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what do I look for in replacement shocks?
- bountyhunter
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1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- Jeff.Saunders
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Many of the Harley take-off shocks are too fat low down on the shock - it pushed the chainguard into the chain. When you look at the stock shocks, many of the models have an offset on the lower eye to get better clearance around the chain.
The amount of travel is important too - some shocks have a very limited amount of travel before you hit the bump stops.
If you go with a shorter shock, you lose ground clearance, and can have problems with the tire hitting the underside of the frame/fenders. You can also have problems with the chain slapping the underside of the swingarm.
www.z1enterprises.com
Z1 Ent on Facebook,
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- TeK9iNe
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- What did you do!?!
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Motorcycle Shop Owner/Operator
79 Kawie Z1000 LTD
81 Kawie Z1000 CSR
83 Honda VT750C A
85 Kawie GPZ900 A2
86 Zukie GS1150 EG
93 Yamie XV1100 E
Lucky to have rolled many old bikes through my doors
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- Patton
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Also Icon and Progressive <-- ClickZ1 Enterprises has nice replica shocks...
PLUG. :laugh:
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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- Jodyb17
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And thanks for the insight on the stiffness bountyhunter.
Is it possible to gauge stiffness or travel by the coil of the spring? i.e. tighter the coil = less travel?
I am trying to get something that look halfway decent and work.
These are cheap enough that if they didn't work I could hold back my tears.
Waste of time?
1977 KZ 650 C
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- JMKZHI
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MikesXS650 sells new shocks that may fit.
Z1Enterprises.com might be able to get them - I've never asked about it, though.
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- bountyhunter
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No, the stiffness has to do with the coil itself and its temper. A progressive spring has a two number spec like: 100/140Thanks for the pointers Jeff. If I had the coin I would get the progressive shocks from Z1 for sure. Its just the if that's the problem. Luckily, I am chainguardless so I have a bit more clearance.
And thanks for the insight on the stiffness bountyhunter.
Is it possible to gauge stiffness or travel by the coil of the spring? i.e. tighter the coil = less travel?
This means it takes about 100 pounds of downforce to compress the spring 1" and 140 pounds MORE to make it compress another inch (hence the progressive factor). Note that is the force at the top of the shock which is different than body weight which is centered farther forward on the bike.
The cheapest new shocks of usable quality I found were these:
www.jcwhitney.com/adjustable-shocks-and-...ngs-mc/p2007058.jcwx
I ran them for about 20 years. They worked OK, they fit but were a lot stiffer than stock and raised the rear maybe 1/2". On your bike, who knows?
1979 KZ-750 Twin
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- Patton
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Others have dual rates, perhaps two springs on a single shock
(a lighter single rate plus a heavier single rate).
Yet other springs have a progressive rate, usually with coils gradually wound closer and closer together throughout length of the spring (progressive fork springs being a common example).
From one of Progressive's websites:
"Progressive Suspension" Rear Springs
Chrome and black finish.
*FYI: Spring rates are expressed as:
The force in Pounds required to compress the first
inch/The force in Pounds required to compress
the last inch of spring.
70/100 rate #VLE-1351C/B
80/120 rate #VLE-1352C/B
90/130 rate #VLE-1353C/B
100/140 rate #VLE-1354C/B
A single rate 100# spring would compress 1" under a weight of 100 lbs, 2" under a weight of 200 lbs, etc.
Good Fortune!
1973 Z1
KZ900 LTD
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