Rear Shocks

[cope11]

I am planning on installing some Progressive rear shocks. I have a 18'' rear rim with a 180/55/18 tire. What is the oem length and what length should I go with? Also wondering what future mods with be affected by lowering the rear shocks?

 

[Thevmaxrider]

OEM is 13.5". Most folks like to lower the rear about an inch.

 

[4gasem]

I thought OEM was 13"... I went to 12.5" with the same size wheel and tire and am happy.

With 11.5's the tire contacted the inner fender too much. Especially with a passenger aboard.

Chris

 

[[email protected]]

OEM is 13" as far as I know.

11.5" is about as low as you want to go. As Chris mentioned, you may have some clearance issues going that low. Some say it has an ill effect on handling also.

I had 12.5" progressive 440's and the forks lowered 1" internally and liked that setup. I'd say the biggest downfall of the bike is chassis wiggle. I can feel it squirm under pressure. Shocks, fork springs, intiminators, even solid motor mounts don't seem to get rid of it. I'm hoping that adding a braced swingarm will. Guess I will find out soon enough. Maybe frame braces, if I can ever find them for a decent price.

 

[Thevmaxrider]

Could have sworn OEM was 13.5", but hey I have been wrong before. :confused2:

 

[rusty]

I am planning on installing some Progressive rear shocks. I have a 18'' rear rim with a 180/55/18 tire. What is the oem length and what length should I go with? Also wondering what future mods with be affected by lowering the rear shocks?

Your side stand,center stand will be affected:rockon00:

 

[Fire-medic]

Could have sworn OEM was 13.5", but hey I have been wrong before. :confused2:

Yeah, I have always heard 13" stock shock length. That is what Prog. Suspension lists.

http://www.progressivesuspension.com/prodSearchResults.aspx?yearID=1993&makeID=48&modelID=528

Rear Suspension Product Type11"11.5"12"12.5"13"Spring Kit12 Series 12-1202B
Add to Cart03-1368B/C
Add to Cart12 Series HD 03-1365B/C
Add to Cart18 Series 04-1452B/C
Add to Cart18 Series HD 04-1459B/C
Add to Cart412 Series412-4233C
Add to Cart412-4201C
Add to Cart412-4228C
Add to Cart412-4207C
Add to Cart412-4212C
Add to Cart 412 Series HD 412-4236C
Add to Cart412-4238C
Add to Cart412-4214C
Add to Cart412-4218C
Add to Cart 416 Series 416-1602A
Add to Cart 418 Series 418-1002C
Add to Cart 430 Series430-4233B/C
Add to Cart430-4201B/C
Add to Cart430-4228B/C
Add to Cart430-4207B/C
Add to Cart430-4212B/C
Add to Cart 430 Series HD 430-4238B/C
Add to Cart430-4214B/C
Add to Cart430-4218B/C
Add to Cart 440 Series440-4235B/C
Add to Cart440-4201B/C
Add to Cart440-4228B/C
Add to Cart440-4207B/C
Add to Cart440-4212B/C
Add to Cart 440 Series HD 440-4214B/C
Add to Cart440-4218B/C
Add to Cart Notes T?V Some or all shocks listed have T?V approval. Refer to the most recent T?V certificate for current listing.

YELLOW TEXT denotes that this is the STANDARD FACTORY SIZE.

Note: it's the 13" column in the spreadsheet. The formatting didn't transfer, use the link if you wish.

For the $, I like these:

 

[one2dmax]

13" is stock length

 

[vmax2extreme]

OEM is 13.5". Most folks like to lower the rear about an inch.

I was like you thinking that the 11.5" progressives are the 2" drop which means 13.5" is stock. Guess we both were wrong here?

 

[one2dmax]

Most common shock lengths we sell are 11.5" for guys who want to go low and 12.5" for guys who like the approx stock height.

Sean

 

[cope11]

Thanks for all the help guys. Besides the center stand and side stand, what future mods will I be unable to perform? (ex: braced/notched swing arm, larger fuel tank?)

 

[th3_mo3bius]

Your side stand,center stand will be affected:rockon00:

Gotta agree with this simple but important comment. I park my max on a large stone set above the driveway cuz one day while removing the make-shift cover, I pulled on the cover that had snagged somehow only to tip the bike over and dent our car's fender mr max was okay :biglaugh: Anyways, I would assume a new center stand would be in order (don't know which parts to use or how to mod) AND I would also assume cornering clearance would be reduced...so time in the twisties must be spent less aggressively.:bike1:

 

[Thevmaxrider]

Thanks for all the help guys. Besides the center stand and side stand, what future mods will I be unable to perform? (ex: braced/notched swing arm, larger fuel tank?)

You can have the side stand shortened. The center stand will still work, it is just a pita to get the bike onto it. As for other mods it will affect, good question as I don't know of any. The swingarm bracing and notching should not be effected as long as the bracing isn't so big it drags the ground LOL.....

 

[brad bruggeman]

you might keep in mind how tall you are.i am 6 ft tall so i went with stock hight because of it.i don"t want to sit any lower since i have long legs.also if you change the hight of the rear,you need to also change the fork srings to match.

 

[Ford428CJ]

you might keep in mind how tall you are.i am 6 ft tall so i went with stock hight because of it.i don"t want to sit any lower since i have long legs.also if you change the hight of the rear,you need to also change the fork srings to match.

I'm 6'4" tall. I used 412 11.5" and used the progressives front lowering springs. I liked it lowered! I also used a frame brace to. Seam to help out the bike and I was going for the drag look. But with that tire you want to run... You may not be able too. JMHO

 

[jwood]

Hey guys, I am looking to go with an ME880 170/80-15 on the rear, will this tire affect lowering later down the road?? :ummm:

 

[PDWeyand]

Here are how close the two sizes are.
-----------------------------stock tire------------170/80 15 replacement--------------different
sidewall height...............5.31......................... ....5.35-------------------------------- .04
tread width....................5.91..................... .........6.69---------------------------------.78
Overall height................25.63....................... .....25.71--------------------------------.08
circumference.................80.52............... .............80.77--------------------------------.25
load rating...................74 or 827 pds..............77 or 908 pds-----------------------81 pds
speed rating...................v= 149mph......................H= 130mph------------------(- 19 mph)
As you can see the sizes are very close. You can see that the sidewall height change is only .04 of inch change in the over all height and would not hurt to lower on that tire.