Topic: rear shocks

[bike54]

hi all
yet another question for the expert members the old girls rear shocks are in good condition bur their is a bit of pitting and surface rust on the springs so i need to get them off to deal with it looking at the workshop manual it looks straight foward but what do you use to compress the spring if you dont have the special honda tool another thing i thought all cb 550 rearsprings where chrome my set are black paint and it looks original and they are the original honda dampers
as always thanks in advance for all the help any outher tips for dissasembling them will also be very usefull you all make hard jobs easy

bike54   

[bike54]

ok where from david silver spares?

merv

[rsmith550]

www.oldbikebarn.com

[SteveD CB500F]

Buying NOS shock from DSS will just set you back a wad and land you with a set of crap shox...  (assuming of course that they have them)

Buy some real shox - there are loads of recommendations on this site.

I have Hagons on my 500 (mid price) and originals (no rust) on my 550.  The 500 handles miles better.

[bike54]

hi all
so basically i look for a good brand and make sure the lengh is the same is that corect?
 i dont intend to drive the old girl to the limit just cruise along after all shes getting on a bit now

merv   

[SteveD CB500F]

You may just be "cruisin' along" (I do) but when you "swoop" around that mini-roundabout you'll be glad you bought decent shocks. And then you'll do it again. After all, the fun is in the twisty bits, isn't it?

For our colonial friends, imagine a 4 foot circle painted in the road which you have to negotiate to turn right (or left in some cases) - that's a mini-roundabout.

[bike54]

hi steve
most of the ones round me are dificult to find under all the tyre tracks going over them

merv   

[bike54]

thanks dave
 i will keep my eyes open  for a set on ebay big diferance in prices
just spent £60 at david silvers and that was only consumables (filters, cables,bulbs, and spark plugs plus the rubbers under the seat)

merv

[eldar]

where do you people find these deals on ebay? I find nothing that ends for under $90 used and thats the low end. At that rate New does not cost much more.

[bike54]

hi eldar
where talking about uk ebay maybe the prices are a bit cheaper
their is a lot of over priced stuff (two side reflectors ebay over £30 dss £16) lots of outher stuff goes dear as well but if your patiant good deals come along if what your after goes over your limit another will be along sooner or later and the person who got the first one wont want another you just have to be patiant and keep trying plenty will bid more than things are worth but getting the good deal is half the fun

bike 54  merv   

[eldar]

Oh, well being in the US, those low looking UK prices almost double because our "lovely" president has butched our economy.

[bike54]

ok
but a lot of our stuff has a tax on a tax thanks to value added tax
eg buy a new bike you pay so much of the price as tax and the final amount has 17.5% value added tax on it
polaticians are the same the world over

merv

[eldar]

That is true, exchange rates can be good or bad. Maybe some century we will all use the same money.

[bike54]

i agree possibly sometime in the future we will
i like the idea of working out how long i have to work to buy something that always puts it in the proper perspective

merv 

[cd811]

I stretched my swinarm 3inchs which lower everything. first ride went great with no clearance problems, but when my wife got on back(100pounds) I got a tire rub(bad) on back upper frame rail and my battery box. I'm in the process of raiseing passenger area and moving bat box forward. still might end up buying stronger springs.
conclution: lowering looks(and feels) cool, but beware of clearance problems

[SteveD CB500F]

Steve do you go around them? 

No. But be careful when it's wet.

I was thinking more of the medium-sized roundabouts where you can whip round and scrape the centre stand. There's one near me with a really nasty bump halfway round. The 500 (Hagons) loves it.  The 550 scares me...

[Terry in Australia]

Merv, try ebay look for Koni, Ikon, Hagon, Marzocchi, I got this pair for 40 quid new, people seem to go mad on the originals and the good stuff sells for next to nothing……fools 

Dave

Hey Dave, why you got them marzocchi's on backwards? Cheers, Terry.

[dusterdude]

i put 11 inch shocks on mine.work good,just had to tighten them up a bit to keep the fender from rubbing the tire,a little stiff but no big deal.

[SteveD CB500F]

Hey Dave, why you got them marzocchi's on backwards? Cheers, Terry.

I thought that - but didn't dare mention it...

Last time I saw a pair of these external reservoir Marzocchis was on my room-mates F1 in 1977 (his were red and yes, the reservoir faced the back)

[dusterdude]

yea but im too damned short to use the stock shock,oh i also forgot to mention i had to go to a 16 inch tire.but like i said with the shocks on the softest setting the fender barely rubs on the side of the tire.after i tightened them up a couple of notches every thing is good now.

[Terry in Australia]

Terry/Steve, looking at the fitment book it doesn’t specify the way they should go, but in the attached photo they’re in that orientation, so I’ve fitted them like that but if I put them the other way around they will catch on my panniers. The oil is under pressure so it shouldn’t make any difference in the operation of the shock I don’t think? I‘ve seen plenty fitted the other way also so I can only assume you fit as suits the bike and they are universal fitting but I have to admit they look much sportier the other way and plenty of pose factor.. ;)Dave 

Fair one mate, they just look funny that way around. Cheers, Terry.

[Brookesy]

I agree, i looked at the pic and thought - the damn Zocci's are on backwards... panniers etc. are a pain

How do you guys deal with the Magic Roundabouts?
The ones designed to confuse everyone... with about 5 painted islands

Scary stuff

[qcextreme]

can some one give me a good web site to buy shocks from  I have a 75' CB750F SuperSport that I'm putting A F3 rear wheel and a 900RR front end on, but I'm still in need of some nice rear shocks..

[SteveD CB500F]

How do you guys deal with the Magic Roundabouts?
The ones designed to confuse everyone... with about 5 painted islands
Scary stuff

They're like any other traffic intersection once you get used to them.  The art is in being positive and not dithering...

The "Magic Roundabout" is actually in Swindon and comprises 5 (or is it 6?) mini roundabouts around a central roundabout.  The great thing about them is you can go around them either way! (as long as you continue to give way to the right of course.)

[Brookesy]

Yep, that's the one.
looks a bit scary - but i guess once you get used to it... nope! it would always be scary.