48 Springer Shock

[pothole]

I broke the mounts on the shock on my springer front end, can I run the bike without the shock or will this cause damage or handling problems?

Thanks
Pothole

[Rubone]

You can run without it (you may experience a slight amount of bounce in the forks, or not depending on what the condition of your shock was), or you can install a friction ride control, or you can replace the shock. Keep in mind that the shock was an accessory to the fork and not a necessary part of its function.

[billpedalino]

In my young, innocent, immortal and devil-may-care chopper days, we never ran the front shock ("what the hell is a front shock?!?"). And we were too dumb to know the difference! But we did quite nicely without them and not too many of us fell down - at least due to missing front shock reasons. We all know better now, but those of you who lived through that era will probably reminisce that memory as well!

[exeric]

I never recall having front end problems on my '41EL without a shock; except on a washboard dirt road. I used to take a dirt road short-cut to work (when I was running late). Washboard roads create a bouncy harmonic that is uncontrollable on a springer. My buddy had a '68FL and had no problem with that road.

[46EL]

I broke the mounts on the shock on my springer front end, can I run the bike without the shock or will this cause damage or handling problems?

Thanks
Pothole

Did yuo break the shock itself? And was it a repop?
I've seen worn out original shocks but never a broken one.
And I have seen broken repops that had bent mounting brackets.
I thnk the repops made today are too stiff and the cheap metal and or constructions gives way under a load.
Just curious. 46EL

[pothole]

Thanks to all who replied. It was a repo shock and it stuck in the compressed mode on a very rough road at too much speed and ripped both cheep metal top mounting brackets from the shock body.