550 shocks

[iagsxr]

Looking for shocks for my 75 550. Turns fine for me, but lacks ground clearance(esp to the left). Ride it for around town for errands a lot so the low seat height is a plus.

Have a Parts Unlimited hookup so Progressives are cheap. I'm concerned that they call for an inch longer than stock. Don't have a problem raising the rear a bit, but an inch seems a lot.

By their website Ikon calls for 1/4" longer than stock. That seems more like it. Also by their website it says 3-4 week delivery time and they cost close to double the Progressives.

A while back I emailed Dave Quwin MC about Hagons. Lost the email in a computer crash but it sticks in my mind they were saying 310mm which is 3/4" longer than stock.

Then there's the Mike's XS shocks which look racey, aren't quite as long as the Progressives. Other than that I know nothing about them.

I'm just looking for some insight or opinions,
thanks Ken

[Buffalo-guy]

Check the bike on the center stand, and see how much room is under the rear wheel. That may decide things for you, length wise. If you have a link for Progressives, they would be an OK choice, as they definitely improve the handling, and an inch on the back is just fine. I did one inch more on my RE5 with noticeable improvements in handling, and made it ever so much easier to put on the center stand. Good luck, and cheers.
Fred

[iagsxr]

thanks for the input

No center stand so that's not an issue.

What spring rate for a 200lb rider?

[Buffalo-guy]

The shocks I got were for a GS 1000, so whatever they are rated for, is it. I never could understand what those numbers meant, so it's all Greek to me. They sure did make a nice difference overall. Yours would have to be eye to eye stud mount, where the RE has a clevis bottom mount, same as the GS. The catalogues should be able to tell you. Good luck. Cheers.
Fred

[durgam]

Fred is right about the handling. I put 1 inch longer marzocci's on my 74 550, and the cornering improved greatly. The turn in is super quick. An issue you will have is the lean over when its on the side stand. Its pretty far, but still safe. I made a spacer that mounts between my frame and kickstand mount, and used longer bolts. WAY better. FYI. Also, If I remember correctly, I had to beat a factory dent a little more to get the pipes to clear, either the axel nut, or the lower shock acorn nut. I cant remember. Thats on the stock pipes. My chambers clear with ease.

I havent looked into the Mikes xs shocks. But the bikes are similar in weight in stock trim. Could work.

[BRP Tourer]

I've heard Harley Sportster shocks will work, don't know for sure,haven't tried them but they look like they mount the same. Saw a like new pair of 13 inch long ones go for $45 on ebay recently. Just a thought.

[diamondj]

Hey Ken,

Sportster shocks are made by Showa and are decent. You can often find a pair for not much money on ebay as the HD owners switch them out for shorter shocks to lower their bikes. It's best to double check the length of the shocks with the seller as I think various lengths were/are available from HD. I helped a buddy fix-up a Yamaha XS700 on a budget and found him a set of HD shocks that worked much better than the rusty 20 year old original shocks.

You can check the amount of room you have for shock length by putting the bike on the center stand and measuring the current shock eye center to eye center while they are unloaded. Then check the space between the rear axle nut/bolt and the exhausts. Those two distances together minus about 1/4 inch or so is as long as you can go with the shock length. Any longer and every time the rear unloads over a bump the shocks will hit the pipes.

What length is Progressive calling for? Checking their website, it looks like they are recommending a 12.5" shock but I swear the stock shocks I took off my GT550 were 13".

Speaking of Progressives, what would a set of 13" 418 series run me without springs (if you can hook up a fellow board member)?

Regarding MikeXS - I've never bought shocks from him but everything else I've bought has been very good quality so the shocks may be work a try.

And as far as ground clearance goes - the GT550 is a tough one to gain clearance on. Longer rear shocks will get you part way there particularly if you change over to chambers and remove the center-stand. Then you've just got to watch out for the points cover on the right side.....

Jim

[r3tro74]

I read this thread some time ago and thought I may try the 13" Sportster shocks some day...
Well, here it is. Even though I'm not the original poster on this I figured I'd show some before and after results.
There was a slight inteference issue with the chain gaurd. I prob could pinch it closed a bit where it contacts the spring. Ijust left if off for now. I have a few months before riding season opens up again to think about it.

[celt_rock]

Oh my god... I LOVE that bike. Who's is that?

[r3tro74]

Thanks for the complement. I spent most of my spare time last summer building it and did not get much time to ride No more parts scattered allover the place. I.E take shocks off put shocks back on before tearing into something else!!!

[Alan H]

The original shocks on a 550 were soft anyway. 'Back in the day' I hiked them to top pre load, put the correct volume of Duckhams (high quality mineral) 20w50 oil in the forks to stiffen rebound a tad, and then eventually put a 19" rim on the back after taking the centre stand off. Crooks in the UK used to production race a 550 in the '70s like this and they did the back wheel for me.
I used a Dunlop TT100 (K81) tyre on the back and a triangular K86 on the front. It stuck like brown smelly stuff to a very hairy blanket, and it was 'used' very hard by a typical 21 year old with everything to prove!
If you fit taller shocks, it will slightly alter the angle of swing arm so will turn in a tad quicker - not sure if the difference would be noticeable on the street though. If the shock fitted is over long, there might be issues with chain tension if the chain is correctly set when the wheel is at bottom of travel and rides in the centre of travel, the chain might be a bit tighter? Just something to think about. I probably only weighed about 130lbs then as a slim 5'8" Adonis. (Weren't we all at that age? - Dunno what happened in the last 40 years!)

[r3tro74]

Alan
Thanks for the input/info. I did notice the chain had a bit more slack with the after the swap.