Struts vs shocks...

Someone left a post on an old thread of mine and it got me thinking about struts again. i love the look of them and think they'd look great on any style maxim. But as far as comfort and practicality go... How much more bumpy is the ride going to be? And wouldn't they be less able to handle long trips with a heavy (2 up and saddle bags) load? Or am I way off?

 

As long as you have a kevlar spine and cast iron kidneys,you should be fine...

 

As far as comfort and practicality go, struts would completely eliminate BOTH.

Very bumpy. Plus two-up, loaded, the bike would not handle well; you would be a wreck looking for a place to happen.

Motorcycle rear suspension really evolved beginning in the fifties as power and speed increased; a hardtail is fine if your top average speed is 40 and you're not going far. There's a REASON for rear suspension, it's not that we've all just become a bunch of wimps.

 

I've read some testimonies that struts aren't too bad on this forum, but not too much info about what type of riding those riding them are doing. Just from the looks of it, it would seem to me and based on what I've read in other posts a fully welded rigid would be more comfortable... but there's no real easy changing your mind on that!

Just a thread jack here... what do people do for replacement bushings if they switch shocks or use struts? I've got a newer short set I want to put on my XJ, but the bushings inside have too small of an ID to fit on the stock mounting stems on the frame.

 

I think the size is different left and right.
You freeze 'em and drill 'em.

One person with a 650 Maxim reported frame cracks after 2 months of struts. I don't remember who. A fully welded hard tail is structurally different, and I've read, is designed to flex just a bit.

 

Different size left and right? I'll have to check this out! When the arctic chill leaves the better part of N. America!

Anyone else know?

I would expect cracking on most too. But I think there are those that haven't had issues with some beefy square tube, and decent welding of eyelet ends on them. I'm still a fan of if you do hard tail you go fully welded.

 

The cracking would appear on the frame, not the struts. The OEM swingarm is not designed to be rigid, so making it rigid with struts puts extra stresses on it and the frame.

Anyway - chuckles - if you go with struts for 2-up you won't be 2-up for long. Your pillion will get off at the first stop and not want to get back on....

 

I made my own struts and they are different sizes from one side to the other. also the ride sucks...between low air pressure and and spring seat it might make it bearable....?

 

A buddy of mine put a set of struts on his eliminator, went to a PD13 day, came home and put the springs back on. he could barely walk when he got home...

 

Riding rigid isn't for everyone. Struts are an easy and inexpensive way to find out where you belong. If you don't like the ride, put the shocks back on. No harm. No Foul. You're out a couple bucks for struts, but your bike is back to it's original ride. Struts should not be a permanant solution if you decide you are one of the few. In my opinion, and this is only MY opinion, having struts on a swingarm is the absolute worst of both worlds. The downright bulk and ugliness of a swingarm bike (when compared to the sleek lines of a true rigid) and the spine-tingling ride of a rigid. There's 2 choices when it comes to bikes: performance or style. You get niether with struts. Put a rigid rear section on it and enjoy the clean classic lines of a true rigid or ride with suspension. Again, just my 2 pesos.

 

What he said

 

That was me. I went to a hardtail after that and will never strut another bike EVER!

 

what everyone said about struts is true. I ried everyday and upto 800 miles on weekends. I put struts on a old shadow and was ready to put my shocks back on before i got out of town. I wanted the low look n thought it was the answer. I just bought shoter shocks got the look i wanted and a smoother ride. Struts just didnt wrk for riding