Wrong length of shocks

Status
Not open for further replies.
K

krabbe

Joined
Oct 27, 2014
Messages
2
Country flag
Hello all
I have a problem with (perhaps) the rear shocks on My 750 Commando. It seems that the length of the shocks are 'normal' 350 mm but never the less will the rear wheel be in contact with the rear fender if I run over a pothole or less. The bike is equipped with a rear wheel from a Kawasaki 750 H2 which is 18". Should I perhaps try with longer shocks?
Regards
/Klaus Krabbe
 
It may not be the overall length but the combination of that with the stroke and bump-stop.
Mine are 268mm, fully compressed to the bump-stops - what are yours?

Edit: Will need to remove spring to measure this
 
Last edited:
L.A.B. said:
The normal length (mounting eye centre to centre) is 327mm/12.9".
Click to expand...
True Les - mine are 330mm - but if contacting the mudguard (fender) is the problem the compressed length is likely to be the culprit.
 
robs ss said:
True Les - mine are 330mm - but if contacting the mudguard (fender) is the problem the compressed length is likely to be the culprit.
Click to expand...

Yes, I just wondered if Klaus had given the overall shock length and not the normal length between centres.
 
What shocks do you have on it ? If you are running the original Girlings then there is a good chance they are just worn out, so your shocks now have basically just become a spring.....and that may well be weakened .
Try adjusting them to the highest pre load and see if your wheel still hits the fender.
 
If the rear of your bike is too low, it increases the rake on your steering head which increases the trail. If you buy a magnetic based protractor, you can attach it to your fork leg to measure the rake and the length of shock required to correct the rake to standard (27 .deg. ? )
 
krabbe said:
Hello all
I have a problem with (perhaps) the rear shocks on My 750 Commando. It seems that the length of the shocks are 'normal' 350 mm but never the less will the rear wheel be in contact with the rear fender if I run over a pothole or less. The bike is equipped with a rear wheel from a Kawasaki 750 H2 which is 18". Should I perhaps try with longer shocks?
Regards
/Klaus Krabbe
Click to expand...

What is the shock travel? Fully extended to fully compressed.

Rim size is not as important as tyre rolling diameter, which may not vary that much from the 19" depending on the tyres used.
 
A picture would help.
The narrow 19” rear has a slim mudgard to suit...
A fat 4.50-18 may not fit well
 
Hello all. Sorry for being slow in replying.
I tried to upload a picture but apparently had to install some Bucket app, which I don't want to.
As to the length I've measured from eye to eye hole.
robs ss said:
It may not be the overall length but the combination of that with the stroke and bump-stop.
Mine are 268mm, fully compressed to the bump-stops - what are yours?

Edit: Will need to remove spring to measure this
Click to expand...
I will try to remove a shock and measure this "fully compressed to the bump-stops length". I will also try to take into consideration all the good advice and will measure all I can measure. Must have the Old Norton out and running again. I've had since 1978. Btw the shocks are brand new, but I didn'ø buy them.
 
krabbe said:
Hello all. Sorry for being slow in replying.
I tried to upload a picture but apparently had to install some Bucket app, which I don't want to.
As to the length I've measured from eye to eye hole.

I will try to remove a shock and measure this "fully compressed to the bump-stops length". I will also try to take into consideration all the good advice and will measure all I can measure. Must have the Old Norton out and running again. I've had since 1978. Btw the shocks are brand new, but I didn'ø buy them.
Click to expand...

Do not use Photobucket for photo hosting.

I use Imgur, it's 100% and will never go away. It's hosts about a trillion cat memes for the internet. And we know aside from porn the only photos that matter on the internet is cat pictures.

imgur.com

Imgur

Imgur: The magic of the Internet
imgur.com imgur.com

For me I just post, go to my post and (on a Mac or iOS) click on the image I want and "copy image address". Then come back to the forum and click the picture icon and paste. It's that easy. Shoot, I'm going to put together a tutorial now.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
What is the length of the sliders inside the Commando front fork ?
Replies
4
Views
363
Stevo
Stevo
Desertsled
Prop up my bike. Length of P11 kickstand is 10 inches?
Replies
15
Views
241
Schwany
Schwany
Bonzo
Have I bought the wrong Hagon shocks?
Replies
13
Views
1,130
Bonzo
Bonzo
jseng1
Ikon flat tracker shocks
Replies
2
Views
526
jseng1
jseng1
S
  • Locked
length of spacer tube in steering head
Replies
2
Views
666
Onder
Onder
Back
Top