Stiffer shocks

Sn34ky

Farmer's can build bike 2
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Hey! I need advices on stiffer shocks. My 30 years old one are too soft for my setup even if the sag is ok, but the angle I got make them a little bit too soft on bump and curves.

I don't want piggyback and spend 300$ on a progressive setup. Need to keep it in the 12'' to 13'' length.

Any experience with some Harley's or any other brands?

here's a pic to help you understand:

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Once you lay them down like that, 3 things happen: they become non-linear (they were before, but not that extreme), you most likely need a very stiff progressive spring, and most people don't want to give any advice on things they have not ran.
When you move the upper mount forward, it increases the leverage that the Swingarm has on the shock, so a stiffer spring is generally needed to counter the leverage increase. The travel is not linear, as in, 3 inches of Swingarm vertical travel equals 3 inches of shock compression. With it laid forward like that, the shocks have less overall travel in which to do the same job. That's why I say a progressive spring, which is seldom my position, but you need the rate to rise fast to decelerate your swingarm on big bumps or you'll bottom out one day and break a lug off and from the looks of it that shock is going to try to go up your ass.
What shocks are on there now?
 
My rear shocks are about 42° from vertical and have 115/155 progressive springs. With the preload on the lowest setting and the damper turned all the way up, it has a nice ride and doesn't bottom out. YMMV
 
What shocks are on there now?

oem ones. It's not that bad, never experience bottoming, but I'm at full preload!! As you can see the swing arm angle is pretty much flat, so the pivot action after 180deg make it push more forward on the shocks then upward like it will do on an original xs setup, but I still need a stiffer shock.:doh:


My rear shocks are about 42° from vertical and have 115/155 progressive springs. With the preload on the lowest setting and the damper turned all the way up, it has a nice ride and doesn't bottom out. YMMV

Did you fit progressive spring on the oem shocks? What is the stock spring rate on our xs shocks?
 
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