lowering my cb 550
- Thread starter justin83
- Start date
DSHEP
Been Around the Block
Dime City has a nice pair of 11.4" lowering shocks. I use them on my CB500. The front can be dropped through the fork mounts.
I'm 5'8" and this in addition to my shorter Giuliari seat make it do-able but 5ft might be a problem.
http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-suspension-parts-eye-to-clevis-279mm-11-inch-chrome-shorty-shock-absorbers-damper-32-1152.html
There are also lowering brackets that move the lower shock mount point back but they look goofy IMO.
I'm 5'8" and this in addition to my shorter Giuliari seat make it do-able but 5ft might be a problem.
http://www.dimecitycycles.com/vintage-cafe-racer-bobber-brat-chopper-custom-motorcycle-suspension-parts-eye-to-clevis-279mm-11-inch-chrome-shorty-shock-absorbers-damper-32-1152.html
There are also lowering brackets that move the lower shock mount point back but they look goofy IMO.
Really?
Active Member
Nothing wrong with it.
It is going to take more than just short shocks to lower it for someone 5 ft.
It would be much simpler to do it with a bike with a much lower seat height.
My wife is 5'4" and I lowered her 750 by about 3" in the suspension and about 2 1/2" in the seat. With thick soled Doc Martins, she is still not fully flat footed.
The bike handles fine in the twisties for cruising and a little spirited play and it will take a bit of work to keep up.
So a smaller seat height and a seat that is not as wide is more where you would want to look for a person that is inseam challenged.
It is going to take more than just short shocks to lower it for someone 5 ft.
It would be much simpler to do it with a bike with a much lower seat height.
My wife is 5'4" and I lowered her 750 by about 3" in the suspension and about 2 1/2" in the seat. With thick soled Doc Martins, she is still not fully flat footed.
The bike handles fine in the twisties for cruising and a little spirited play and it will take a bit of work to keep up.
So a smaller seat height and a seat that is not as wide is more where you would want to look for a person that is inseam challenged.
lowering the nike is about my only option as there arent many bikes that fit a 5ft person......the bike wont be used for anything more then commuting and some rides with me....nothin crazy.... i think i am gonna start with shorter shocks then lower seat and go from there......
xtpx
Been Around the Block
If you have a welder then you can modify the swing arm to fit eye to eye shocks.
Honda Rebel shocks are 10.5" eye to eye shocks and you can usually find em on fleabay for around $85 shipped. I plan on going this route but for right now I'm going to go hard ass and weld up some solid struts that are the same length as those shocks.
Good luck with the bike though! I love these little 500/550s and am building my second one.
Honda Rebel shocks are 10.5" eye to eye shocks and you can usually find em on fleabay for around $85 shipped. I plan on going this route but for right now I'm going to go hard ass and weld up some solid struts that are the same length as those shocks.
Good luck with the bike though! I love these little 500/550s and am building my second one.
Really?
Active Member
If you are going to do it I will give you an idea what I did.
In the rear, shorty shocks and a 16" rim. The stock 18" hit the fender and it did not look good to me. I also had new swingarm bushings put in by HondaMan at SOHC4. If your swingarm moves from side to side, have it done because it will dog track.
In the front I installed CycleX -2 forks and slid them up the trees. I have 15w fork oil to reduce some of the rebound. Would hate for the front fender to hit the pipes. Be careful how high you slide the forks up the trees. There is a chance they will bottom out on the stock handlebars anyway. While you are this far in you might as well change the ball bearings for tapered.
You will notice that the bike will stand straighter the lower you go. You can have the sidestand shortened. You will notice the bike to be harder to lift on the centerstand the lower the bike gets.
Be aware of the type of exhaust you have or will get. If the collector is of the type where it bunches into a square, ground clearance is reduced and driveways can and will bottom out. Flatter across the bottom is better. This can create a safety issue.
If the seat is in good shape, save it and find one that is in not so good shape so you won't mind chopping it up.
After the bike is finished maybe ride behind her to see where it will hit when she leans into a corner, even the ones at stop lights and adjust/ teach as needed.
Just do me a favor and do this right and not half arsed. That's all I have for now. Good luck.
In the rear, shorty shocks and a 16" rim. The stock 18" hit the fender and it did not look good to me. I also had new swingarm bushings put in by HondaMan at SOHC4. If your swingarm moves from side to side, have it done because it will dog track.
In the front I installed CycleX -2 forks and slid them up the trees. I have 15w fork oil to reduce some of the rebound. Would hate for the front fender to hit the pipes. Be careful how high you slide the forks up the trees. There is a chance they will bottom out on the stock handlebars anyway. While you are this far in you might as well change the ball bearings for tapered.
You will notice that the bike will stand straighter the lower you go. You can have the sidestand shortened. You will notice the bike to be harder to lift on the centerstand the lower the bike gets.
Be aware of the type of exhaust you have or will get. If the collector is of the type where it bunches into a square, ground clearance is reduced and driveways can and will bottom out. Flatter across the bottom is better. This can create a safety issue.
If the seat is in good shape, save it and find one that is in not so good shape so you won't mind chopping it up.
After the bike is finished maybe ride behind her to see where it will hit when she leans into a corner, even the ones at stop lights and adjust/ teach as needed.
Just do me a favor and do this right and not half arsed. That's all I have for now. Good luck.
thanks for advise and imput........really i am def gonna do it right and take my time the bikes for the wife and shes pretty new to bikes so takin my time and doin things the right way will be the name of the game....i will post up a build thread as i go....plans for now will be to lower it so she can ride it......i like the idea of weldin up tabs to run eye to eye does anyone have any expierence doin this?was also lookin at shorty shocks with lowering blocks?
