CB 500 with only one rear spring

RadioPaul

RadioPaul

Active Member
Odd question. Just found a 1971 CB 500 at a good price. The guy selling it has only the left rear spring on it and says he has run it that way without issues. Sounds kind of dodgy to me as I've never heard of anyone doing that before, but I'm hardly an expert. Even with going and purchasing new rear suspension the price is worth it, but I"m just curious if anyone else has experienced running with only one rear shock.
 
I actually saw a build elsewhere the other day where the dude stiffened te rear frame, ran a one sided swinger and had a single shock affixed on the side.
And I thought that was sketchy.

You can flex a stock swing arm and frame with your hands.
Imagine what happens in a turn with one shock ;)
 
If the bike is priced right though, it might still be worth it. At a certain point, its up to you to decide how sketchy it is. Good luck
 
I wouldn't let that deter me from buying the bike.
I bet the guy is being honest, and he is just really dumb.
 
SONICJK said:
I wouldn't let that deter me from buying the bike.
I bet the guy is being honest, and he is just really dumb.
Click to expand...

That's possible... Sad, but possible. Haha. If its cheap enough, go for it. Just don't listen to anything the seller says from here on out.
 
If he is OK with riding with one shock I would be worried what other hackerary he would be Ok with.

And if you have to ask if the one shock is Ok, I assume you couldn't find other harder to find faults.

Don't buy a first bike on price.
Buy on condition.
 
Surffly has a good point - and you would be well-served to have a 'motorcycle person' come with you to buy a first bike.
 
Thanks for all the replies and sound reasoning. To clarify, I am not a newbie (riding for 20 years, although currently rideless), and was just curious as to whether anybody had ever heard of this. I have seen many things over the years that I hadn't considered and sometimes they work, sometimes not. As I am only an o.k. mechanic and no suspension expert, I figured I would check here to confirm my thoughts. They have been thoroughly confirmed. He wants $500 and the rest of the bike is sound. Depending on the proceeds from a record sale this weekend, I will probably offer him $300 and if he takes it great, and then I'll go looking for a pair of rear shocks. Once again thanks, and I actually go with the not being dishonest, just dumb theory as presented earlier.
 
Topoisomerase said:
If you get this bike, any chance you could also try out a 19" tire on the 18" rear?
Click to expand...

Seriously man? That thread has nothing to do with this and has been beaten to death already. Lets actually try to be helpful.
 
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