a hurry.

 

[puckoach]

My thanks to the people that posted, and answered my PM's.

Flipping the shock is indeed easy. Take off bag, take off the bolts, turn it around, and put bolts back on with lock tite. Another thread mentions 35-40 lbs is in manual. There was no load on the shock.

I ordered an aftermarket Sissy Bar-Luggage rack. Put it together on the bench. Very loose, then put it on the bike. Then tightened up so that it would be at the fitment on the bike.

Remember, that the plastic fittings on the docking system are oval, and might need to be dialed around to arrive at the correct space-fitment.

 

[williamsbg]

ditto

It will fit if you flip the right shock upside down. I have the same bike and have a factory harley backrest.

What major99 said. Just bought mine, had to flip right shock to install detachable back rest. (stripped all the accessories from my '10.

 

[williamsbg]

There was a service Bulletin specifically for this issue. Your dealer should maybe read the TSB's MoCo sends out?

As of today Duke City HD of ABQ, NM knows nothing of it!!

 

[Grumpyrider]

Interesting, My 15 RGS came with the docking hardware but not the backrest which I added. I'll have to check to see if my shock has been flipped when I go out tomorrow.

 

[Mr Mike]

It will fit if you flip the right shock upside down. I have the same bike and have a factory harley backrest.

This is a true statement.... I did it and it fits great. However, the dealers have no idea why Harley ships the Road Glides with the shock upside down... Strange for such a big company and a high price tag on their bikes... Love my Road Glide