feels like the rear is bottoming out

imported post

Just to get the jokey stuff out of the way first. Yes, at 6'6" 300+ lbs, I am just a couple pounds heavier than the normal rider.... and passenger in some cases. Putting me in most cars today is like putting a 10lb fish in a 5lb can.:grinner:

The problem I am having is with the bike "bottoming out" in the rear (insert joke here) when I hit things like speed bumps or V-shaped gutters like you would find entering a parking lot.

It makes an awful metalic thump of a sound. I first thought the rear tire was flat and I was in danger of denting my rim, but the air pressure on the new Elite IIIs was just fine. (not a word, Redwing:waving I then looked towards the Progressive air shocks. 50lbs of pressure, released the pressure and the bike sat down on the frame, put the pressure back in and the bike came right back up and has good travel with little or no bounce. I removed the rear tire and looked around for cracks or breaks in the frame, but didn't see any.

I am officially stumped. (or should I say "thumped") I know that I am heavy, but I would think I would equal out to a fairly average 2-up with bags packed load when I am riding with the bags empty.