Shortest Rear Shocks possible??

83 KZ 1100 shaft drive. I want to lower the back end as far as possible, i dont mind if i have to get the stiffest shocks out there so i dont bottom out. I figure this is easier than welding on a hard tail. Please give suggestions of how low i can go and what shocks you would recommend. (I tried searching for this topic already but couldnt find anything good)

sportster shocks are about 11.5" long and there is an outfit from colorado that is making up 10.5" but they are really pricy and they are just cut down stock harley shocks if you go down to your freindly neighborhood hd dealer they might even have some takeoffs that they would be willing to part with reasonable.

the knight rider put on some honda rebel shocks, and they worked, though he took his inner fender out. and it was on a 76kz900

i am taking out the inner fender anyway so that would work great, i will PM him and find out what he used. Just so i know, what is the stock length? I prematurley threw away the old rusted out shocks on my bike.

It's not the inner fender you need to watch for - but the frame over the top of the wheel.

If you go with very short shocks your ground clearance will disappear.

If you run a 4-1 pipe, you will kill the collector on bumps.
If you run a center stand, the stand will ground dangerously on corners.

also if you use shocks from a rebel that bike is about half the weight of yours and the rebel is designed as a small bike for smaller people to learn on so it wont have compatable spring or dampening rates for that size of bike that you are putting them on so they will bottom out easy and not give a really good ride.

Well As of now i dont have a 4 into 1 pipe but would like to, no center stand so i think ill be ok there, i am cutting off a the frame behind the shocks, but dont know if the part that is left will still rub, and since its a KZ 1100 do you think those shocks can handle that weight?? I only weight like 170. All thoughts would be appreciated, u guys have been a great help so far



P.S. i am new to motorcycles in general, will all shocks have the same mounting and eyelet size for my bike?

mox369 wrote:

Well As of now i dont have a 4 into 1 pipe but would like to, no center stand so i think ill be ok there, i am cutting off a the frame behind the shocks, but dont know if the part that is left will still rub, and since its a KZ 1100 do you think those shocks can handle that weight?? I only weight like 170. All thoughts would be appreciated, u guys have been a great help so far



P.S. i am new to motorcycles in general, will all shocks have the same mounting and eyelet size for my bike?

I know he just bolted them right on. They were actually pretty stiff because the geometry is different on a rebel so they worked. He ran a side winder exhaust. now he has a extended swingarm so he has longer shocks but they are mounted different.

thats all i know about it now,i will tell him to check his messages.

Hey i just found these, let me know what you think, you have to scroll down to the 11.5" model and they are only $80.

www.mikesxs.net/products-18.html#products

i have put those on for people before and they dont last very long the bushings aren't steel they are a plastic sleeve with a very soft rubber outer so they pound out very fast you get what you pay for like i said try the local harley dealer out and ask if the have any take-offs the bikes are comparable weights and they have the same style of mounting. and if they have takeoffs they might be willing to wheel and deal a bit especially now days with the economy as bad as it is.

I appreciate the input and will shy away from those then, when i get a chance ill def. check out the harley dealer, when i go in i should just ask for 11.5" take offs? Thanks for the great idea Timebomb

yes i'd just ask if they have any stock sporty takeoff shocks if you ask for them that way they probably wont be tempted to try sell you brand new ones.