rear suspension concern

[dave Esch]

Well my 75 750k bucks me off on even moderate bumps. On the freeway my butt quite often leaves the seat. So I found a couple distributors with oem parts but here is my concern; my bike is hardly stock. It does have the rear absorbers that were on the bike when I purchased it. The distributors both indicate their assemblies measure 13 or 13 and 3/16" from eye to clevis. The ones I have measure 12" from center of hole to center of hole. So am I measuring wrong? The entire length is about 13". They are similar in appearance accept my springs have about 4 coils and appear to be pretty heavy duty. But I don't care, I hate them. Any suggestions?
I also have a clunk in my front forks. With bike off, hold front brake and rock forward. I purchased oil and new seals. I have never done fork seals before. One guy says to pay someone that they are very difficult, another says this job is simple.
PS doing a good job, Re-Run. Keep up the good work.

[TOOLS1]

Sounds like you have some sort of aftermarket shorty shocks on your bike.
The clunk in the front end might be the steering bearings. Might need tightened up/adjusted.
The fork seals are easy to change. Should not take but about a half hour.

Remove the 4 nuts holding the axle to the forks.
Roll the wheel out of the way.
Remove the break caliper with bracket attached, and tie up out of the way.
Remove front fender.
Remove the drain plugs (the 10mm bolts on the bottom sides of the sliders) and drain oil.
Remove allen bolt from the bottom of the sliders (it goes straight up from the bottom where the axle sits).
Sliders will slide off the tubes.
Remove the rubber boots from the sliders.
Remove the cir-clip on the top of the seal.
Pull seal out.
Clean inside of slider with parts cleaner, or spray carb cleaner.
Put a little silicone on the inside of the slider where the seal goes, and start seal into slider.
Push seal down with a large socket, or something round like it.
Put some Dexron ATF on the seal.
Reverse procedure to install the sliders, and wheel.
Remove the top caps on the forks, and fill with 6oz Dexron ATF.
Go for a ride.

TOOLS

[TOOLS1]

I just checked my parts box, and I have a set of stock shocks. Not show room new, but very useable. If interested I can get pictures. $20.00 Plus shipping.
TOOLS

[dave Esch]

Ill have a gander at your rear shocks if you could send me a pic. [e-mail]. Thanks.

[TOOLS1]

Sorry I did not see your response sooner. Here is a picture of the shocks.

[sgtslag]

If you want comfort, I would recommend Progressive Fork Springs, and their 412 Series Shocks, with regular duty springs.  They are not inexpensive, but they ride like a modern bike -- smooth, and comfortable.  I installed them on my '79, with the heavy-duty springs due to riding two-up, touring, at the time.  After that, we bought our Voyager touring machine, so we have never really put many miles on it, two-up, but when we do ride it together, it is v-e-r-y nice.  The heavy-duty springs tend to top out a lot, on the lowest setting, with just me on the bike (205 lbs.), to give you an idea of how strong they are.  Regular duty springs should suffice, unless you plan on riding with heavy loads (touring with luggage and/or two-up) more often than not.

*************
I found a company who not only had the lowest prices for the Springs and Shocks, but they also pre-assembled the springs on the Shocks at no cost, if you asked in your order!  If interested, I can post the link to their website, tonight (don't have it on this PC, at work).
*************

With regards to replacing fork seals, mine were practically welded into the tubes!  I started shredding them, trying to pry them out.  Finally, I took the tubes, and the new seals, into my local, independent shop.  For $28, they removed the old, and installed the new, with some sort of stiff, ATF-red grease, to prevent the new ones from seizing in place.  I asked him how he was able to remove them:  "Heat it a little with a torch, and they will come right out."

By the way, I have Progressive Fork Springs and 412 Series Shocks (regular duty springs) for my Voyager, waiting for installation in a couple of weeks...  I liked them so much on my Honda, that I decided to get rid of the OEM air shocks on the Voyager:  set them, and forget them -- no air to mess with.  I forgot the company name, so I ordered them from another vendor.  They cost me more money, and I had to pay my local shop to put the springs on the Shocks for me:  another $28 for labor.  I am planning to check the size of the springs for both the Voyager, and the CB:  if they are the same length, I may have my local shop swap them, so that I will have the heavy duty springs on the Voyager for touring, and the regular duty springs on the Honda (I got a little gun-shy on the heavy duty springs after the Honda...).  Cheers!

[dave Esch]

Thanks so much for your detailed response. Please do post that link for the website you bought your shocks from whenever you are back at work. I never ride two up as I have a cafe racer. I know it isn't a comfortable ride no matter what, but I can't have my butt leaving the seat on freeway bumps. Not to mention if I ride too long I get a migraine haha. If you say they are worth the extra money I will take your word for it. If I'm going to buy them I may as well get something I will be happy with. THanks again.

--- On Fri, 4/8/11, sgtslag [via Honda CB750'S] <[hidden email]> wrote:

From: sgtslag [via Honda CB750'S] <[hidden email]>
Subject: Re: rear suspension concern
To: "dave Esch" <[hidden email]>
Date: Friday, April 8, 2011, 9:20 AM

If you want comfort, I would recommend Progressive Fork Springs, and their 412 Series Shocks, with regular duty springs.  They are not inexpensive, but they ride like a modern bike -- smooth, and comfortable.  I installed them on my '79, with the heavy-duty springs due to riding two-up, touring, at the time.  After that, we bought our Voyager touring machine, so we have never really put many miles on it, two-up, but when we do ride it together, it is v-e-r-y nice.  The heavy-duty springs tend to top out a lot, on the lowest setting, with just me on the bike (205 lbs.), to give you an idea of how strong they are.  Regular duty springs should suffice, unless you plan on riding with heavy loads (touring with luggage and/or two-up) more often than not.

*************
I found a company who not only had the lowest prices for the Springs and Shocks, but they also pre-assembled the springs on the Shocks at no cost, if you asked in your order!  If interested, I can post the link to their website, tonight (don't have it on this PC, at work).
*************

With regards to replacing fork seals, mine were practically welded into the tubes!  I started shredding them, trying to pry them out.  Finally, I took the tubes, and the new seals, into my local, independent shop.  For $28, they removed the old, and installed the new, with some sort of stiff, ATF-red grease, to prevent the new ones from seizing in place.  I asked him how he was able to remove them:  "Heat it a little with a torch, and they will come right out."

By the way, I have Progressive Fork Springs and 412 Series Shocks (regular duty springs) for my Voyager, waiting for installation in a couple of weeks...  I liked them so much on my Honda, that I decided to get rid of the OEM air shocks on the Voyager:  set them, and forget them -- no air to mess with.  I forgot the company name, so I ordered them from another vendor.  They cost me more money, and I had to pay my local shop to put the springs on the Shocks for me:  another $28 for labor.  I am planning to check the size of the springs for both the Voyager, and the CB:  if they are the same length, I may have my local shop swap them, so that I will have the heavy duty springs on the Voyager for touring, and the regular duty springs on the Honda (I got a little gun-shy on the heavy duty springs after the Honda...).  Cheers!

---

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[sgtslag]

Here is that link to the company with the best prices on Progressive Shocks and Fork Springs:

http://dynomanperformance.com/chassis/progressive.html

Be sure to put in the Notes, on their online order form, that you would like for them to assemble the springs on the Shocks, for you.

Also, from what I read online, in forums regarding the Progressive Shocks, you really need to replace the front Fork Springs at the same time.  If you don't, you will see how woefully poor the OEM Fork Springs are, and you will end up ordering the Progressive's, anyway.  This will also give you a balanced suspension system, with matching dual rate springs, front and rear.  [Do an Internet search on "dual rate suspension springs", as well, to see why Progressive products are really nice to have -- two springs in one, one heavy duty, one medium duty.]

I would also recommend you do an Internet search for reviews -- don't just take my word for how good they are!  They are also not the most expensive Shocks out there, nor are they the very best.  They are, however, excellent quality, at a reasonable price (I did find cheaper shocks, but they seemed much lower quality, as well).  If you want top of the line, go with Ohlins, but be prepared to dig deep into your wallet...  Come back and report on how they are, good or bad, to let others know what you think of them.  Cheers!

[sgtslag]

A complete setup (Fork Springs, 412 Shocks, and Regular Duty Springs) for my '79, from Progressive, directly, is $373.42 + S/H.

This same setup (Fork Springs, 412 Shocks, and Regular Duty Springs) from Dynoman, is $294.90 + S/H, with the springs assembled on the shocks for free!!!

Your prices may vary somewhat, as this is for my '79.  Plug in the numbers, and see for yourself:

Progressive's site:

http://www.progressivesuspension.com/productsearch.aspx


Dynoman's Site:

http://dynomanperformance.com/chassis/progressive.html

Cheers!

[Re-run]

I second progressive. Another option would be Hagon rear shocks. I would still do the progressive springs in the forks. Big difference and help with the stiction that they suffer from. Hagons are about $200 built how you want them but the dynoman website is an excellent price so I would seriously check them out of you got the coin.

[dave Esch]

Well I definitely dont have that much for suspension this year. I just spent 300 on all the other crap for the bike. I was checking rear shocks online and am finding several different lengths from 11 1/2 to 16 inches. Im not sure what size I need since they all say 750k. Is the different length just for different applications for the same bike? I imagine the longer shocks are for comfort. I know the ones I have are on the shortest range of ones available. Here is a link for the shocks I am referring to. Perhaps someone can look and tell me to stay away or something if they are crap.
http://www.partsnmore.com/parts/honda/cb750/?filters%5Bcategory%5D=chassis&filters%5Bmodel%5D=cb750f

[TOOLS1]

You will need shocks #06-3605. They are the stock length, and have the clevis on the bottom. Not a bad price for progressive shocks.
I had never seen that site. They have some pretty good prices.
TOOLS

[dave Esch]

I have a silly question. As you know I am rebuilding the 750k. While doing some framework last night I noticed my left rear shock was screwed up. The two keepers up top were out and laying on top of the shock. I then realized that I could put them back in by hand. Is it normal to be able to compress theses shocks by hand, easily, enough to put in and remove those keepers? Granted, the rear end is raised, but still, if this is abnormal, it would definitely give me that warm fuzzy feeling I need in order to spend more money on shocks. Any thoughts?

[TOOLS1]

You should have to use a special tool to compress the springs on the shocks.
TOOLS

[dave Esch]

well I have the tool to rotate the shocks and set the tension. But I can just grab the upper sleeve and pull down, compressing the spring almost an inch. I don't think that's normal.

[TOOLS1]

You must be super human. I can put all my weight on one, and not budge it.
TOOLS

[dave Esch]

well... I AM super. I can pee in the toilet and cover the entire surface with bubbles. Odds are, my shocks are just worn out. Ill let my spine get jammed into my lower skull for another month when I can afford to replace them. At least I know i wont be wasting my money replacing shocks that dont need replaced. Thanks.

[TOOLS1]

That's nothing, I can write my name in the snow
TOOLS

[dave Esch]

Yeah? Well your name is tool. My cat can write tool in the snow. I once wrote them Declaration of Independence in the snow with only two misspells.

[TOOLS1]

I just bought a set of those shocks, and installed them last night. i will let you know how they ride.
TOOLS