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Author Topic: Raising the rear end???  (Read 3052 times)

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Offline Falken

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Raising the rear end???
« on: February 02, 2012, 04:19:26 AM »
On my budget cafe brat project i really want to give the bike a aggressive stance...by either lowering the front of the bike or raising the rear.

i'm pretty familiar with the options for lowering the front...I was wondering what options there are for putting a 1" or 2" taller set of shocks on the rear of the bike?  perhaps leaving the front at full height?  I'm pretty tall so i have no need for the bike to be low.

option 1:  rear at stock height - front lowered 1 to 2"
option 2:  rear raised 1 to 2" - front at stock height
option 3:  rear raised 1 to 2" - front lowered 1 to 2"

what option would be best?  and whats the best way to go about achieving it?
(i don't want to sacrifice handling...if anything i'd like to improve it...but still get my aggressive stance)
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Offline Old Scrambler

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Re: Raising the rear end???
« Reply #1 on: February 02, 2012, 08:49:20 AM »
1-inch taller rear shocks with 18-inch wheel and low-profile tire.............18-inch front rim with low-profile tire..........standard or 1/2-inch lower forks in the trees.............flat bars............ lower profile at front of seat...........high-profile rear fender...........Modest set-back pegs and upswept exhaust.........Paint for visual effect
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Offline Falken

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Re: Raising the rear end???
« Reply #2 on: February 02, 2012, 06:18:11 PM »
recommendations on a longer rear shock?  a 14'' or 15''?
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Raising the rear end???
« Reply #3 on: February 02, 2012, 06:50:54 PM »
You may want to fit a steering damper if you raise the rear, these bikes already have small trail numbers {under 4 inches} and raising the rear will make that even smaller, making the steering quicker and increasing the chances of head shake or tank slappers...
  Raising the rear is common on early race bikes but i am yet to see one without a damper, i have had some serious tank slappers on standard bikes so i fit dampers to all my old Honda's. Just saying.....
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Raising the rear end???
« Reply #4 on: February 02, 2012, 08:01:36 PM »
Quote from: Falken on February 02, 2012, 04:19:26 AM
On my budget cafe brat project ...

I would think "brats" would be more "budget" at a hot dog stand rather than the "cafe"...no seriously...I got 14.5" shocks on a cb750k5, the steering is noticeable quicker, and RR is correct about the steering damper, I have noticed one alarming instance of head shake after jumping some railroad tracks...
« Last Edit: February 03, 2012, 02:43:17 AM by seanbarney41 »
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Offline Don R

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Re: Raising the rear end???
« Reply #5 on: February 02, 2012, 08:41:30 PM »
What bike? later ones had some extra trail I believe.
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Offline Falken

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Re: Raising the rear end???
« Reply #6 on: February 03, 2012, 04:03:58 AM »
Don R:  1977 CB750F.

seanbarney41:  what brand of shocks? and where can i find them?

Retro Rocket:  I had been playing with the idea of a dampener...for the $50-100 it would take to rig an inexpensive one up i think i'll do it.
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Raising the rear end???
« Reply #7 on: February 03, 2012, 02:04:33 PM »
...factory Honda cb900f shocks...pretty sure progressive, ikon, and hagon all have an aftermarket equivalent...
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Raising the rear end???
« Reply #8 on: February 03, 2012, 10:02:46 PM »
Not trying to diss Sean but the 900f shocks are not very good at all, i had them new on a couple of new Boldor's back when going fast was the thing to do, they got hot lost damping and were replaced ASAP, lots of better shocks around.... ;)
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Raising the rear end???
« Reply #9 on: February 04, 2012, 08:15:31 AM »
yeah, I have noticed the damping kinda "goes away" a little bit...and to be honest, they just kinda popped up cheap and available and are certainly better than the stockers...but it's the 14.5" length that is the point of this thread...
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Offline Doctor_D

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Re: Raising the rear end???
« Reply #10 on: February 04, 2012, 08:45:32 AM »
Price/performance wise, the Progressive cb900f shocks are going to be your best bet.  Dynoman has them. For my CB750, I'm using 14.25" Works Performance alloy trackers -- and a steering damper.
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Offline cb650

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Re: Raising the rear end???
« Reply #11 on: February 04, 2012, 04:10:52 PM »
I put some good 650 shocks on my 360.  About a inch longer and loved them.
Looking for some "good" 750 or 900 shocks for the 650 now.  Have some 750's on it but they are used and a little weak.
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