Shortening Shocks

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bum
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#16

Post by bum »

yes, it sure helped me...................28" inseam 8)
bum
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Roady
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#17

Post by Roady »

It will help ... but you might want to try seat mods, different seat before going to the trouble.

A narrower front of the seat has helped many and it's an easy modification to make. Just takes time, hacksaw blades, patience and a staple gun.
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Victour
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#18

Post by Victour »

Ok I am a 28 incher myself my 750 caused me to be tippy toes Scary. a English dude also short turned me on to Laybacks. Mine were chrome and bolted to the lower shock mount then extended back about 1 1/2 inches with the shock mount hole..This slanted the shocks back thus lowering the bike where I could stand flat footed.. How great.. I am going to make some different for my wing.. but the same concept.. there shall be pics...
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FirstYearDeek
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#19

Post by FirstYearDeek »

Victour wrote:Ok I am a 28 incher myself my 750 caused me to be tippy toes Scary...
Eek! 750's are top heavy. Scary indeed.

That bike taught me to respect bigger machines.

-Deek
"Eat, drink and be merry. For tomorrow we die."

1975 GL 1000 (First Year) under the knife; soon to be a cafe' inspired "Boss" of a freedom machine.
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therealmark
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#20

Post by therealmark »

Yeah that rocks! Wish I knew this before I went through all the issues with the redwing shorties... I still have the 'wing shocks so I might just do it anyways sometime.
'78 GL1000 and '76 Volvo station wagon with 350 chevy.
geddisleroy
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shorting shocks

#21

Post by geddisleroy »

How would you go about lowering the front 1" or so?
leroy
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#22

Post by Whiskerfish »

Loosen the pinch bolts on the upper and lower tripple trees (2 allen head and two 14mm IIRC, 4 bolts total) and slide the tubes up in the trees. Best done on the centerstand with a small jack under the engine or a friend there to help. Sometimes a small wedge is needed to seperate the tree pinch points a bit.

Then go to a parking lot and pratice. A 1 inch drop makes a very significant difference in handling and it takes some getting used to so please be careful.
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
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geddisleroy
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lowering

#23

Post by geddisleroy »

thinks for the input
leroy
78 gl1000
1930 ford
1946 ercoupe airplane
KR2 home built airplane
sandrail dune buggy
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tk1971
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Short shocks

#24

Post by tk1971 »

Anyone had issues with their side stand after shortening their shocks?

I bought a set of 11" CB750 shocks and find that my side stand puts my bike near vertical.

Cut and weld? If I go that route, will arc welding be good enough, or do I have to find someone with a gas setup?

Thanks.

Tony
FAIR is the only four letter "F" word I know.

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Cookie
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#25

Post by Cookie »

I'd cut and weld it myself. If you are OK with arc that should be fine.
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tk1971
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cutting side stand

#26

Post by tk1971 »

Yep. I cut my side stand about 1" and welded it back up with my cheap arc welder. I was concerned because the stand is solid and I was afraid that getting only a bead around the cut would not be enough to hold the weight of the bike. The good news is that after I welded it up (and let it cool down), I threw it around my concrete driveway and nothing came apart. The welds certainly aren't pretty, but I need to go to bed now. So, I put the stand back on the bike and it works like a champ. I'll grind it down later and paint it to make it look pretty again. This is a great How To. Many thanks to this site.

Tony
FAIR is the only four letter "F" word I know.

Rides a 78 GL1000
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Whiskerfish
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#27

Post by Whiskerfish »

When ever you are welding a rod like a side stand take your side grinder and grind both ends to a rounded point. When placed together you should see a "V" shape that will provide much more surface area for your welds to work.
"Agreement is not a requirement for Respect" CDR Michael Smith USN (Ret) 2017
"The book is wrong, this whole Conclusion is Fallacious" River Tam
2008 GL1800 IIIA "TH3DOG"
1975/6/7/8/9 Arthur Fulmer Dressed Road bike
1975 Naked Noisy and Nasty in town bike
and a whole garage full of possibilities!!

Psst. oh and by the way CHANGE YOUR BELTS!!!!
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tk1971
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welding

#28

Post by tk1971 »

Check...

Thanks.

tk
FAIR is the only four letter "F" word I know.

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78AZWing
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#29

Post by 78AZWing »

The JunkYard Wing has been lowered using laybacks and shorter shocks plus about an inch and a quarter of the forks above the triple-tree clamps. Sits almost straight up and down. Real easy to knock over to the right.

I was thinking about heating the sidestand in the middle and curving it outward an inch or so to return the lean angle to a more acceptable angle. Any thoughts?
For that run-down feeling -
Try Jaywalking!

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1976 Junkyard 'Wing with a Dyna ignition. Otherwise undressed.

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gungadin
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#30

Post by gungadin »

peteybug wrote:Won't leave much room for travel. Mine are working great with just a little over an inch shorter.
Have you thoroughly road tested these Peteybug?
Do they seem stiffer having been pre-loaded by 1" ?
I noticed that the shorter shocks don't have the 2 stage springs? Or have you tried it with them too?

This is cool. I'm going to do it.
'75GL "LIL WING"
If you aren't making mistakes you aren't doing anything.
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