need 13" shocks to fit a cb550 :)

[stuartni]

need a set of 13" rear shocks for my 78 cb550 cafe racer running 14" at the moment but just to long.thanks

[Ewan 500 K1]

Hi stuart , I've put 14 inch rears on mine along with a steering damper ... not on the raod yet, but damn close to it now. What probs were you having with the 14's ?

[stuartni]

Hea basically the 14" shocks i have are progressive shocks and springs and there very hard there meant to be for a cb750 and from what I've read online the handling will be affected a lot. I'm mainly changing due to the hardness which is not good on our terrible roads here. what shocks are you using??? also does you chain make contact at all with your swing arm with the 14" shocks

[Ewan 500 K1]

yep loads of stories about effects on handling from raising the rear end (eg tank slapping tendancies)... but equally loads that say its nothing to worry about as long as you fit a damper. Roads here have been on a downhill slide since the Romans buggered off home.

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I reckoned I needed the 2 inch extra to guarantee that the rear tyre wouldnt rub on the base of the hoop plate ..

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Never thought to check swing arm / chain clearance and the bike's in bits again just now while the frame is with the powder coater.

Shocks are custom Hagons

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[Norniron]

I have a pair of partially dismantled Marzocchi Strada AG rear shocks in the loft (the ones in red with the piggyback reservoir), no idea of length but will have a look. Even if your weren't interested or they were not good enough at least you'd know if another set of them would be suitable.

I think those red marzocchis are 14".il measure mine 2moro

[stuartni]

yep loads of stories about effects on handling from raising the rear end (eg tank slapping tendancies)... but equally loads that say its nothing to worry about as long as you fit a damper. Roads here have been on a downhill slide since the Romans buggered off home.

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I reckoned I needed the 2 inch extra to guarantee that the rear tyre wouldnt rub on the base of the hoop plate ..

(Attachment Link)


(Attachment Link)

Never thought to check swing arm / chain clearance and the bike's in bits again just now while the frame is with the powder coater.

Shocks are custom Hagons

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think i might invest if a damper as well as froth wagon springs front is to soft

[stuartni]

I have a pair of partially dismantled Marzocchi Strada AG rear shocks in the loft (the ones in red with the piggyback reservoir), no idea of length but will have a look. Even if your weren't interested or they were not good enough at least you'd know if another set of them would be suitable.

i would be very interested in these 

[stuartni]

Will go and get them out of the loft shortly Stuart, kinda pushed for time ATM.

no problem at all no rush bikes not going anywhere until summer 

[Norniron]

I have a pair of partially dismantled Marzocchi Strada AG rear shocks in the loft (the ones in red with the piggyback reservoir), no idea of length but will have a look. Even if your weren't interested or they were not good enough at least you'd know if another set of them would be suitable.

I think those red marzocchis are 14".il measure mine 2moro

Measured mine at 14"

[Yoshi823]

I fitted the OEM shocks from my CB750F2 to my commuter CB550F1 & it made quite a differance to the handling & extra ground clearance



At one time I fitted some CB900FZ shocks to my 550F1 but they were too long so went back to the 750F2 shocks



I have these Koni shocks for sale (£80 +p&p)



Not sure what they are eye-to-eye but they were from one of my CB550Fs

[Yoshi823]

I've measured my koni shocks & they're 12.5" between centres & are set at their shortest setting by adjusting the top mount locknut.

[Ewan 500 K1]

I fitted the OEM shocks from my CB750F2 to my commuter CB550F1 & it made quite a differance to the handling & extra ground clearance

At one time I fitted some CB900FZ shocks to my 550F1 but they were too long so went back to the 750F2 shocks

Hey yoshi what lenghts were the 750 & the 900 shocks ? I'm guessing you never did anything to the front end to compensate for the higher rear end  ? I've got 14.5 inch Hagons for my 500, but still to get my act togeather and reassemble it after poweder coating. What issues were you getting with the 900 shocks ?

[stuartni]

Just found the Marzocchis Stuart. They measure just short of 13" eye to eye. However one of the seals is leaking. The rods look fine, not pitted or rusty, the springs are great at first glance, don't appear to be chipped or rusty. If the seal was replaced I'd imagine they'd be fine, the bodies are not too bad but there is a small area where it's been catching something and it's ground a little of the alloy away.

ok great could pm me a price for them please

[stuartni]

ok would have any photos just to see general condition and the mark you said about

[Yoshi823]

I fitted the OEM shocks from my CB750F2 to my commuter CB550F1 & it made quite a differance to the handling & extra ground clearance

At one time I fitted some CB900FZ shocks to my 550F1 but they were too long so went back to the 750F2 shocks

Hey yoshi what lenghts were the 750 & the 900 shocks ? I'm guessing you never did anything to the front end to compensate for the higher rear end  ? I've got 14.5 inch Hagons for my 500, but still to get my act togeather and reassemble it after poweder coating. What issues were you getting with the 900 shocks ?

I'm not sure what the lengths of the CB900 or 750F2 shocks were, but it made it a very worthwhile modification as I was regularly running out of ground clearance with the standard shocks.



As for the front end of the modified 750F2 forks, I added some CBX550F2 air caps which, with about 5 psi pumped in, gave me a slightly better front ride height to compensate for the longer shocks.

With the CB900FZ fitted temporarily to the 550F1 it was far too high at the back, which didn't give me any tankslappers, but it did cause the bike to tip into corners much quicker as the CoG had been pushed forward quite a way. So I partially compensated by adding some useless imperial sockets above the fork springs, which kept the front end up & reduced the SAG measurement.

I'm sure that someone on here with a CB900FZ...like Steve...would be able to measure the length of the standard shocks. likewise, someone with a standard 750F2...like UKPete...may well be able to measure the shocks on his bike for you.