Shock length

[jjz28]

I measure my shocks today cause I see people wanting to lower these bikes and I thought mine was low to begin with (I am over 6'4" though.) My shocks were about 11 1/4" from center of bolt to center of bolt. Is that the stock size? What are the point you guys are measuring your shocks. The original owner of this bike was almost as tall as me and I don't know why he would have put shorter shocks on it. Are these stock or not? Also my xs750 shocks are the same shocks but longer. I may switch them cause the xs750 does sit high and my wife may ride it. Thanks guys.

[donebysunday]

I measure my shocks today cause I see people wanting to lower these bikes and I thought mine was low to begin with (I am over 6'4" though.) My shocks were about 11 1/4" from center of bolt to center of bolt. Is that the stock size? What are the point you guys are measuring your shocks. The original owner of this bike was almost as tall as me and I don't know why he would have put shorter shocks on it. Are these stock or not? Also my xs750 shocks are the same shocks but longer. I may switch them cause the xs750 does sit high and my wife may ride it. Thanks guys.

I think 12 1/2" is stock ? Measure from center bolts.

[WMarshy]

You're close... 12 5/8" is stock length.

[jjz28]

That is the length of my 750. I wonder why he lowered it? The shocks look identical just shorter. Do they make ones that look stock just lower or did they somehow cut them. Does the adjustment on them adjust height or just stiffness.

[WMarshy]

That is the length of my 750. I wonder why he lowered it? The shocks look identical just shorter. Do they make ones that look stock just lower or did they somehow cut them. Does the adjustment on them adjust height or just stiffness.

I cannot speak to the 750's but just know from searching and researching about shocks that they are 320mm or 12 5/8" (unless Steeve is wrong ).

The adjust ment on the stock shocks (earlier version) adjust spring preload. With the earlier shocks, the spring controls compressive dampening and the shock is rebound dampening only (so I've read).

[DGXSER]

I suppose it is possible the springs are THAT worn out, but I doubt it. It is possible someone cut the springs to make them shorter.

[TADracer]

But he has an SF and didn't they have a shorter shock because of the 16" rear wheel? I do not ever remember my shocks being as long as 12 5/8"

[jjz28]

I only have 14 thousand miles so I don't think they are that worn. Does the special have a shorter shock? thanks.

[XS1100 Newbie]

The Special shocks are 12 5/8". I might be interested in those shorter shocks.

[DCII]

I measured the factory shocks on my SG and they are 12 5/8", on my other SG I have aftermarket shocks and they are 13 1/4". I have never really noticed much difference in the ride or handling between the two bikes.

[jetmechmarty]

12 and 1/2 plus one eighth is correct for all of these bikes. My XS650 bikes are the same. Shorter shocks adversely affect handling. FWIW, Progressive Suspension calls it 12.5". Maybe that's why I'm not crazy about my Progressive shocks. They're 1/8" too short!

[650mark]

rear shocks

I tried a pair of 1"shorter shocks on my '80 special. they worked fine but they made it damn near impossible for me to get the bike up onto the center stand.
I went back to stock length shocks(12.5") and now, once again, hoisting it up is easy.

[DGXSER]

I run XJ air shocks on my SH. Rides nice, and a little shorter. Works fine for me.

[jjz28]

Ok so the 750 and 1100 shocks are a little different not much. The 750 is the 12 5/8 and the are adjusted exactly opposite of the 1100. The 1100 looks as if it is on the adjustment to compress the springs the most, the 750 is to uncompress the springs the most. The 750 feels much stiffer to push down the rear. The 1100 is way to soft, if pushes down very easy. Me and my wife went for a ride the other day and hit a bump and I think I may have bottomed out. does that adjustment on the bottom not adjust height at all, it looks like it would. I just searched google for that adjustment on my shocks and it says its a preload adjustment and it does affect ride height. So, if I adjust it completely all the way around like my 750 is, will it set higher?

[jjz28]

Well I just went out and jacked my bike up about 1 inch while it was on the sidestand because I don't have a center stand and I was going to take the shock off to adjust the preload. Well I touched the shock and it was really loose (the spring), I just twisted the adjustment by hand and had to put it back. someone cut the springs on this, I guess. I have no idea why the PO did this, he was tall too. I guess I will be hitting up andrea for those shocks.