Looking for an opinion on a shock swap

[Umusername]

So I ride an '82 Honda Nighthawk 450 and I feel like the rear shocks have a lot of sag and poor rebound so I plan on replacing them. The shop down the street from me (a great mom and pop place that has a small bone yard of its own in the back to pull parts from) has a pair of stock CB750 (unsure of the year) shocks that they will give me for $50. Now my questions are will it make a difference? Is $50 a decent price? Am I better off just buying these :
http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-suspension-eye-eye-335mm-13-inch-retro-slim-black-chrome-shock-absorbers-damper-32-0340.html?___SID=U

One of the reasons I want to upgrade is I am pushing the bike a bit harder than I know I should and frequently feel the rear end start to slide in deep lean in hard turns. I already up graded the front springs to progressive and they are great. I know an 18" rear wheel would help compaired to the 16" I have on it but I have been unable to find a clean swap.

 

[Scruffy]

16 inch rear wheels are my personal favorites. Easiest wheel in the world to find tires for, you can get anything and everything from hyper aggressive knobbies to drag slicks. Just about anywhere. My CL72 has an 18 inch rear and I hate it. I'd offer to swap, but it is a stock right side drive twin leading shoe drum set up.

You may just need a better rear tire. But stiffer shocks will definitely help. Are DCC's shocks Emgos or some other cheapy chi-com copy, or are they a decent brand's less expensive line? If they are just Emgo or similar, get the CB750 shocks and call it a day. The old Honda shocks are normally Showa mid grades, made in Japan, where/when quality mattered.

You are likely also experiencing a bit of frame loading/unloading, the Hawks and Nighthawks weren't known for frame quality. Insufficient bracing, insufficient gusseting, fairly soft tubing. They have a tendency to load up in corners and then relax the tension at random. Reinforcing your swing arm would help a lot. So would a fork brace if you don't have one.

Look at small KZ and GS platforms as possible wheel donors. Something in the 500-750cc displacement range. 18 or 19 inch up front, could be a 16, 17 or 18 inch rear depending on the model year. Worst case, you need a set of conversion bearings and modified caliper mount to make them work. I know plenty of riders who've used them in place of LS650 wires, and the LS is a mutant mutt of a motorcycle.

 

[mlinder]

Spend 200 bucks on new shocks.
Ancient cb750 shocks are just that.

Ancient.

CB750 shocks.

They were low-ish quality new.

They are trash now.

Save up and pony up. May as well save another 80 bucks for fork springs too.

When you have about 30 bucks, buy Hagon 'twin shocks' and fork springs. Enjoy your motorcycle 1000 times more.

 

[mlinder]

The 100 dollar shocks at DCC are shit. Cheap chinese crap, and "universal".

Meaning they are universally shit for every bike, but not universal in rebound and damping from shock to shock.

Hagons will be set up to your bike, weight, riding style, and projected passenger/cargo needs.

 

[mydlyfkryzis]

TEC makes some nice, $100 shocks. Better made then the Chinese stuff...Made in the UK : http://www.tecbikepartsusa.com/

If your rear is sliding in the turns, it may be the tires too....What brand and model are you using now?

 

[Umusername]

I am running the front fender still for just that reason, I also have a steering damper on it that helps a lot.

Save up and pony up. May as well save another 80 bucks for fork springs too.

I did the front springs less than a year ago and they are great.

If your rear is sliding in the turns, it may be the tires too....What brand and model are you using now?

I am riding on Metzler Marathons and they are ok (they are what Cyclegear had in stock that fit I am lucky they don't say Harley Davidson on the side as they stock them for Sportsters. I have since decided that they are clueless and found a much better place to get parts/rubber from). I am sure a more aggressive tire would help. Front is a 100/90-19 rear is a 130/90-16 no nobbies on the rear and hardly touched on the front in your opinion would a different aspect ratio possibly help?

 

[mlinder]

130/90/16 is the correct tire size.

Spend 200 bucks on Hagons set up for you and your bike, call it a day.

 

[Tstang429]

What did you end up doing? Just curious I am looking to do some work on my 450 this winter.

 

[Umusername]

I decided to just ease up a bit and save some money for something a little more aggressive. The bike rides fine and better than it should I am happy with it and am ready for something else any way good luck with your project!