Lowering Maxim 650 1"

I'm contemplating lowering my 82 Maxim 650 by 1" front and rear. I know I can slide the forks up in the clamps a little before they contact the bars so the front shouldn't be an issue. My stock rear shocks look like crap (rusted) so I'm planning on getting new rear shocks. I'm leaning toward the progressive 412 series. I can buy the correct shock then just buy a 11.5" spring to accomplish this correct?

Will a 1" drop require new side stand and center stand or modification to stock ones, or cause contact issues with rear fender?

 

A 1" drop will be fine as that won't put the u-joint angle beyond what it's designed for. You can heat and bend the side stand if needed, but you may find that the center stand is no longer useable. I will be a bit harder to get the bike onto the center stand, and simply shortening it may result in the rear tire touching the ground.

 

you could let the air out of the tires and find out

 

No, you'll need a shock that is one inch shorter than stock uncompressed. You just need to make sure the compressed length won't put the tire into the fender. Not likely you would do so but when you jump that dumpster to avoid traffic you're going to want the right shock. Personally I think the max lowered slightly looks great.

 

Put a pair of virago 700, 1000, or 1100 shock on and set them for a softer preload setting.

They are not quite a inch shorter. See my red pseudo-bob in my gallery. Those are virago shocks on that.

 

Sportster shocks will get you there 10.5in

 

Not sure what your reasoning for lowering is - But if you are just trying to lower the seat height, you could always trim an 1" or so out of the foam easily.