.png "Powered by vBulletin")
DEFINITELY forget using some used/ebay/junkyard shocks!!!
They were ready to be binned about 20-25 years ago!!!!
Go for a decent set of Hagons with a proper spring for your weight and the bike's weight, and some Sonic Suspension front fork springs, and a set of RaceTech ir MikesXS.net cartridge emulators... it will ABSOLUTELY transform the way the bike rides and handles. And I highly recommend going 10mm -15mm bare minimum longer on replacement shocks over standard stock length, it improves the handling drastically for the better. I venture to go as much as 20mm-25mm longer than stock to get the bike really dialed in to that sporty steering response, and that is with a much quicker turning 18" front rim laced in even.
Swingarm angle is best 8, 9, 10+ degrees on our bikes. Some bikes can run 12 degRees swingarm angle very well even. The swingarm angle really dictates A LOT of the handling traits of our machines when accelerating out of the send half of a turn.
Taller shocks in general will help steeped the rake and lessen the substantial trail figure generated by the big 19" front wheel (18" front is considered a big handling upgrade on our bikes).
Longer shocks are not your answer to your question, but they are a solution to other inherent handling problems which you did not inquire about.
If you were by chance to have a friend around with a free set of big shaft drive bike shocks off of a GS850/GS1000G/GS1100G (not GK), FOR FREE, they would be worth trying, but all old shocks will have 30-40 year old seals and probably already started puking out all of their fluid slowly many years ago.
Don't spend any money on something that is just a lateral move with stiffer springs that are still too soft.
Longer shocks will still have too much static sag and use up over half of your available travel just from sitting on the bike, big detractors from the handling...
Better spring choice, better damping, and new seals and shock oil - HUGE improvements!!!
You will be in love with the way your bike handles with the frame sitting at proper geometry ( or better yet, revised geometry with slightly longer shocks for better steering response), & the way proper spring rates and improved damping make the bike feel overall. You really need to do the front springs and emulator valves at the same time to feel the full benefits of this.
Best of luck
Chuck
They were ready to be binned about 20-25 years ago!!!!
Go for a decent set of Hagons with a proper spring for your weight and the bike's weight, and some Sonic Suspension front fork springs, and a set of RaceTech ir MikesXS.net cartridge emulators... it will ABSOLUTELY transform the way the bike rides and handles. And I highly recommend going 10mm -15mm bare minimum longer on replacement shocks over standard stock length, it improves the handling drastically for the better. I venture to go as much as 20mm-25mm longer than stock to get the bike really dialed in to that sporty steering response, and that is with a much quicker turning 18" front rim laced in even.
Swingarm angle is best 8, 9, 10+ degrees on our bikes. Some bikes can run 12 degRees swingarm angle very well even. The swingarm angle really dictates A LOT of the handling traits of our machines when accelerating out of the send half of a turn.
Taller shocks in general will help steeped the rake and lessen the substantial trail figure generated by the big 19" front wheel (18" front is considered a big handling upgrade on our bikes).
Longer shocks are not your answer to your question, but they are a solution to other inherent handling problems which you did not inquire about.
If you were by chance to have a friend around with a free set of big shaft drive bike shocks off of a GS850/GS1000G/GS1100G (not GK), FOR FREE, they would be worth trying, but all old shocks will have 30-40 year old seals and probably already started puking out all of their fluid slowly many years ago.
Don't spend any money on something that is just a lateral move with stiffer springs that are still too soft.
Longer shocks will still have too much static sag and use up over half of your available travel just from sitting on the bike, big detractors from the handling...
Better spring choice, better damping, and new seals and shock oil - HUGE improvements!!!
You will be in love with the way your bike handles with the frame sitting at proper geometry ( or better yet, revised geometry with slightly longer shocks for better steering response), & the way proper spring rates and improved damping make the bike feel overall. You really need to do the front springs and emulator valves at the same time to feel the full benefits of this.
Best of luck
Chuck
Comment