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General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Stiffening the rear shocks
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Message started by nathanhooper on 08/17/10 at 10:14:56

Title: Stiffening the rear shocks
Post by nathanhooper on 08/17/10 at 10:14:56

Anyone ever done this? I need to gain just a tad more clearance so the outside of the tire does not rub on the bolt head that mounts the saddle bag brackets. It only rubs when we ride double, and neither one of us weighs much, it is only rubbing about an 1/8 of an inch or so.

Title: Re: Stiffening the rear shocks
Post by Serowbot on 08/17/10 at 10:20:22

You do know that they are 5 position adjustable?...

Beyond that,... you will be looking for stiffer aftermarket shocks...

... or,... file down that bolt... ;)...

Title: Re: Stiffening the rear shocks
Post by verslagen1 on 08/17/10 at 11:30:04

The side rails don't attache to the frame, so they'll shift as the fender flexes. You got two options, use low profile bolt head like carriage head w/o the square lug. Or move the saddle bag bracket to between the fender and siderail.

Of course, stiffening the shocks will keep it from going down there and from bottoming out on a heavy bump.

Title: Re: Stiffening the rear shocks
Post by thumperclone on 08/17/10 at 12:38:25

the bolts may be in the wrong order they are size specific for the saddle bag brackets/side rails..or
too large a rear tire or
out of alignment..
got mine set to the stiffest was scaring up the belt guard + like the way she handles 2 up or solo..

Title: Re: Stiffening the rear shocks
Post by dv8savagerider on 08/17/10 at 13:22:09

I had the same problem- only it wasnt the bolt that rubbed the tire, it was the "bend" in the saddle bag mount where it comes out from under the fender. I bumped up the tension on the shocks to a 4 and does fine. Actually didnt notice too much of a difference in how it handled solo either.

Title: Re: Stiffening the rear shocks
Post by nathanhooper on 08/18/10 at 04:52:14

I did adjust it all the way up. Still rubs a little. I thought about changing the bolt heads to a lower profile, probably going to be the best bet. I would not doubt if it is not out of alignment though. I have heard the best way is to check with tape measure/straight edge, correct? If so, what is the reference point you use for checking both sides?

I am not too sure I don't want to take the bags off completely. If I could find a suitable luggage rack/sissy-bar bag that didn't look too awful then that is the way I would go. The saddle bags are rather small, awkward, and annoying in having to bend over to put stuff in them.

Thanks for the replies!