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SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> Rubber Side Down! >> Replacing the shocks with taller ones /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1123392415 Message started by theikeman on 08/06/05 at 22:26:55 |
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Title: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by theikeman on 08/06/05 at 22:26:55 I read on one of the threads on this board that someone had replaced the 11" shocks on their Savage with longer ones, 13 1/2" I believe. The idea was to get a better ride and some more leg room. I would like to know how this can be done. I built the wooden bike lift (4' x 4" x8", )works great. When you raise the bike so the swingarm is free, the maximum distance from the bottom shock bolt to the top bolt is 11" and that's with both shocks removed. Think someone was telling a fib? I have not seen one picture of a Savage with non factory shocks. Am I doing something wrong??? Help ??? Ike |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by babbalou on 08/06/05 at 23:09:00 I haven't done that modification but I've read a thread or two about it being done & looking over mine it appears to be feasable. I'm wondering if the belt tension or brake cable may be keeping the swingarm from dropping further. That would be my first guess. |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by theikeman on 08/06/05 at 23:29:46 Definetly not the belt, plenty of slack there ... Ike |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by Hammy211 on 08/07/05 at 02:14:46 Pics of Lancer's bike here. www.savage.andruschak.net/lancer.html |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by red2k1 on 08/07/05 at 05:30:41 Just this past Thursday I replaed the OEM shocks with Progressive Suspension shocks # 412-4207C+ (12.5" center to center). From start to finish, it was about a 45 minute job with no problems. To lift the bike, I used a large hydraulic floor jack with the front wheel secured with a couple of bungee cords to the front downtube. With the drive belt on, I did have to pull down on the rear wheel to get the swing arm to move down. It was a very light pull; just enough to overcome the resistence of the belt and the belt guard pivoting around the front pully. It may be that the lift you are using doesn't raise the bike high enough to let the swing arm pivot downward enough. As a side note, I would not use shocks longer than 12.5" (I know others have) given the fact that these shocks raised the back of my '02 so high. Also, of all the mods I have done, this one has produced the best results. Simply put, the ride quality, in every respect, has improved dramatically so that the bike now rides like one weighing some 200 pounds more, but has lost none of its agility. However, I found that this mod did not produce any additional leg room. I think if you want additional leg room you may want to add highway bars and/or forward controls. |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by Hammy211 on 08/07/05 at 16:07:48 red2k1 wrote:
I may do this soon as I may have the rear wheel off to install a tire. Did you have to do any fabrication or way it pretty straight forward? I'm thinking I'll do this, take off the belt guard and passenger pegs and then all I'll have left that I wanted to do to my bike is swap into some drag bars. |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by red2k1 on 08/07/05 at 17:20:09 Quote:
Very straight forward. It took me longer to get the bike raised and stabilized than anything else. Before raising the bike, set the OEM shocks on softest setting and unbolt and remove both. Raised the bike, pulled down a little on the swing arm(on the tire actually), slipped on the new shocks and bolted them down. Had to use the supplied bolt shims to get a tight fit. No problem. Just be careful when removing and mounting the shocks not to mess up the mounting bolt threads. It is real easy to do if you remove or mount the shocks at a angle. You shouldn't need to force anything. A little penetrating oil on the shock mounting mounting points makes removal easier. A little white lithium grease on the shock mounting points makes installation easier. |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by diesel on 08/07/05 at 21:52:58 Do those progressives have any adjustment for preload as the OEMs do? |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by theikeman on 08/07/05 at 23:18:51 Thanks for all the help, apparently the brake cable was a problem, with it unhooked I did manage to get a pair of 12" center to center (at the lowest setting) suzuki shocks installed. There was no way to fit (force)the 13.5" harley shocks. BTW the rear wheel is completely off the floor using the 8"high lift I made. Judging by the height of the fender now, the 12" shock may be plenty to improve the ride, also gives more clearance for the 140/90 tire back there. I have some other work to complete before I take it back down to test it. Again Thanks to all ... Ike |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by red2k1 on 08/08/05 at 07:11:57 Quote:
Yes, the Progressive shocks have five pre-load positions and I have them set on the lowest pre-load.. |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by lancer on 08/08/05 at 09:19:30 I have a pair of Progressive 11.5" shocks and a pair of H-D sportster 13.5" shocks, both of which have been on my Savage. The Progressives work better but I do like the extra clearance and travel of the longer set. I had no problem installing either set. I did remove the belt guard with the long shocks because there was a tendency for the belt to rub the front end of the guard when hitting a bump. I did have to order a hardware mounting kit from Progressive since those shocks did not come with it...it was a used set I got from ebay. Both sets of shocks were a significant improvement over the stock shocks. |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by Hammy211 on 08/08/05 at 14:02:51 Ouch, these things are pricey. Best I found was $260 but I only found them at a couple of places. Where have you guys got yours and did they cost you this much? |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by Hammy211 on 08/08/05 at 14:15:47 I found these "economy" shocks that appear they would fit the Savage. The ones right above the PS420 single shocks. http://www.cyclewareables.com/pages/just_touring_shocks/tour_shocks.htm Much cheaper, but would there even be an improvement? |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by lancer on 08/08/05 at 16:28:14 Shop Ebay. The basic 412 series Progressive shocks can be had for $50-100 in new or nearly new condition. The better models, 418 and 440 will usually go for $175-250 + . Most are outfitted for Harley's so you would need to order the hardware mounting pk from Progressive for $15. Someone also sells the 412 series on ebay, all new, for metric bikes for $169.95 + shp. It is a pretty good deal. The Jireh cycle catalon has the 412 priced the same, but again the hardware would be needed. |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by Hammy211 on 08/08/05 at 21:59:58 No luck there. The best price I found was close to $200 w/ shipping. Most are well over $200. Do you recall where you have seen them for less than $100. I would gladly shell out up to $150 for a set, but I may have to wait a while if I can't find them for any less than that. |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by iKrayg on 08/23/05 at 10:24:53 Hello, I have just placed an order for a set of Hagons shocks (YAY!). Unfortunately the shop manual I also ordered on the same day is on backorder. Does anyone know the torque spec for the bolts/nuts that hold the shocks on? Thanks in advance. Craig |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by DavidV on 08/23/05 at 10:38:00 Craig, Clymer says 20 - 30 Nm, or 15 - 22 ft-lb for the shock nuts. |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by iKrayg on 08/23/05 at 12:28:14 Excelent! Thanks! ;D |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by lancer on 08/23/05 at 21:07:31 Hammy211 wrote:
When on ebay you want to go to Ebay Motors, then motorcycles, then parts and accessories. When there, enter "progressive shocks" into the search box and hit your "enter" key or "search" button. You will get everything in the motorcycle parts and accessories section that has anything to do with "progressive". You will usually find 20-30 items, most of which are shocks...some new and some used. I just looked and there are 31 items there. I got a used pair of Progressive shocks this week for $36.75, and that included shipping. There was a brand new pair of Progressive shocks up for auction that ended about 10 minutes ago, the reserve price was only $75 but the high bid was only $10.25 so no one got the shocks. But for just $75 you could have got a brand new set if you would have been watching the auction. Since they did not sell the shocks I have sent them an email and offered them a price, if they accept then I have a new pair of shocks for a cheap price, if they do not accept the offer then I have lost nothing. You mentioned that the price of a lot of the shocks are close to or above $200. That is true, but the fun thing is that there are shocks which are offered at much lower starting prices. You just watch the auctions and bide you time...sometimes the prices go too high, but sometimes you can get a set for very low prices...usually used ones, but some are new. Like the set I just made the offer on, you could have had it for $75. Brand new and all chrome. |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by Reelthing on 08/24/05 at 06:52:36 red2k1 wrote:
Did these shocks come with both bushing for sae and metric? or is the "42" in the part number vs. "40" the bit that means metric? |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by lancer on 08/24/05 at 19:30:05 The shocks were discribed as being for a Harley model, so it would be necessary to get the inserts for metric...$8 for a set of just the metric, or $15 for a 12 piece set to fit most everything. |
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Title: Re: Replacing the shocks with taller ones Post by Reelthing on 08/24/05 at 19:50:50 I finally got a reply from progressive today - the "42" as in 412-42xx ship with metric bushing and the "40" ship with Harley/SAE |
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