77 KZ650C Rear wheel question

djcody wrote:

They are actually only a year and a half old. I had them on the lowest setting at first but raised to the next to keep from bottoming out. They are the same ones you see on ebay in the blue box for $80. These too are pretty stiff so dont know why it did it.

Are the existing shocks shorter than standard length?

Sometimes shorter shocks are fitted in an effort to lower the seat height, which also reduces clearance between the rear tire and fender.

Where the standard length shock does not contact the fender under strong compression loads, a shorther shock providing less under-fender clearance may well allow the tire to hit the fender under the same strong compression loads.

Good Luck!

Nebr_Rex wrote:

going to a 16 in. wheel will only lower your seat about 3/4"

Probably the easiest route to finding a 16" wheel is off an SR, KZ650D, model. That said, the tire mounted on those rims is taller and fatter for a "custom" look. As Rex wrote, it won't lower the bike much for you.

The later Ltd and CSR models have a much lower seat than the earlier '650s with that deep stepped seat. But you'll have the same issue as now--you won't be able to slide back.

I'd advise that you get a stock, flat, "surf board" style seat. You can change them out rather quickly so when you ride two-up you can put the king-queen seat on and when you're solo put the stocker on so you can slide around.

Thanks for the input guys.

Sorry to point this out, but if your shocks are bottoming out they simply are no good. They may be new, but if they are some sort of Chinese junk they were bad the day they were made. I weight 205 and my wife weighs 115ish. We frequently ride 2 up and I ride pretty hard on back roads (today we rode more than 150 miles). My shocks never bottom, period. Currently I'm using Hagons (let me know if you need specific info; I'll provide) and before I was using S&Ws. The S&W's never wore out; I went with Hagons to give a more stock like appearance. You cannot buy quality new motorcycle shocks for $80. Ed

Sorry I should have noted that they only bottomed out on the lowest setting. When moved to the next notch I never had a problem again.