Author Topic: need 13" shocks to fit a cb550 :)  (Read 8148 times)

Offline Norniron

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Re: need 13" shocks to fit a cb550 :)
« Reply #15 on: January 25, 2014, 09:33:03 AM »
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"
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Offline Yoshi823

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Re: need 13" shocks to fit a cb550 :)
« Reply #16 on: February 05, 2014, 02:24:37 PM »
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
« Last Edit: February 05, 2014, 02:29:10 PM by Yoshi823 »
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Offline Yoshi823

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Re: need 13" shocks to fit a cb550 :)
« Reply #17 on: February 10, 2014, 05:04:31 PM »
I've measured my koni shocks & they're 12.5" between centres & are set at their shortest setting by adjusting the top mount locknut.
Bikes...they're in the blood.
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Offline Ewan 500 K1

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Re: need 13" shocks to fit a cb550 :)
« Reply #18 on: February 10, 2014, 09:47:48 PM »

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 ?
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Offline stuartni

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Re: need 13" shocks to fit a cb550 :)
« Reply #19 on: February 11, 2014, 09:06:07 AM »
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

Offline stuartni

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Re: need 13" shocks to fit a cb550 :)
« Reply #20 on: February 11, 2014, 12:12:04 PM »
ok would have any photos just to see general condition and the mark you said about

Offline Yoshi823

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Re: need 13" shocks to fit a cb550 :)
« Reply #21 on: February 11, 2014, 02:52:34 PM »

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.
Bikes...they're in the blood.
Yamaha R1 2001
Yamaha FZR1000R EXUP 1990
KTM 450 EXC RFS 2004
Honda XR400R 1997
Honda CB125T2 1980
Yamaha FJ1200 3XW 1991

Offline Yoshi823

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Re: need 13" shocks to fit a cb550 :)
« Reply #22 on: February 11, 2014, 03:45:34 PM »
I'm not sure if the CBX550F2 air fork caps would fit the CB550/750F2 43mm fork legs (as the CBX550 forks are) but after I had a prang on the modified 750F2 the forks got a bit bent, so I bought some fork legs from a CBX1000ZA & they fitted those forks ok.

Bikes...they're in the blood.
Yamaha R1 2001
Yamaha FZR1000R EXUP 1990
KTM 450 EXC RFS 2004
Honda XR400R 1997
Honda CB125T2 1980
Yamaha FJ1200 3XW 1991

Offline SteveD CB500K0

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Re: need 13" shocks to fit a cb550 :)
« Reply #23 on: February 11, 2014, 04:13:47 PM »
The CB900FZ shocks (FVQ) are 13.5" centre to centre.
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