Commando Rear Shock Length

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mschmitz57

mschmitz57

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I ordered a new set of NJB "Classic" shocks for my `73 Commando and when I went to install them I noticed they were a half inch longer than the old stock Girling shocks which ar 12.9".. I asked the seller and he told be that Norman Blakemore was supplying the 13.4" shocks for Commandos. I e-mailed Norman and he verified that he's been supplying 13.4" shocks for Commando's without a problem.
I realize it's only .5" difference. I'm a little worried the extra free length might cause the swing arm to contact the muffler brackets when the swing arm becomes unsprung. Anyone run 13.4" shocks on their Commando's?

Thanks,
Mark Schmitz
 
I don't think 1/2" will matter too much. It's really all about the ride. It is not that they were long, it's just that the springs on the particular set that I had were to darn stiff.

The effect they had on the center stand was also an issue.

In some areas of my garage floor, I would need a block under the stand so the bike wouldn't teeter.
There seems to be so much involved with maintainance and having the rear wheel off the ground that having the right length shock makes my life easier. I fiddle fart alot.

Congratulations on your first post.
 
Thanks. I thought I posted here before but apparently not.

Yes, the center stand will be an issue as well. The bike is currently on my lift (just finishing up a top end rebuild, Dave Taylor head steady, new paint, fork rebuild, etc) so I wasn't able to install both shocks and test the center stand.

I have an Atlas Cafe Racer and the center stand is annoyingly short as well. Probably due to non-stock DOT shocks I fitted.
I have to use wood blocks to jack it up enough to spin the rear tire.

`73 Commando
`63 Atlas Cafe Racer
`64 BMW R50/2
`84 GPZ550
`05 DL-650 V-Strom
`00 KTM 300EX-C

Some pics:
Commando:
http://s646.photobucket.com/user/mschmi ... t=3&page=1

Atlas:
http://s646.photobucket.com/user/mschmi ... t=6&page=1
 
Many racers will fit 1" longer shocks for better handling, though not likely noticed if not risking tire limits and the 'hinged' wobble-weave onset. Don't want to rub swing arm much as the tubes are rather thin. Tire fix on side of road may mean a hunt for objects to put under stand to get tire off. Could weld an arc of tube section on stand feet to gain clearance.
 
Hi,

I have NJB shocks on mine which are 13". I got them from AN. Hagon and Ikoni for Norton Commando are 13" as well. I think that's because they made them in metric length (13"=33cm).

Ralf
 
I ran 13.5" rear shocks on my Commando PR race bike for many years with no problems. I liked them because they quickened the steering a bit and also gave more ground clearance. I wasn't running a center stand or stock exhausts, so I can't say if that would cause a problem.

Ken
 
What you've been offered could be better or worse for your application. If the springs are softer on the long shocks, you have more suspension travel. A lot depends on how you intend to use the bike. The rear shocks affect the steering head angle, so if they are wrong in height, spring rate or damping, you feel it at the front of the bike.
 
I've run into hi centering and lean fouling too soon for my thrills so will try 2" longer rears to match the 2" taller front stance on Peel to see how that works out but am fudging with air muscles that can pull both end down at least an inch lower than stock. This instant issue is on stand and muffler issues so being lazy and cautious on un-tamed Cdo i'd get the 12 3/4"-ish shocks with spring rates in my general weight- need zone. If ya do like to test fouling and tire limits then longer shocks with squaty spring rate sure helps it hook up more power sharper, unless of course you still depend on full front traction to turn, as this combo unloads front grip in trade for rear grip, so gotta be going in pretty hot on power [not just speed] to take advantage of it if or front may scoot right out from under on a one tank slap cycle SPLAT. A steering damper in this condition will hinder the fork freedom to road follow by snap into straight steer so will just take ya down in one half a tank slap even faster than ya know what went wrongSPLAT, so nothing for it but do it some more till the reality pains sinks into bike and pilot fractures.
 
Well, running taller shocks wasn't my idea. I ordered NJB shocks for a Commando from Walridge and this is what I got.
When asking Mike about the shocks he says Norman has been supplying 13.4" shocks for Commando for some time.
An e-mail to Norman confirms this. I was just wondering if anyone here bought NJB shocks from Walridge for their Commando.
To Mike's and Norman's credit, they both offered swaps for 12.9" shocks. I thought I'd check before sending them back.
Maybe this was the hot setup. This is just a street ridden Commando, mostly stock.

Mark
 
I ordered the NJB directly and I'm pretty sure I got the 12.9" ones with the chrome shroud for the 70 'S'. I just measured them with the bike on the sidestand and it measures around 12.75", so I don't think they are any where near 13.4". I got them in 2010.

You might want to email Norman, not Mike.

Dave
 
lcrken said:
I ran 13.5" rear shocks on my Commando PR race bike for many years with no problems. I liked them because they quickened the steering a bit and also gave more ground clearance. I wasn't running a center stand or stock exhausts, so I can't say if that would cause a problem.

Ken
Click to expand...
My stock MK3 has 13.4 and I'd never go back to the shorter length. Used to ground early, now it doesn't. Two up particularly was no fun. Steering is quicker, but not at all twitchy, so that's better. Center stand is not an issue, I consider it a + that the bike almost jumps up on the center stand by itself. True, the back tire lightly touches the ground so I use a 1/4 " piece of plywood under the stand if I want to free up the wheel or once on the stand you can rock it to right, stick a piece under the left leg and visa versa. The inconvenience with the center stand is more than offset by the benefits gained with a longer shock.
 
mschmitz57 said:
Thanks. I thought I posted here before but apparently not.

Yes, the center stand will be an issue as well. The bike is currently on my lift (just finishing up a top end rebuild, Dave Taylor head steady, new paint, fork rebuild, etc) so I wasn't able to install both shocks and test the center stand.

I have an Atlas Cafe Racer and the center stand is annoyingly short as well. Probably due to non-stock DOT shocks I fitted.
I have to use wood blocks to jack it up enough to spin the rear tire.

Some pics:
Commando:
http://s646.photobucket.com/user/mschmi ... t=3&page=1

Atlas:
http://s646.photobucket.com/user/mschmi ... t=6&page=1
Click to expand...

Standard Featherbed framed Atlas was fitted with 18 inch rear wheel in place of 19 inch rear wheel for all other F/b.
The Atlas was also fitted with a 1 inch longer re shocks because of this, centre stand should not be a problem unless you have also fitted 19 inch wheels.
 
Longer is better, as Ken said, lifting the rear quickens the steering and helps with ground clearance.
You can go wider/more contact patch up front but still get quick turn in.

Too long is not good though, I had some long shocks, I forget how long they were; at full extension the swing arm hit the oil filter.
 
I use those NJB "classic" shocks and am happy. 13.4 is no problem as I camp and carry gear.
 
Is getting the bike to turn into corners quickly a problem with standard commandos ?
 
Never had any issues diving into a corner and recovering if sketchy occurs or perhaps the dreaded(GRAVEL ). :lol:
 
I just checked my Commando on the stand and both tires touch the ground while on the center stand.
Longer shocks will only make this worse so I'm sending these shocks back to Walridge for a swap for stock length.

(Checked shipping rates to Canada from the US lately? $40 is the cheapest method for a pair of shocks. Yikes. USPS seems desperate to make money)

Mark
 
If both tires touch now with the standard shocks, you're right about the 13.4" not working with the center stand you have. Something is off about the stand you've got though. With 19" wheels, front and rear, and the stock shocks with the original center stand, the back tire should be off the ground 3 or 4". Probably more with a 18' rear.
 
I know center stand legs can get splayed wider and also bend back some to lower the lift. The need to use stand for service is pretty infrequent though but if I liked the longer shocks I'd weld a extension on the feet. On my factory Combat stand is just right with the factory length shocks but does stand a bit leaning d/t RH leg just won't stay straightened. I think ya got to play pretty silly in public to notice longer shocks handling better and likely a bunch of other mods too. So admit it, you who like the longer shocks better, wouldn't ya been arrested if police seen ya enjoying it that much in public? I encourage this of course but only for those who know what they risking.
 
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