Platinum Air Ride for 2016 Indian Springfield
The Platinum Air Suspension kit all ready for action.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
We have to admit, we love the lowrider look we’ve been able to achieve on the 2016 Indian Springfield using accessories straight from the Indian catalogue. But as we always say, you can’t be a lowrider and not ride low, so from the beginning we knew we’d be adding air ride. Platinum Air Suspension offers a bleed feed mono air shock for the Indian. The beauty of this system is the ability to adjust the rebound separate from the ride height.
Air ride systems can be tricky, and proper installation is critical to ensure safety and reliability. Freedom Cycles out of Orange County, California, has a meticulous reputation and helped us ensure the system was installed and set up correctly the first time.
Mounting the system takes a little bit of creativity, but thankfully the signature Indian skirted fender offers several mounting options. We opted to mount the compressor in the bag for several reasons. The compressor fills the space in the upper part of the bag perfectly and gives up very little space. We also added a rubber mat to help dampen the vibration and sound. We managed to find an unused accessory mount in the dash to mount the switches so we can easily make adjustments on the fly.
Although we condensed this article for the sake of space, installation should be done with care, and what’s not pictured are the multiple times we put on and took off the rear fender checking for clearance. Take your time, do it right, and make sure that air lines and electrical wires are not subject to rubbing or heat.
The first step is to place the bike on a jack and raise it until the rear wheel is barely touching the lift.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
Rear-bag removal is quick and easy thanks to the quick disconnects and quick releases.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
After removing all the chrome hardware and multiple bolts, carefully remove the fender. Get used to doing this, as you might have to mount it and take it off several times to check clearances.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
We mounted the control unit to the rear fender mount.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
Next we removed the stock shock, including the air-assist valve.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
We settled on mounting the compressor using the supplied bracket in the bag and a rubber mat to minimize vibration and sound. We actually didn’t end up giving up much bag space thanks to the location.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
Electrical and air line location is crucial. If either is subject to heat or rubbing, the system could fail and leave you stranded. We ran the lines on top of the rear subframe after checking several times for clearance.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
We utilized an unused accessory cover to mount the switches. This also allows us to easily make shock adjustments on the fly.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
We ran the air and electrical lines to the compressor at the bottom of the bag to ensure the least amount of kinks in the air line.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
If you’re going to have a lowrider, you have to have switches.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
These are the air lines we also ran along the subframe to the shock. Make sure to avoid sharp bends and hot surfaces to avoid leaks.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
We checked our mounting location again and again both all the way up and all the way down.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
Get up in there to check rubbing clearances both with the shock full extended and fully aired out. Ideally you’d want to be able to ride the bike in a emergency to safety in case of a failure or line blowout.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
Follow the instructions for all the connections. Depending on mounting location of hardware, you could need extended electrical wires.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
Fully aired up to fully aired down, the Platinum shock has almost 3-1/2 inches of ride height travel.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
Fully aired up to fully aired down, the Platinum shock has almost 3-1/2 inches of ride height travel.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
All the way air up and all the way down. We love the new look.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
All the way air up and all the way down. We love the new look.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
Now our 2016 Indian Springfield looks like a real lowrider with a slammed low stance.
Words and Photos: John Zamora
