Topic: Long time, no post. Have a question.

[Nidhoggr]

Hey guys. Haven't been on in a long while.  Anyway I have the urge to modify my '78 CB750F.  I am a short dude (5' 9") and have to essentially be on tip toes while sitting on the bike at a stop.  I read about Shorty Shocks being a viable option and didn't know how much lowering I could really get out of something like that.  Another inch or two and I'd be set as far as footing being comfortable.  Any advice?

[bjbuchanan]

I wouldn't go for shorty shocks if you want the bike to handle nice. Get used to using one foot at a stop, it is an American thing where most of us feel insecure if we don't have two feet down, you see all the Harley guys like that.

You can get those 12"~ eye to eye shocks and drop the tubes thru the tree about an inch to take the edge off. I'm not short but am inseam challenged so I get it. That height drop won't be an issue at all, won't screw clearance either.

Lots of choices, cheaper shocks from any vendor (pick your favorite I guess) or you could go Hagons, IDK, lots of options. It depends on what you want to go for

[Stev-o]

+1 you really don't need two feet down. Are you a fairly new rider?

Rick modified his K5 for his wife by putting a 16" wheel on the rear and cutting down the foam in the seat, that lowered seat height by approx 2".

[Nidhoggr]

Newly back is the best phrasing. I rode a pretty good amount for a year and then laid it down (was a very funny minor thing) and due to wife being very close to giving birth and therefore my time being focused on that I didn't have time to fix anything until now.  This is shortly after my kid's second birthday.    I don't really care what kind of shocks it is or how it gets lowered as long as it handles nice.  Just want it a little more lowered, is all.  Not uncomfortable just preference.

I should also state it has been lowered a little bit already but not too much.

Another few things i noticed while messing around with it earlier you may have some advice on:

- The hand brake is not activating the brake light
- The foot brake will SOMETIMES activate the brake light but sometimes causes it to stick on.
- The headlight works, except if it set it to bright (or push down on the switch).

Other than that it starts fine, handles fine, and rides fine.

[Don R]

You can get the short shocks, lowering blocks aren't real popular with this crowd but we used them a lot back in the 70's. You can slip the fork tubes up through the triple trees an inch or so and a cut down or custom seat has you in business. The headlight switch may have issues, they are available and the brake light switch is replaceable. Not sure if Honda still has them but jeeps used a hydraulic switch that has 1/8" ppe threads.  the 16" tire may help but be careful which tire you get some are almost as tall as a stock 18".

Or, as a good friend did just buy a metric V twin that already has a short saddle.

[Nidhoggr]

I'm not able to buy a new bike right now, sadly.  I feel the one bike is lonely and wants a brother.  So it sounds like the electrical issues are just old switches gone awry, eh?

[LesterPiglet]

The high beam filament in your headlight bulb is probably broken.
Clean and lube/adjust the rear brake light switch.
Check that the wires are connected to your front brake light switch located on the lower triple tree.

[lucky]

The shorty shocks from Cycle-X are a very good solution and then raise the fork tubes in the triple trees 1 inch.

This advice is for solo riding.

[Wobbly]

Get the Giuliari sport seat--looks better anyway and lowers your position. It bolts on like the original.

[Nidhoggr]

The shorty shocks from Cycle-X are a very good solution and then raise the fork tubes in the triple trees 1 inch.

This advice is for solo riding.

What would you advise for riding with a passenger as far as adjustments?

The high beam filament in your headlight bulb is probably broken.
Clean and lube/adjust the rear brake light switch.
Check that the wires are connected to your front brake light switch located on the lower triple tree.

Can and will do.  I feel stupid for not realizing that with the headlight bulb seeing as it stopped working when I had my little spill *facepalm*


Thank you guys for all the advice thus far.  There's a reason why when I couldn't figure it out I instantly thought "I should get on the forums".