Dropping the rear end

I'm looking into dropping the rear end of the ol' 650, but I have some concerns... Can the stock shocks be safely cut (like a inch or two) or would it be recommended to just replace them?

I was also thinking of trying some solids struts...

Your guy's thoughts?

 

Gremlin,
I dropped the rearend of mine by making shock lowering blocks. They moved the bottom of the stock shocks back 3" hense lowering the bike quite a bit and keeping the soft ride.
I made a pair of struts and tried them out, but didn't like the idea of trying to ride 300-400 miles a day with that kinda non-suspension. My back wouldn't be able to take it for long.
If you're interested in making a pair of "shock blocks", PM me and I'll try to send some photos of my mods.
I have another pair of shocks that I am going to try to shorten, but I have to make a shock compressor to do it (don't have time right now) so that'll be another winter project. (that's NEXT winter)

 

Absolutely! I'd love to see how you made those extensions. Thats probably my biggest reason for not moving forward with the project. If I F-up the stock shocks, then I'm stuck with finding some replacements. If I take the time to build the solid struts, I'd imagine I may not like them. Plus the thought of compressing those springs makes my head hurt.

 

The shock compressor is just a pair of threaded rods with pieces of steel at each end that you screw together to compress the shocks, so you can remove the retainer on the end. Then you cut off about 1" of the spring (more or less depending on how much shorter you want them) and put them back together. I have to do a little research on it before I do it. I just haven't got around to making the compressors yet anyways.

 

Ok thats like 10 times simpiler than what I was thinking... I had visions of using lots of leverage and it being very dangerous...

 

Trust me, I tried compressing them using my shop vice and a long bar for extra leverage. Lets just say, things went flying when it slipped off the shock and made a nice big dent in the ceiling of my shop.
"To be old and wise, one must first be young and stupid"!! (and I'm 52)

 

I found the stock springs don't have a short enough shock. So that when you cut the springs there isn't muchroom for travel. I bought a pair of 1986 750 virago springs and cut the springs as there struts are shorter.

 

You're lucky you only dented your ceiling...

My uncle lost his eye trying to remove compressed shocks without the proper tools...

Best to be careful.

 

I have a set of struts I'm not using, I'll sell you for pretty cheap. They are 9 1/2" between the holes. I rode them for a few weeks, and really liked the look, and the ride wasn't horrible but... I felt like I was beating the hell out of my bike. Each and every hole literally bounced the bike around, and I felt I was going to eventually do more damage than the looks were worth. I'd be interested in Painterd's lowering mounts too. I'd make some but I'm welderless. Here's a shot of the bike with the struts, the rear fender was about 1 1/2" from the tire. and with shocks.

 

I'm just curious to know how those of you that have dropped the rear end have compensated for the side stand?

 

I was kinda wondering that myself about the sidestand, but mine leans plenty far over after lowering the back end. Musta got lucky I guess. I would have just heated the stand with a torch and bent it a little to compensate, but I son't feel the need now.
FYI, the sidestands for the 750 Seca and the 650 Maxim are identical (I took both of them off to compare them) >PD<

 

im looking to do this on my 700..I love that bobed look..post them pics ...

 

Yes, I heated and bent my sidestand.

 

I heated and bent mine as well. I cut my springs and screwed them down and welded them. This way I'm able to keep the top flat.

 

OK here you go. This is a photo of the lean angle after lowering the rear. The slope of the garage apron comes into play also, so it actually leans a little more then that.



Here's the right side shock extender I made out of 1"x3/4" solid square stock with a U-shaped piece to mount the bottom of the shock to (a little drilling, cutting and alot of trial and error to get it where I wanted it) The mounting bolts are exactly 3" apart.



Here's the differential side. The mount had to be made a little different because of the rear housing. I had to fabricate a brace on the bottom for the extender to rest on. That chrome bracket is the license plate mount off the rear shock bolt. This side is made out of 1" heavy-wall hollow square stock with a U-shape piece for the bottom of the shock to mount to.

 

If you were to lower the rear say an inch, why not just take the side stand off & remove an inch on it as well? It would seem that heating & bending would cause it to stick out a bit when it's up, just a thought, that is what I plan to do with mine.

 

If you lower both the front and the rear an inch, you could probably get away with lowering the side stand that much, but if your front end dosent drop, your side stand should probably only need about 1/2 an inch ( or less ).

I'd think that bending it would be alot easier ( not to mention less time-consuming). Plus you always have the option of re-bending it if you dont like the dropped stance.

There would also be the question of strength. Which can sustain more weight, a bent sidestand or one thats been cut and re-welded. That would be my big concern. I havent looked into what to do with the sidestand yet, although I would probably use the centerstand more than anything, especially with some of the winds we get here.

 

By the way, thanks painterD for the pics. That should help tremendously.

 

With the struts i had on, the rear was lowered 3 inches, and the bike stood pretty vertical with the stock stand. So much so that I was nervous that a leaf might hit it and tip it over.

 

The main reason I did not even consider cutting/shortening the side stand is the fact that it is already too short or should I say, too vertical. I find that most metric bikes I've owned are that way. The only exception is my Honda 1100 Shadow that has a lot longer sidestand and comes out alot farther when it's down.
** I did not mean to actually bend the arm itself, I meant I would heat the mounting point and bend IT to make the bike lean over farther. That way, when it's in the up position, it will not stick out any farther, just up higher.
Of course heating the mounting tab on the frame may weaken it and put more weight on it as it leans over more, so that's another point to take into consideration. Maybe I should just leave it be.
I've been pretty careful where I park it too. I am lucky enough to be able to park inside a building (on concrete) at work so it hasn't been an issue.
Just thinking out loud...PD