Anybody ever fit longer shocks?

[pago cruiser]

I've seen several folks lowering their bikes using shorter shocks.  But has anybody ever installed longer shocks on a Valk? 

I'm putting a hack on, and based upon my other similar projects, it eats up about 1" of the available wheel travel.  I would like to go about 1" over to gain that travel back.  Stouter shock springs help, but are typically so stiff that the bike then ALWAYS rides like a 1954 5 window Chevy truck...

The main potential problem is the increased angle of the swingarm/driveshaft.  I went 1" over on a Suzuki VX800  (driveshaft) hack with no problems.  I also went 3/4" over on my GL1200 hack, no problems.  1" over on the XR1200 needed a chain tensioner, but everything else was fine. 

I guess technically the increased angle could reduce the lifespan of the driveshaft; but for the increase in travel I'm ok with replacing every 5 years or so...

I just have not yet pulled the rear end apart and verified if anything goes "clunk"...  like the driveshaft hitting the inside of the swingarm; that would be bad.

I'm aware that the trail will also change a bit, but I am compensating for that with modified trees to ease the tough steering that results with the sidecar.

[sandy]

No experience with longer but WorksPerformance might be able to make a set for you. Stock length is 13".

[Pappy!]

Before you go to the expense and effort I would try it first. Doubt you will need the added shock length.
Most of the bikes with the longer 13" shocks look like they are a big higher in the rear then they need to be without a load on them.
I run 11.5" shocks and have had my girlfriend on the back with no rubbing issues....except my shoulders and back!!
Have also had quite a load on the back for the trip to Inzane with no issues and that's starting at 1.5" below what the 13s will start at.

[Dusty]

 This is from the old tech archives ( the link is at the top of the page)

Yep, 14.5 eye to eye...

Posted By: Cyemm
Date: 9/12/2006 at 02:11:27

In Response To: I think those are OEM for the Pacific Coast by Honda. (Ratdog)








They're replacement shocks for the PC800, Hagon brand. Got them from Dave Quinn Motorsports. Good guy.

Makes the valk ride like a sportbike, but the kickstand is short and you tiptoe at stoplights
 

This was posted by Cyemm who wanted his bike to be a sport bike so he modified it for his purpose. It's to bad the pictures don't show up.

Dusty

[justintyper]

i'm running gl1500 goldwing shocks on my standard and they are about a half inch longer than the stock standard shocks and with the added bonus of being able to add air to the right side shock for extra load.   the ole girl rides a damn site better than she did with the 50k mile stockers plus the can be had cheap on ebay and the air shock is easily and cheaply rebuildable.

 http://www.goldwingfacts.com/forums/2-goldwing-technical-forum/370671-gl1500-rr-air-shock-seal-p-n.html here's info on parts/rebuild.
 http://www.valkyrieforum.com/bbs/index.php/topic,13356.0.html and info on installation including the compressor and air valves (although i'm only just rinning the shocks and fill the air manually)

[pago cruiser]

Thanks all.

Sandy - Yep, that's who I use;  I've bought all three sets of longer shocks from them - the sales guy was also named Sandy!  Sadly, he passed away a year or so ago. 

Pappy - Unless you've played with hacks, the forces and weights can be surprising.  Our XR1200/Ural hack is pushing 1300 lbs with the two of us, canine, and gear; weighed it at a truck stop just for grins.  The stock bike is 550.

Dusty - Great info!  Good to hear that length works, although I'll prolly keep it to 1" greater to minimize rake changes.  It sure would be nice if pics were able to be kept with posts - I'd love to see his results.  As folks migrate to other interests, their photo hosting company is cancelled, or goes out of business, or whatever.  I'd be willing to pay a yearly membership (that would help pay for hard drive storage) to solve this... Hard drive storage costs/kb are about the only thing in life getting cheaper every year.

justintyper - Also Great info!  Should be pretty easy to find cheap for a trial fit. 

Again, thanks all.  I'll post results soon as I get something done...   

   

[pago cruiser]

Well, good news and bad news.

The Good:

1.  Got the pipes off, crash bars, etc in order to mount the Sidecar sub frame and a few other things. All the plastics are off at the painters.



2.  Got the car tire ordered, delivered, mounted and installed.  Went with the Austone; used this on the HD hack and it has worked out great.  I read where it is about 2" larger od;  looks about right:




3.  Got the 1" over shocks from Works, and tonight got the shocks and wheel mounted.  Looks good;



reminds me of my 62 Ranchero in high school - first thing I did was put shackles on the leaf springs to allow bigger tires...  But I lose about 3/4" when sitting on it solo, and the wife/sidecar/canine will suck up another 1.5", if I calculated right.

The Bad:

The greater swingarm angle just clears the exhaust mount on the right - no problem here:



The left is a different story.  There is about 1/16" clearance twixt the rear exhaust mount and the swingarm; definitely not enough to get a nut on the exhaust bolt:



Was getting too late to keep working, so I'll hit it in the am.  Based upon the left and right exhaust dents/rash, and some saddlebag repair, it looks like the PO let it take a nap a couple times.  I'm thinking maybe the left mount is bent in?  It's an odd, compound bend shaped thing to start, so its hard to tell.  

I'm going to mount the new pipe (ebay specials - take offs sitting in a garage for 14 years!) tomorrow, and see if I can just tweak or bend or space the exhaust mount out half an inch or so.  Failing that, I may need to weld a new mount in a slightly different area on the exhaust.

Any other ideas?

Regards


  

[gordonv]

If you suspect that the mount is twisted a little, and it sounds like you have the ability and tools to weld a nut on the outside of this mounting point, and then bolt the exhaust onto the outside instead.

[pago cruiser]

gordonv,

Thanks for the reply; it did appear to be tweaked, so a couple well placed hammer blows made it almost satisfactory.  It's odd, in that the tweaking seems to have come from the center hole, being pushed "outward, literally bending it in more than one plane. 

With my corrections I now have about 1/16" clearance - not enough, but think I'll find one on ebay and start with a straight one.

Regards 

[Gryphon Rider]

On my bike the swing arm will not clear the exhaust studs on either side.

[pago cruiser]

Gryphon
What length shocks did you go with?  Is it functional?  Or did you just go back to stock shocks?

I went with 14" I-I, and have about 1/8" on the right, and 1/16" on the left.  It appears both these can be made acceptable (1/4" or so?) by moving the stock muffler bracket higher on the muffler, and then re-drilling/modding the Valk exhaust mount.  I may try it as is and see if it is indeed a problem.

I also have about 1/16 between the muffler and the right shock bottom bolt.  I am going to find/have a friend make a shock mount bolt with an internal allen; at least this one should be an easy fix. 

I ordered a left un-bent muffler frame mount from ebay; should be here this weekend.   

[Gryphon Rider]

I haven't tried shocks other than what came with the bike new.  I just mentioned what I did so you would know that it is normal for undamaged exhaust hangers not to provide clearance between the exhaust studs/nuts and the swing arm.  This only becomes an issue when I remove my shocks to drop the rear wheel for removal.  I get around this by removing the exhaust nuts and wedging wrenches between the exhaust and the hanger.  This spreads the exhaust pipes apart enough for the swing arm to clear the studs.