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So I'm looking to go as low ass possible without running into rubbing issues on my 77 kz650. The bike has 13" eye to eye shocks stock. I have 2 5/8" clearance between the top of my tire (4.5x18) and the hoop. i'm not sure how much the rear suspension travels under load. this would be the million dollar question. my thoughts were to go with a 12" shock allowing just a tad over 1.5" of clearance. any thoughts????
Casper. Get a ratchet strap or two. Loop around the top frame mounts to the swingarm. See how much travel the shock really has under an extreme force. Low is good and looks nice, but make sure an extreme force at speed doesn't cause a compounding effect on the shock compression.
I am at 220 and have a lot more concern than you when it comes to compression obviously..LOL
The straps are just a easy way to feel it out and make sure you are good. Straps are cheaper than a new seat, a new tire, or your medical bills if something goes wrong. JMHO
i'm guessing i can bottom out the suspension as it is now ratcheting it down. but that wouldn't tell me what ideal conditions would do. if only i could find out what the suspension travel is of these springs or any springs under normal riding conditions that would be perfect. i'm surprised manufacturer's don't have this data.
It's not how far the suspension moves in ideal conditions: it's when you hit the big fuck off bump at seventy.Remember one slam of the clown shoe on the loop or light bracket will most likely strip or ruin the tread.A Guy on this site with a TU250X with clown shoes had the tread gash issue.Your loop looks about an 2" to 1 1/2" too low to my eye,and yes I know that laptop images tend to distort things a bit.
There are easy ways to limit travel on twin shocks if you are interested.Even with travel limiting I still think your rear loop will be a bit low.
i welded in another bracket from shock to shock mount going across the seat which is the lowest part of the rear end now. my tail light will be on another bracket not being a factor. since the hoop is angled up, it's not the lowest part. an additional 2" would be monster truck off roading style, which would be way overboard. like i said, the current suspension is set of on the stiffest setting and has literally no rider sag. i have never bottomed out the way she sits now. i just don't know how much clearance room i've had.
Is it ridable? This is a little ghetto, but if you can ride it, just tape some foam or something under the hoop and go bounce it off a few potholes.. See if it rubs on that.. Then you can work out how far down you can take it.... SCIENCE!
I built up a 78 KZ650B last winter with the 11.5" shocks from XS650direct.com. They are stiff as hell and I wound the pre-load as hard as they would go (not as shown below). I'm about the same weight as you and never had an issue with hitting the frame - it rode like a hardtail, but never rubbed. The caveat here is that I cut the frame behind the stock cross brace, which *might* give more clearance. It's hard to tell in the pics, but here is what mine looked like:
hey sbruton, i was actually digging through your build, but couldn't find the size shocks you used...thanks for that info. i assume you're running a stock size tire? being that i'm running a 4.5 x 18 rear tire and a little less clearance than you on the frame i may be pushing close to the limit.
i never made a build thread. i wasn't planning on going as far as i have. i had electrical issues that sidelined me for the riding season so i threw in the towel and went all out. so now it's a never ending project but i'm 95% there. i just keep finding new things to do to keep me busy over the winter.
Sounds like those old shocks are junk, possibly locked up. A new pair might be a good little investment. I cant imagine that 12" eye to eye wound hurt anything and to keep your steering geometry correct go the same amount down at your triple trees.
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