Author Topic: Rear Struts  (Read 3349 times)

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yogurt

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Rear Struts
« on: December 05, 2007, 06:53:56 PM »
Hey I was wondering how long or how you would make the struts for the rear of the cb750 to make it a chopper?
I did a search and could not find it anywhere. I want a setup like this guy has.\

Offline chopstar500

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #1 on: December 05, 2007, 07:18:56 PM »
The length is only dictated by how low you want to go & how much clearance is needed to prevent the frame from contacting with the tire. Pull off the shocks, put some sort of spacer (wood blocks?) between the tire and the rear frame section & measure the length between the shock mounts.

Good luck - the bike will probably ride like dung.
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yogurt

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #2 on: December 06, 2007, 04:29:52 AM »
I guess no one has done this before???
I was trying to save myself the trouble of figuring it out myself.

Offline KB02

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #3 on: December 06, 2007, 05:19:57 AM »
Chopstar500 gave you, what I would consider, the best way to figure it out. Most of the guys here are into either the restore's or Cafe's. www.Hondachopper.com would be a better forum for info on building a chopper.

You can also try Cycle Exchange - Cycle X. They're a shop that has a dedicated section for building choppers out of the old SOHC 750's (and others).

Hope this helps. Good luck and keep us posted!!
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Offline dusterdude

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #4 on: December 06, 2007, 07:31:04 AM »
besides riding like dung,its gonna look like dung too.its gonna ride rougher than a rigid because the wheelbase is shorter than a rigid,the extra wheelbase on a rigid takes up a little bit more of the road shocks than a stock wheelbase with strut bike will.good luck
mark
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Offline 754

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #5 on: December 06, 2007, 08:47:29 AM »
Actually some of us have done this before but we take into account ride height, clearance to fender used, flat bar, or tubing with machined ends.  No magic formula.. you build it to suit your needs.

What you asked is a bit like what color should my bike be.. many answers to certain questions.

They will ride rough, but I did this year manage to ride(strutted 750) 660 miles in a day (780 in 28 hrs). I figgered that was ok since I hadnt done any road trips in about 19 years..
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Offline Short Round

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #6 on: December 06, 2007, 11:31:23 AM »
yeah a friend of mine is into bobers, he did this on a 750 a few years ago.  He just measured the stock height of the rear shocks, subtracted a couple inches to get the height he wanted and made some struts to bolt onto the rearshock mounting points.  Looked alright to me but I like Cafe's so to each their own..........Chris

You could prob get a local machine shop to make them for you for a decent price. 
1974 CB550

Offline 754

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #7 on: December 06, 2007, 08:01:47 PM »
First step, remove springs from an old set of stockers bolt on and see how that sits/feels... Or ride it like that and try it..
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
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Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline MoTo-BunnY

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #8 on: December 06, 2007, 09:14:29 PM »
Seems like I have seen vintage '70s struts on feeBay from time to time.

However, wouldn't something like this (weld in rear frame piece) be the way to go, if you just had to have a hard-tail SOHC?



http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&viewitem=&item=320168106349

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Offline 754

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #9 on: December 06, 2007, 09:19:54 PM »
The hardtail is the irreversible Vasectomy..!!... :o

The struts are the reversible one!! :-\

One is  a local anestethic at the doc, the other is the 3 day hospital stay................ ;)
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
dodogas99@gmail.com
Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline ekim98

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #10 on: December 06, 2007, 10:02:20 PM »
I remember back in 1967 I had a 305 Superhawk and I put some chrome plated twisted struts on it for about 2 weeks. A Mack truck rode better. I guess it didn't look all that bad. :-[  It did seem to stop the wheelies tho, since there was a lot less weight transfer. They were about the same length as the stock shocks at full extension. I had to disconnect both so I could raise the back of the bike to get them on.
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Offline MoTo-BunnY

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #11 on: December 06, 2007, 10:10:32 PM »
The hardtail is the irreversible Vasectomy..!!... :o

The struts are the reversible one!! :-\

One is  a local anestethic at the doc, the other is the 3 day hospital stay................ ;)

LOL. .. .  good analogy - too funny!   ;D



---> instagram.com/moto_bunny# <---

[img width= height=]http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3440/3846213109_ae572002d4_o.gif[/img]

hoppin' on down the bunny trail . . .

1973 Honda CB500K2
1970 Ding-How aka Nova R-S w/3.5HP Tecumseh MiniBike
1970 Taco Model 22 deluxe w/3.0HP Briggs & Stratton MiniBike
1973 GMC Vandura 3/4 Ton Van (350CID V8)
1973 Dodge "Chinook" RV (360CID V8)
1985 Toyota Tercel Wagon SR5 (4WD - 3A engine)
1982 Toyota Pickup Truck (2WD - 22R engine)
1962? DriveX Pack-Mule (Tote-Gote clone)
1989 VW Jetta GLi 16V
1991 Diamondback Mtn. Bike

Offline KB02

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #12 on: December 07, 2007, 05:16:47 AM »
I would go for the hardtail section instead of the struts. To me (my opinion) struts give more of a "wanna-be" chopper look that would be complimented with a set of "Chopper" decals for the tank. ;D
 DG

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When I was thinking Chopper/Bobber for my K8 project, I was looking at one of the frames that Cycle-X has for $800.
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obnoxshuz

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #13 on: December 07, 2007, 07:08:32 AM »
+2 on Cycle X...I was looking at their frames too BUT...my problem was trying to register a frame with NO VIN in NJ...no can do !

yogurt

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #14 on: December 07, 2007, 07:37:57 AM »
Thanks for everyones help I am just going to have to mock it up myself and measure the length. This is not my daily rider that is what i have my 10 for so I am not wanting it to be comfortable. For the lack of suspension I am going to be running a springer seat.

This is close to what I want.


Offline 754

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #15 on: December 07, 2007, 08:16:10 AM »
If that pic is what you want, what part about drilling holes in flat bar do you need help with?

BTW that looks bolted to a lowering kit, bolt it to the shock mount instead.
Maker of the WELDLESS 750 Frame Kit
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Kelowna B.C.       Canada

My next bike will be a ..ANFOB.....

It's All part of the ADVENTURE...

73 836cc.. Green, had it for 3 decades!!
Lost quite a few CB 750's along the way

Offline MRieck

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #16 on: December 07, 2007, 08:53:46 AM »
If that pic is what you want, what part about drilling holes in flat bar do you need help with?
I got a laugh out of that.
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Offline Geeto67

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #17 on: December 07, 2007, 09:41:45 AM »
I guess no one has done this before???
I was trying to save myself the trouble of figuring it out myself.

Plenty have done it before, stop being lazy and go measure it out for yourself. When mocking up, make sure you have the fender you want to use and know how you are going to mount it.

It should be noted that that frame you are copying the look of has been heavily modified. In addition to the strut bars, the rear section has been cut completely and the neck stretched up significantly. Also the frame side rails have been modified.
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Offline billdramp

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #18 on: December 07, 2007, 11:35:22 AM »
I have a set of struts laying around the shop that i took off a cb750 that I bought a couple of years ago. I rode that thing around the block and it almost broke my back when I hit a tiny bump. If you are interested in them make me an offer.

Cheers from Portland.

 Billy
1975 CB750K (daily rider), 1974 CB550K (sold), 1974 CL350 (sold), 1973 CL350 (when I get around to it...), 1971 CB750 (in boxes), 1978 CB750F in boxes, 1976 CB750F SUPERSPORT (sold), 1975 CB400 FOUR (crashed), 1976 400 FOUR (work in progress), 1977 cb400f

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Offline pdxPope

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #19 on: December 07, 2007, 12:23:48 PM »

Quote
I would go for the hardtail section instead of the struts. To me (my opinion) struts give more of a "wanna-be" chopper look that would be complimented with a set of "Chopper" decals for the tank.
 DG




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Offline Aaron J Williams

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #20 on: December 07, 2007, 04:42:53 PM »
When I put struts on my 750 I used a floor jack under the back of the motor to raise and lower the rear of the bike and then removed the shocks and lowered until I had 2 inches of clearance between the tire and fender then measured the distance between shock mounts and made a set of struts. With a spring loaded seat and a little less tire pressure in the rear it wasn't too bad. Of course you don't want to try any burnouts or high speed corners with lowered tire pressure but if you stay above 20 psi it's fairly safe. I also changed over to the 16" wheel before measuring for the struts. I don't think it's worth the amount of lowering you get if you use the stock rear wheel.
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Offline mgmuellner

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #21 on: December 07, 2007, 07:19:10 PM »
The hardtail is the irreversible Vasectomy..!!... :o

The struts are the reversible one!! :-\

One is  a local anestethic at the doc, the other is the 3 day hospital stay................ ;)

Except CB frames are cheap & plentiful.  It's not like they are rare.
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yogurt

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Re: Rear Struts
« Reply #22 on: December 08, 2007, 01:52:44 PM »
Thanks for the input on everything I think you guys are right I think I am going to get one of the guys at work to help me weld up an new rear frame. Also might see about raking it.
This is my friends bike thought it might be just as easy as his.