Shocking
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From: Scott on 4 Mar 2010 23:15 My CB900F is in need of new shocks. At least, that's what I take from the fact that they're both leaking oil everywhere (er...well, one of them stopped a while ago), and cornering is getting to be more of a thrill than I ever imagined. According to bikebandit.com, OEM parts will do me to the tune of around $950 for the pair. I have not even bothered to see if the parts are actually available, and if that price is nearly right I never will. From elsewhere (Dennis Kirk), there are aftermarket parts that are said to fit, for just about $250 for the pair. The problem there is that the shocks and springs are separate items, and there are two listed spring fitments, "standard" and "heavy duty". They do list spring rates, 90/130 and 105/150 respectively. But I have absolutely no idea which ones I want. How can I decide? -- '73 CB450K '82 CB900F (x2) '04 FSC600 (SWMBO)
From: The Older Gentleman on 5 Mar 2010 02:17 Scott <nobody(a)xmission.com> wrote: > My CB900F is in need of new shocks. At least, that's what I take from the > fact that they're both leaking oil everywhere (er...well, one of them > stopped a while ago), and cornering is getting to be more of a thrill than I > ever imagined. > > According to bikebandit.com, OEM parts will do me to the tune of around $950 > for the pair. I have not even bothered to see if the parts are actually > available, and if that price is nearly right I never will. > > From elsewhere (Dennis Kirk), there are aftermarket parts that are said to > fit, for just about $250 for the pair. The problem there is that the shocks > and springs are separate items, and there are two listed spring fitments, > "standard" and "heavy duty". They do list spring rates, 90/130 and 105/150 > respectively. But I have absolutely no idea which ones I want. How can I > decide? Buy a decent aftermarket pair that does have springs. Any decent brand will do. -- BMW K1100LT Ducati 750SS Honda CB400F Triumph Street Triple Suzuki TS250ER GN250 Damn, back to six bikes! Try Googling before asking a damn silly question. chateau dot murray at idnet dot com
From: Bob Scott on 5 Mar 2010 04:29 The Older Gentleman <totallydeadmailbox(a)yahoo.co.uk> writes >Scott <nobody(a)xmission.com> wrote: > >> My CB900F is in need of new shocks. At least, that's what I take from the >> fact that they're both leaking oil everywhere (er...well, one of them >> stopped a while ago), and cornering is getting to be more of a thrill than I >> ever imagined. >> >> According to bikebandit.com, OEM parts will do me to the tune of around $950 >> for the pair. I have not even bothered to see if the parts are actually >> available, and if that price is nearly right I never will. >> >> From elsewhere (Dennis Kirk), there are aftermarket parts that are said to >> fit, for just about $250 for the pair. The problem there is that the shocks >> and springs are separate items, and there are two listed spring fitments, >> "standard" and "heavy duty". They do list spring rates, 90/130 and 105/150 >> respectively. But I have absolutely no idea which ones I want. How can I >> decide? > >Buy a decent aftermarket pair that does have springs. Any decent brand >will do. > Indeed. Ikon, Progressive or Hagon would do fine. A good place to ask for specific recommendations would be the forum at http://www.cb1100f.net/ You could always buy second hand OEM shocks. Oh look, I've got a pair here. Mind you, the cost of posting them over the Atlantic is more than I'd reckon they were worth. -- Bob Scott
From: ` on 5 Mar 2010 08:32 On Mar 4, 8:15 pm, nob...(a)xmission.com (Scott) wrote: > From elsewhere (Dennis Kirk), there are aftermarket parts that are said to > fit, for just about $250 for the pair. The problem there is that the shocks > and springs are separate items, and there are two listed spring fitments, > "standard" and "heavy duty". They do list spring rates, 90/130 and 105/150 > respectively. But I have absolutely no idea which ones I want. How can I > decide? What do you weigh? The typical solo rider weighs about 175~180 pounds and the 90/130 springs are adequate. It's unlikely that you are an average weight rider that carries a passenger frequently, so the 90/130 springs would probably work fine most of the time. But a rider that's 6' 4" and weighs 240 pounds *might* like the 105/150 springs for solo riding. Do you know whether the DK springs are true progressives or are actually dual rate springs? Dual rate springs will provide an initially soft ride as the closer spaced coils compress, then the ride will get about 33% harsher *suddenly* as compared to a true progressive wound spring where the increasing rate continues gradually. Also, www.racetech.com has a spring rate calculator program where riders can enter their weight and their riding ability and it will deliver the optimum straight wound spring rate for that rider.
From: M.Badger on 5 Mar 2010 12:45
` wrote: > On Mar 4, 8:15 pm, nob...(a)xmission.com (Scott) wrote: > >> From elsewhere (Dennis Kirk), there are aftermarket parts that are said >> to fit, for just about $250 for the pair. The problem there is that the >> shocks and springs are separate items, and there are two listed spring >> fitments, "standard" and "heavy duty". They do list spring rates, 90/130 >> and 105/150 respectively. But I have absolutely no idea which ones I >> want. How can I decide? Get some with the springs installed. Any decent brand will do. Ring the manufacturers up and give them your weight and whether you are a hoon-monkey or cruiser type rider and they -should- sort you out. > > What do you weigh? > > The typical solo rider weighs about 175~180 pounds and the 90/130 > springs are adequate. > > It's unlikely that you are an average weight rider that carries a > passenger frequently, so the 90/130 springs would probably work fine > most of the time. > > But a rider that's 6' 4" and weighs 240 pounds *might* like the > 105/150 springs for solo riding. > > Do you know whether the DK springs are true progressives or are > actually dual rate springs? Dual rate springs will provide an > initially soft ride as the closer spaced coils compress, then the ride > will get about 33% harsher *suddenly* as compared to a true > progressive wound spring where the increasing rate continues > gradually. > The softer rate spring is pushing on the harder spring. If you had dual coil + spacer type with a silly rate of 50/150 and 1" worth of 'gap' in the soft spring, by the time that went coil bound, the harder spring would be compressed by 1/3", or so you'd think. It isn't quite as simple as that, but that is the barebones of it. Progressive wounds have the same rate coil, but closer windings at one end. The number of coils makes a difference. Fewer coils = stiffer spring. It is just a torsion bar wound in to a spiral after all. > Also, www.racetech.com has a spring rate calculator program where > riders can enter their weight and their riding ability and it will > deliver the optimum straight wound spring rate for that rider. |