Shorter rear shocks

Does anyone know where to get shorter than OEM rear shocks?? I want to lower the rear end w/out making it rigid.

 

i was thinking about useing shocks from a sportster

 

HI<

this info is from PainterD...he ddid this to his bike...I take no credit other than passing the good info on...

Made a pair os shock extentions that moved the bottom of the rear shocks back about three inches. It did lower the seat height, but it rode hard.
I have since took the shocks apart and cut off 1" of the spring. Now it is even lower and rides much better. No sudden jerks when I hit a bump, like before.
The hardest part was making a shock-compressor. So I went to the hardware store and got a large washer with 1-1/4" hole in it (for over the bottom of the shock) and then used pipe fitting (one for mounting a threaded pipe to a flat surface)for the top of the shock (much larger around) Then I needed something to pull the washer and the pipe fitting together (to compress the shock)
So I bought three 1' threaded rods (5/16) You need to tighten the three rods evenly to compress the shock and take off the keeper that holds the top and the spring on. I cut the spring with a 4" diegrinder. It worked the best (springs are too hard to cut with a hacksaw)
I recommend this method of lowering the rear over the shock extenders. It is faster to do, rides better and just plain saves you from alot of trial and error headaches.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

PY

 

What did you use to fabricate the lower extension?

 

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

- shows options for lowering an -85 700Virago from 12.5" (using the same shocks as on the -83 Seca) to 11"...

Another possibility is to check the options for your bike and search the product line for a shorter version..

Progressive shocks are nice

 

I just removed my lower shock extentions I had fabricated to lower the seat height. It rode rough, so I finally decided to shorten an extra pair of shocks I had off a Maxim.
First I had to make a shock compressor to compress the shocks enough to remove the clip that holds the spring intact at the top of the shock. I used a large washer with a 1-1/4" hole in it to slip over the bottom of the shock, and a 2-1/4" pipe coupler to go over the top of the shock (the BIG end) The coupler is what you screw a galvanized ipe into to mount to a flat surface. It comes with 4 holes already in it, so you can use those four holes to compress the spring. You will have to drill 4 5/16" holes, equally spaced in the washer (close to the outside as possible)
Then I got four 12" pieces of 5/16" threaded rod with 8 nuts and washers to use to compress the shocks. The top pipe fitting has to be large enough so you can remove the keeper from the top of the shock, once you have compressed it far enough. I compressed the shock about an inch to get the keeper off of it.
The remove the shock compressor and take the shock apart to get at the spring. I ended up cutting 1" off the top of the spring and it was enough to lower the rear of the bike for me. And it rides a hell-of-alot smoother than it did with the shock extentions on. Heck, it rides better than it was stock with the fairing and all the extra crap it came with.
It actually took me longer to figure out and make the shock compressor than it did to shorten the shocks. I know it I may have made it sound compicated, but I assure you it is quite simple to do and well worth the effort in my opinion.
I still have enough room between the rear fender and the tire for wheel travel, so I may take another 1/2" off the springs to lower it even more.
I used a 4" die grinder to cut the springs and placed them along side one another to make sure they were both the same length when I got done. You will have to cut them flat across the top so they sit right up in the top of the shock covers. The covers will conceal your cut, so it doesn't have to look pretty!!
DON'T use a torch to cut springs off (unless they are sitting in cold water with just the top exposed) or you will lose the temper in the springs. A dremel tool will work also, but it will take longer to cut.
I measured 1" from the top of the spring and turned the spring so I lined up with the mark in the middle of the spring coil.
If I get time, I may post some photos of the compressor I made and the springs I cut if I decide to cut some more off mine. >PD<

 

I bought some shocks off ebay and did some mods to the bike to use them on mine.

 

Shorter shocks from a Sportster will work and you can get them cheap at Harley dealers. I put a set on my XS1100 but they were the same length, not shorter since I didn't want to upset the frame geometry and cause wobble. There are a couple of problems though, they tend to be stiffer for the heavy Harley, fine for the 1100 but may be too stiff for a 750. Also, Harleys use smaller diameter mounting bolts so the shock mounting holes are smaller and they won't fit unless you press the rubber mounts out of the old shocks and press them into the Harley shocks. That's not hard to do and the shocks last a long time, much longer than a lot of cheap ones from ebay.

 

Yep, I have sporty shocks on mine. Look great, lowered the bike, and no other mods (replaced the bushings).

 

to willierides: where did you get the rear blinkers?