'78 CB750k with pull mono shock conversion questions.

[72texas350]

I have a 78CB750k that I have been rebuilding and have replaced the front end with a GSXR1000 front end that looks awesome! Now I want to bring the rear suspension/style up to speed as well. I'd like to convert to a monoshock, but would like to try and switch to something like the rear suspension that was on the Buell Lightning.

My main question is what all might I need to do to put a pull system from a Buell on my 750? I am planning on swapping the swing arm and replacing the wheel as well. Is there a certain swing arm other then the Buell swing arm that would work well for this?

Here is the bike as it stood 2 or 3 weeks ago.

 

[bradj]

A lot of money. I looked into that set up ,man those shocks are not cheap

 

[72texas350]

I found some working shocks off of a couple Lightning S1s and S2s for anywhere from $30 to $175. I would probably be willing to pay that much with as little as I have spent on the rest of the bike.

 

[xb33bsa]

you will run out of ground clearance unless you start over with a new frame
you're engine is too low

 

[sav0r]

Or you could just use linkages to compress a standard monoshock. The ground clearance issue would still remain though.

 

[Sonreir]

A buddy of mine has been running one on his KZ650 for a couple of years now. Aside from the welding necessary for the mounts and swingarm reinforcement, I think he had to do a custom exhaust to get the clearance he needed.

 

[72texas350]

I figured I'd be ok with clearance, other than for the exhaust like Sonreir mentioned. The clearance look pretty minimal in that picture because the front end was lower then I have it now as well as the 4-1 header running along the bottom. I was planning to rout the exhaust differently anyways so that it goes up underneath the new seat.

As far as swingarms go though, could I theoretically just get a swing arm that was made for a monoshock and just turn it upside down?

 

[xb33bsa]

if you don't have the skill and tools to design and fab everything from scratch then you are in over you're head
why not just get some really good shocks 2 shocks like god intended for that bike

 

[Sonreir]

As far as swingarms go though, could I theoretically just get a swing arm that was made for a monoshock and just turn it upside down?

I'm not an expert on suspension or frame geometry, but I doubt it's that simple.

 

[72texas350]

if you don't have the skill and tools to design and fab everything from scratch then you are in over you're head
why not just get some really good shocks 2 shocks like god intended for that bike

I have the tools and I'm confident in my skills. I just wanted to check on here to see if there is a lot more to it other than just getting the correct swingarm and mounting the shock.
And I don't want to have 2 shocks on the rear because the entire back section is about to get cut off. For this build I am pretty much putting every thought that pops into my head onto the bike.

I'm not an expert on suspension or frame geometry, but I doubt it's that simple.

Nothing is ever that simple. I was asking because I had seen nivagc's build on here, link below, and saw that he used the Buell suspension and flipped over a swing arm to make it work.

nivagc's build
http://www.dotheton.com/forum/index.php?topic=48153.0

 

[Sonreir]

Well... intuitively, it would seem that it's not such a great idea to flip a swinger and use it on that type of suspension. Monos are usually designed to have mainly vertical forces applied whereas the underslung suspensions are largely lateral in forces.

Again... I'm no expert, but I'm just calling it like I see it. Hopefully someone with a bit more know how will chime in.

 

[xb33bsa]

buy a buell and use it for a pattern/parts