Rear shock question

Has anyone tried these shocks on a XJ 650 Maxim? :?: They are 14.5 from eye to eye and I wanted to raise the rear for my cafe racer project. The shocks are from a Honda CB700 Nighthawk, I have attached the link from flebay let me know your thoughts.

thanks


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Honda-CB ... 970wt_1164

 

I thought that I'd seen where someone else (in XJ Modifications) used a pair from a 650 Nighthawk w/o issues but I thought that length was more like 13.5". You still might be OK (as far as driveline binding) at 14.5" (2" longer than stock) as the shock will compress when you get on it. You could try fabing up a 14.5" solid mount temporarily to see if anything binds.

 

If you find forum where you saw these shocks being used, please post the link, thanks.

 

So no body has used these shocks?

 

I tried the 14.5" shocks from my '74 IH on my '82 Maxim, they didn't work. Something was binding and wouldn't allow the swing arm to pivot low enough to get the shocks on. I was just messing around and didn't put much effort into figuring out the problem.

 

I just purchased a set of Harley 14.5" shocks from a motor ycle swap meet this Sunday for $15 for both of them. I will be buttoning then up today so I'll be posting if my swing arm/shaft pinch. I have read people using 14.5" shocks on there Maxims so I dont think it will be a problem but we shall see. If it doesn't work for me, i only spent $15 bucks so I'm cool with it.

 

Almost any shock will work but you may have to modify the lower mounts. For example Harley shocks I know have a slightly wider mounting eye and use a standard bolt instead of metric so you have to drill the shock eye hole out slightly larger to fit your metric yamaha bolt through. You can just cut the lower shock mount off on the right side and weld on a wider one. Different shocks may need slightly different modifications but almost any shock with a similar length will fit and work.

If you put the bike on the center stand and take off the factory shocks you can measure max droop. Then raise the rear tire until it comes close to the rear fender, this measurement is max compression. Shocks in that range will work without binding your driveline joints.

 

DementedToys, I tried mounting those bad boys and the lower eye on the right side of the shocks will need to be widen a bit as you stated but I don't think I will be using these shock b/c the 14.5 length shock length is way to long. The shaft kept locking up on me for some reason.

That sucks b/c I thought I would be able to use 14.5 shocks. I have read that it wouldn't be a problem with the shaft locking up on me on my XJ Maxim.

 

Shafties don't have much tolerance for lateral changes. They are engineered to work in their spec. range and just a little more. These geometric mods are often tricky. You should be able to go up 1". Are you just trying to get the rear end overall higher or the travel?

 

I was trying to raise the rear. Its okay, my next bike won't be shaft it will definitely be a chain bike. Not to say I don't love my bike I have now, its just you can do more mods with a chain bikes vic the shaft bikes without redoing the rear frame.

 

Well, instead of trying to raise the rear, you could always mod the frame to increase the rear end lift? That way you get a back-end lift and you don't screw with the shaft's angle. Did I make sense?

 

Yeah that makes sense. I think I just going to go with the stock shocks for now and then mod the rear frame later.

Thanks

 

If you are building a "Racer" ... you want the Rear-end to be at 12~12.5 Inches.

You need to keep a Low profile to keep the weight closer to the "Contact Patch" of the Tires.

Raising the Bikes height will place the Center of Gravity further away from the Tires Contact Patch and make the Bike susceptible to "High Siding".
Losing traction at the Rear Wheel.

Gravitational Forces further from the Contact Patch cause the Rear Wheel to SKID and Re-Grip ... throwing the Bike over in the opposite way of the turn.

 

If you want to raise the back end of a Maxim a tad more, swap its 16" rear wheel with an 18-incher from a Seca.

 

Or lower the front

 

Oops, yeah forgot about that option. Especially sad, since I have an 18" Seca rim, sitting in my garage for just the thing.

 

Yeah fitz I know, I wish I would have found that out before I purchase new tires, rebuilt the rear brakes, and painted the rim.

Maybe next time I will swap out the 16" rim at later time. I have to get my money worth of all this rebuilt rear section if you know what I mean.

 

Send me a PM I might be interested w/pictures of the rim.

Thanks