Jeeter
XS650 Addict
NOTE: I have absolutely no affiliation with the below mentioned retailer, neither professional nor personal, other than having been one of their customers. I simply wish to share a supplier I've used in the past with the membership here. Thanks!
SHOCK ABSORBERS:
I've used these shocks on a few project bikes before. They are really no worse or no better than a set of brand new OEM shocks from most older streetbikes. At $9 to $15 each they are excellent bobber or mockup shocks. Hellacious bargain.
http://www.baileynet.com/Shock-Absorbers
As I said I have used these exact shocks from this exact supplier before and they totally beat spending the same (or more) money on some 45 year old crappy used eBay wundershox that are $100 bucks per pair because they're "vintage". OBVIOUSLY these will not perform up there with units going for quite literally fifty-times the price of these bargains (a good set of Racetechs or Works Performance units will easily hit $1K these days, which is actually more than 50x the cost of these low priced overseas constructs), or even any better than a base-level set of Progressive Suspension shocks, but they are at least as good as the OEM'ers or any other old used eBay units. Jyoo know what I means, mangs?
Spring rate is ~roughly~ about approximately sorta-kinda in the area of around 130/150 per inch. These are just welded-up non-rebuildable fully sealed shocks, exactly like the OEM crap that we all suffered with (and in some cases we still do, even on today's brand new bikes) a long time ago in that galaxy far away called the 1970s. They're just painted (not powdercoated) which makes refinishing easy if you want some other color.
BOBBER/CHOPPER SOLO SEATS:
Now, these seats are probably exactly the same as what 99% of all retailers are marketing as "vintage bobber/chopper solo seat" for as much as $150. I've purchased about a dozen of these exact seats over the years from this exact vendor, they have 100% all steel bases, as-good-as-any-other mounting hardware, and upholstery that will last a few years but are very easily redone with far better upholstery if desired. As I said these seats seem to be identical to what is being peddled on the interwebs except these are only $14.00 (yup, fourteen bucks!) each.
http://www.baileynet.com/product/9633
These seats come complete with chromed beehive coil springs, the adjustable stainless hardware mounting thingy in front, a couple of crappy hardware grade bolts/nuts/flats (appear to be 3/8's). They are 9 inches wide at the widest point, and 12 inches long, with ~roughly~ an inch or so of padding. The seat cover is fixed to the all metal pan with a boatload of Phillips' head screws, so changing or repairing the seat cover (or adding/changing padding) is fairly easy and something anyone that's decent with their hands can probably tackle recovering themselves. In my case we live so close to Mexico that we have a TON of highly skilled upholsterers in our area, so I typically allow those who are good at it to do that type of thing for me (a fella has to know his limits!). I still have three of these seats that are brand new still in box (spares!), I've tried other vendors' seats and for all the world they appear to be identical in every way except these are far less expensive.
I'm as convinced as I can be that this retailer has pretty much zip-clue about marketing these items to DIY bikers, otherwise I'm sure these shocks and seats would be 5x the prices they are now.
So I just thought I'd share the find.
SHOCK ABSORBERS:
I've used these shocks on a few project bikes before. They are really no worse or no better than a set of brand new OEM shocks from most older streetbikes. At $9 to $15 each they are excellent bobber or mockup shocks. Hellacious bargain.
http://www.baileynet.com/Shock-Absorbers
As I said I have used these exact shocks from this exact supplier before and they totally beat spending the same (or more) money on some 45 year old crappy used eBay wundershox that are $100 bucks per pair because they're "vintage". OBVIOUSLY these will not perform up there with units going for quite literally fifty-times the price of these bargains (a good set of Racetechs or Works Performance units will easily hit $1K these days, which is actually more than 50x the cost of these low priced overseas constructs), or even any better than a base-level set of Progressive Suspension shocks, but they are at least as good as the OEM'ers or any other old used eBay units. Jyoo know what I means, mangs?
Spring rate is ~roughly~ about approximately sorta-kinda in the area of around 130/150 per inch. These are just welded-up non-rebuildable fully sealed shocks, exactly like the OEM crap that we all suffered with (and in some cases we still do, even on today's brand new bikes) a long time ago in that galaxy far away called the 1970s. They're just painted (not powdercoated) which makes refinishing easy if you want some other color.
BOBBER/CHOPPER SOLO SEATS:
Now, these seats are probably exactly the same as what 99% of all retailers are marketing as "vintage bobber/chopper solo seat" for as much as $150. I've purchased about a dozen of these exact seats over the years from this exact vendor, they have 100% all steel bases, as-good-as-any-other mounting hardware, and upholstery that will last a few years but are very easily redone with far better upholstery if desired. As I said these seats seem to be identical to what is being peddled on the interwebs except these are only $14.00 (yup, fourteen bucks!) each.
http://www.baileynet.com/product/9633
These seats come complete with chromed beehive coil springs, the adjustable stainless hardware mounting thingy in front, a couple of crappy hardware grade bolts/nuts/flats (appear to be 3/8's). They are 9 inches wide at the widest point, and 12 inches long, with ~roughly~ an inch or so of padding. The seat cover is fixed to the all metal pan with a boatload of Phillips' head screws, so changing or repairing the seat cover (or adding/changing padding) is fairly easy and something anyone that's decent with their hands can probably tackle recovering themselves. In my case we live so close to Mexico that we have a TON of highly skilled upholsterers in our area, so I typically allow those who are good at it to do that type of thing for me (a fella has to know his limits!). I still have three of these seats that are brand new still in box (spares!), I've tried other vendors' seats and for all the world they appear to be identical in every way except these are far less expensive.
I'm as convinced as I can be that this retailer has pretty much zip-clue about marketing these items to DIY bikers, otherwise I'm sure these shocks and seats would be 5x the prices they are now.
So I just thought I'd share the find.
