Topic: 12 inch Shocks for Lowered CB750K1

[pjandrew99]

Wanted to lower the bike. Moved the forks up through the triple trees about and inch. Wanted to put a shorter shock on the back with the goal of lowering it an equal amount.  I have old CB550 shocks which are 12.5 in length. They are not the greatest shocks and I'm looking to improve the handling.
Can anyone recommend a 12 inch shock that will improve the ride and won't break the bank?
I did see Cycle X had a pair as part of a lowering kit. Don't know much about their shocks.
Appreciate the help!

[Stev-o]

Wanted to lower the bike...  and I'm looking to improve the handling.

Lowering the bike will not improve the handling.

You also need to consider upgrading front springs, tires and quality shocks, forget old 550 shocks. 

[pjandrew99]

Wanted to lower the bike...  and I'm looking to improve the handling.

Lowering the bike will not improve the handling.

You also need to consider upgrading front springs, tires and quality shocks, forget old 550 shocks.

Understood and appreciated.
I'm lowering the bike a bit because of my short legs. I don't expect that in itself to improve handling.
Bike has new progressive springs as well as new tires. Steering bearings replaced with tapered bearings. Aside from new swing arm bushings, the shocks are the last piece of the puzzle. The way my shock hunt is going, I may go back to standard height and deal with it.

[PeWe]

Many around here cut the stock seat (lower) to improve foot vs ground contact back in the old days. Off with cover, cut and reshaped the foam, maybe new layer of foam and made new cover.

Professionals doing cars and boats interior did many bike seats back then.

[pjandrew99]

Many around here cut the stock seat (lower) to improve foot vs ground contact back in the old days. Off with cover, cut and reshaped the foam, maybe new layer of foam and made new cover.

Professionals doing cars and boats interior did many bike seats back then.

I have a pretty decent K1 seat on it and a little hesitant to mess with it.  Something I need to consider. Thanks

[PeWe]

Find another seat, bad one with OK metal bottom. Remake it as you need.

Yamiya sell lower version of K1 seat.
https://www.yamiya750.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=246_251_182_81&products_id=3512

[MauiK3]

I have the lowered seat from Yamiya on my K3, works very well and is very high quality, can't tell it's not stock.

[PeWe]

I was close to order one too. It look good.

[DesertKyorugi]

Understood and appreciated.
I'm lowering the bike a bit because of my short legs. I don't expect that in itself to improve handling.
Bike has new progressive springs as well as new tires. Steering bearings replaced with tapered bearings. Aside from new swing arm bushings, the shocks are the last piece of the puzzle. The way my shock hunt is going, I may go back to standard height and deal with it.

I went with the 4into1 shorty shocks on my Valley Green K1, with the front forks 7/8" lowered. Handling is pretty good but cornering clearance is not. With the bike lowered, the Laverda Jota repro bars made twisties very easy and not hurting my back for long rides.

[pjandrew99]

The Yamiya seat looks really nice but says its sold out. I'm going to check out the 4 into 1 shorty shocks.
Also, looking into finding a wrecked seat, trimming the foam and recovering.

Am I correct in thinking that I can use any K0-K6 seat? The only issue being the latch on K2-K6?

Thanks!!!!!

[PeWe]

Always possible to ask Yamiya when back in stock. Just a matter of time.
I think Yamiya has info about how to use an early seat on later bike and vice versa.
I think it is about the seat lock details only.

Lower seat a safer choice than lower the bike and it's handling.

[pjandrew99]

Always possible to ask Yamiya when back in stock. Just a matter of time.
I think Yamiya has info about how to use an early seat on later bike and vice versa.
I think it is about the seat lock details only.

Lower seat a safer choice than lower the bike and it's handling.

I will ask them. I'm leaning toward the seat option. Then put Hagons on and be done with it. Thanks!

[DesertKyorugi]

The Yamiya seat looks really nice but says its sold out. I'm going to check out the 4 into 1 shorty shocks.
Also, looking into finding a wrecked seat, trimming the foam and recovering.

Am I correct in thinking that I can use any K0-K6 seat? The only issue being the latch on K2-K6?

Thanks!!!!!

Not sure how short you are but I am 5'6" with extra short legs, and I need both the shorty shocks AND shaved seat. Keep in mind that a shaved seat will only translate to 3/4" at most due to the wide girth.

I chose the easy route of getting a pre-made cafe seat from Carpy's on the Valley Green. On my other K1 I have the Yamiya shaved seat

[pjandrew99]

The Yamiya seat looks really nice but says its sold out. I'm going to check out the 4 into 1 shorty shocks.
Also, looking into finding a wrecked seat, trimming the foam and recovering.

Am I correct in thinking that I can use any K0-K6 seat? The only issue being the latch on K2-K6?

Thanks!!!!!

Not sure how short you are but I am 5'6" with extra short legs, and I need both the shorty shocks AND shaved seat. Keep in mind that a shaved seat will only translate to 3/4" at most due to the wide girth.

I chose the easy route of getting a pre-made cafe seat from Carpy's on the Valley Green. On my other K1 I have the Yamiya shaved seat

WOW! That is a beautiful bike! I'd like to get a few inches of lowering. The seat does seem like a good first step. How short are the shorty shocks? Did you look into any other shock options? I've been looking for 12 inch shocks and I don't see many options at all. Thanks

[DesertKyorugi]

WOW! That is a beautiful bike! I'd like to get a few inches of lowering. The seat does seem like a good first step. How short are the shorty shocks? Did you look into any other shock options? I've been looking for 12 inch shocks and I don't see many options at all. Thanks

Thank you! The shorty shocks I got from 4into1 is spec'd at 11.9". They are not a straight bolt-on shocks. You will need to add washers to make it work.

The best option is going with custom shorty shocks with Ikon or Hagon but even regular shocks(regular price) from them are hard to find nowadays. I was told to get the shocks for CB400/500 at 12.2" from Ikon. I have the regular length CB750 Ikon shocks on my Ruby Red K1, but even at the softest setting with Yamiya lowered seat, I am can only tiptoe it.

The other option is going with lowering blocks but install them with softer springs because regular springs are too stiff from the altered angle of the lowering blocks.

[pjandrew99]

WOW! That is a beautiful bike! I'd like to get a few inches of lowering. The seat does seem like a good first step. How short are the shorty shocks? Did you look into any other shock options? I've been looking for 12 inch shocks and I don't see many options at all. Thanks

Thank you! The shorty shocks I got from 4into1 is spec'd at 11.9". They are not a straight bolt-on shocks. You will need to add washers to make it work.

The best option is going with custom shorty shocks with Ikon or Hagon but even regular shocks(regular price) from them are hard to find nowadays. I was told to get the shocks for CB400/500 at 12.2" from Ikon. I have the regular length CB750 Ikon shocks on my Ruby Red K1, but even at the softest setting with Yamiya lowered seat, I am can only tiptoe it.

The other option is going with lowering blocks but install them with softer springs because regular springs are too stiff from the altered angle of the lowering blocks.

Great Info! Much appreciated. Lots to think about. Seems like a few good options. Some more costly than others. Not easy being short. lol

[DesertKyorugi]

Great Info! Much appreciated. Lots to think about. Seems like a few good options. Some more costly than others. Not easy being short. lol

I rode bikes since I was 13, it has nothing to do with needing the confidence of having both feet planted. It's all about backing these bikes in and out of parking space that us short riders dreaded most. And don't even mention wet or sandy conditions.

The Ikon CB400/500 shocks is the best value/comfort/handling option if you can get the seat to drop enough. Dropping half an inch at the front should be good enough with it

[Don R]

 K0/K1 are different seat pans than K2 and up. Many of the purists dislike the old lowering blocks but we ran them for decades, I only had trouble with them on a worn out bike with bad tapered bearings and a loose swingarm, honestly removing them didn't help a lot. A new swingarm with good bushings and new tapered neck bearings made it handle again.

[WhyNot2]

Great Info! Much appreciated. Lots to think about. Seems like a few good options. Some more costly than others. Not easy being short. lol

I rode bikes since I was 13, it has nothing to do with needing the confidence of having both feet planted. It's all about backing these bikes in and out of parking space that us short riders dreaded most. And don't even mention wet or sandy conditions.

The Ikon CB400/500 shocks is the best value/comfort/handling option if you can get the seat to drop enough. Dropping half an inch at the front should be good enough with it

I like your green bike, really looks sharp. What handle bars are on there?

I also have the shorty short shocks and the forks lowered down till they touch the bars.

Rode it for a short time, just can't seem to get it to run since I changed exhaust from wide open 4 into 2, to 4 into 1 w/baffle.

[DesertKyorugi]

I like your green bike, really looks sharp. What handle bars are on there?

I also have the shorty short shocks and the forks lowered down till they touch the bars.

Rode it for a short time, just can't seem to get it to run since I changed exhaust from wide open 4 into 2, to 4 into 1 w/baffle.

Thanks. The handlebar is Laverda Jota repro adjustable handlebar. It is fully adjustable to any configuration.

If you are going from tuned for unrestricted exhaust to a restricted exhaust, you are probably running too rich. Probably bogging down when you try to open up the throttle. Check your jets and air mixture screw positions

[754]

The good thing about lowering blocks us you can switch back and forth in like 20 minutes. ,

[Terry in Australia]

Lowering blocks are great, my mate Dave who bought is K2 new is probably 5'6" tall in his bike boots, so he installed them on day one, along with a re-sculptured seat, and did over 100,000 miles on it until he bought his Harley, which, once again, has a much lower seat, Honda CB750's were very tall in the saddle even compared to Z1's etc.

If you use them, make sure you re-adjust your chain, lowering the rear will tighten the chain, and you want around an inch of play in the centre of the lower chain run. If not, you'll destroy your output shaft bearings.

If you decide to pop for a lower seat, I'm looking for a good original K1 seat for my upcoming K1 resto, so am happy to buy your old seat if you need some bucks for a Yamiya seat.  

[PeWe]

Many of the bikes around here got the seats redone to make the design tougher and more comfortable. Not only to fit short people.
Original high squared seat seen as boring and not comfortable. More of the foot on the ground not bad either.
White was popular in the early 80's.

[pjandrew99]

Lowering blocks are great, my mate Dave who bought is K2 new is probably 5'6" tall in his bike boots, so he installed them on day one, along with a re-sculptured seat, and did over 100,000 miles on it until he bought his Harley, which, once again, has a much lower seat, Honda CB750's were very tall in the saddle even compared to Z1's etc.

If you use them, make sure you re-adjust your chain, lowering the rear will tighten the chain, and you want around an inch of play in the centre of the lower chain run. If not, you'll destroy your output shaft bearings.

If you decide to pop for a lower seat, I'm looking for a good original K1 seat for my upcoming K1 resto, so am happy to buy your old seat if you need some bucks for a Yamiya seat.

Great point about the chain. I'll be sure to do that. If I decide to get rid of the K1 seat I'll let you know. Thanks!

[Terry in Australia]

Lowering blocks are great, my mate Dave who bought is K2 new is probably 5'6" tall in his bike boots, so he installed them on day one, along with a re-sculptured seat, and did over 100,000 miles on it until he bought his Harley, which, once again, has a much lower seat, Honda CB750's were very tall in the saddle even compared to Z1's etc.

If you use them, make sure you re-adjust your chain, lowering the rear will tighten the chain, and you want around an inch of play in the centre of the lower chain run. If not, you'll destroy your output shaft bearings.

If you decide to pop for a lower seat, I'm looking for a good original K1 seat for my upcoming K1 resto, so am happy to buy your old seat if you need some bucks for a Yamiya seat.

Great point about the chain. I'll be sure to do that. If I decide to get rid of the K1 seat I'll let you know. Thanks!

Thanks mate, all the best wth your build.