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Post by Chuckwagon on Apr 7, 2011 21:41:12 GMT -5
Anyone with good or bad experience with these? They are definitely affordable... but often you get what you pay for.
Anyone know what the difference is between "sport" "traditional" and "standard" monza models they sell?
What about length? I have a 77D. The old shocks I pulled off are about 12 5/8 eye to eye. Is that the stock length? Normally, I'd go a little longer to get more responsive handling, but this is going to be my wife's bike and I don't want it too tall for her.
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Post by 5twins on Apr 8, 2011 1:03:19 GMT -5
The springs are supposed to be hard as a rock on those things, probably not a good choice for the little woman.
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Post by tomterrific on Apr 8, 2011 5:36:43 GMT -5
I have to say NO to the cheap shocks. It's not the shocks build quality, it is the shocks design. The design of those particular cheap shocks is so poor you might as well weld up some struts for the back. I just removed the ones I had on my XS and I noticed the 'soft' springs of the dual rate springs seemed to be of a larger gauge than the heavy spring. That's not the only thing the shock has backwards. It's really a shame that a factory could go to the trouble to build something and then screw up the design so badly. The cheap shock has all the parts but they are not made with the proper design and the result is the shock does not work.
The very best cheap shock you can get is to try to find a used top quality shock for a good price. Another way is to find a reasonably good cheap shock. Perhaps the Redwing if they are still around. I finally stumbled on a worn but still functional pair of Works Performance shocks off a modern Triumph Bonneville. These are fatter than I like and needed the lower bushing resized to fit but are super shocks compared to the old MIDI cheapo's that I had on the bike.
The length you have is proper for an XS shock. I read 12.5" but who is going to quibble about 1/8"? You can lower the back end but the rake of the bike will be tail dragging. This will increase the angle of the forks, plus increase the trail, making the steering more difficult. An XS can also be lowered by dropping the forks tubes in the triple trees, raking the bike to the front and making the steering quicker. Watch that the fender doesn't run out of bump room. Probably what you want is to lower both ends a small amount. Since your wife will be small the handle bars should be wide to help her steer the bike at low speed manuvering.
Tom
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Post by Chuckwagon on Apr 8, 2011 6:57:45 GMT -5
Thanks for the input. I was figuring on leaving the bike at stock rear height, definitely not just lowerIing the rear. I'll leave the goofy geometry to the chopper guys. If anything just lowering the forks a few mm in the trees. My wife is 5'9", so she probably won't need to have it lowered all the way around. I have to get the seat redone, and was thinking of getting the seat foam a little thinner (with a denser foam) to make it an easier reach to the ground.
I actually have a stock set of thruxton shocks in a box in the basement, and didn't even think about looking at them. The one top bushing got chewed up when I removed them from the original bike. There are also a ton of them cheap on ebay. What did you have to do to the bushing? Did you have a machine shop make a new bushing or were you able to modify it yourself?
Omar's was the only source for redwing shocks I remember seeing, and he's out of his NOS. Maybe a set of progressive suspension's shocks will be the way to go if the thruxton shocks, which are longer than bonneville shocks, don't work out.
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Post by 10ecjed on Apr 8, 2011 11:38:16 GMT -5
Yea those shocks are not to good. Put them on mine and there is 0 damping. Just a spring. They bottom out a lot. But they look good. LOL. I will replace them with good shocks. Like you said, you get what you pay for.
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Post by Chuckwagon on Apr 8, 2011 12:21:29 GMT -5
I saw some NOS hammerhead shocks (look like redwing) that MIGHT fit. Anyone know: Are there clearance issues at the bottom mount with these?
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Post by ShakerNorm on Apr 9, 2011 12:50:10 GMT -5
I was just looking at the IKON site - and they have shocks to fit the XS - 7610 1348SP8, but not sure of the price..... Has anyone run them? How good are they? If I'm not mistaken, they are basically the old Koni shocks - and should be rebuildable, too. So that should save a few $$ down the road.
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Post by grizld1 on Apr 9, 2011 14:13:20 GMT -5
Chuckwagon, at 5'9" your missus should have no trouble flat-footing an XS650 with 13.25" shocks, and coupled with a drop of 1/2" in front that would be a recipe for very fine handling, assuming spring rate is good and the rest of the chassis is right and tight.
Norm, Ikon shocks aren't cheap, but they are indeed rebuildable. It's my understanding that they're made with designs and tooling sold off by Koni when they decided to drop their line of motorcycle shocks. Konis performed beautifully, and I haven't seen any bad reviews of the Ikons. The main issue with Koni shocks was that the rods were a bit soft and prone to bending in spills.
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Post by ShakerNorm on Apr 9, 2011 22:08:14 GMT -5
I wonder if they're worth the $$$..... I'm still riding on the originals from '79......
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Post by 5twins on Apr 10, 2011 1:18:43 GMT -5
Shop eBay for used Konis. I'm running a set originally on a Moto Guzzi that I got for about $60. Wonderful shock for the money.  |
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Post by Chuckwagon on Apr 10, 2011 3:47:39 GMT -5
I guess shocks are hard to judge, especially since it is affected by bike and rider weight. I could be mistaken, but I remember hearing a lot on the triumphrat forum that IKONS had hard spring rates based on experiences of guys running them on new bonnies.
What about NOS Showa? Found some of those. Is that OEM for yamaha XS?
Definitely finding redwings of both the "assault" model and also "hammerhead" model. Varies, but some sites recommend that assault model be used on lighter bikes. Hammerheads are probably the ticket, but does anyone know if they'll fit the XS?
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Post by 5twins on Apr 10, 2011 10:58:04 GMT -5
Ikon offers many different springs, as did Koni, so all you do is change them to suit your needs. The MikesXS shocks offer no optional springs. What you get is what you're stuck with unless you can find another softer spring close enough in size to fit. Still, with little or no damping, what's the point?
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Post by Chuckwagon on Apr 11, 2011 13:27:50 GMT -5
The MikesXS shocks offer no optional springs. What you get is what you're stuck with unless you can find another softer spring close enough in size to fit. Still, with little or no damping, what's the point? Got it - wrote off the Mikes shocks several posts ago. Does anyone know a recommended spring rate for redwings or similar? This is going to be a shared ride, so rider weight will vary from 135 to 190 depending on who is using it. There are a lot of examples of redwings out there, but few offer any sort of recommendation or even know what spring rate they are selling, just list the obvious dimensions. |
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Post by 5twins on Apr 11, 2011 15:06:31 GMT -5
Try to find out what size bike they were intended for. Something smaller and lighter like a 250 will probably have softer springs. Find some intended for a midsize bike like our 650 and you'll probably be good. Most of my bikes are mid to semi large (no super heavy touring rigs or Hogs) in the 4 to 500 lb. range. I use straight wound springs about 100-110 lbs and progressives in 80-100 or 90-120lb.
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Post by Chuckwagon on Apr 12, 2011 13:48:15 GMT -5
I saw several NOS RW Hammerheads with dual rate springs that are 70/130. Seems like oddball rates... like the oposite ends fo the spectrum.
I've got a bad back and my wife doesn't weigh that much, so I'd rather the springs be on the softer side. I used to like firmer springs for a sportier ride, but that's probably why I have a bad back...
The other redwings were listed for several bikes including RDs and XSs. I know RDs were probably 70 lb lighter than an XS, so might not be a good choice.
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