noob suspension discussion

shane_lxi · **Posted:** Sat Jul 09, 2011 11:30 pm

So, I've been looking into either getting a cb5/6/7 bike or as yamaha, and I remember this cb750 from a previous discussion on here.

can anybody with more knowledge/experience clarify something for me? It looks like it still softtail, but someone swapped out the spring/shock with a solid bar to make it rigid. I was wondering if anybody could tell me how safe this is because I'm digging how low it is out back but know it wouldn't be possible with a functioning softtail, and I don't much care for the cb750 with hardtail conversions.

john · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 12:16 pm

shane_lxi wrote:

I'm digging how low it is out back but know it wouldn't be possible with a functioning softtail

Anything is possible.

This bike is knee high off the ground with a functional softtail. :mrgreen:

shane_lxi · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 7:29 pm

Extended swing arm and shorter strut/spring? Or just short spring? Id be worried about the tire catching the fender and severing my spine

john · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 8:51 pm

shane_lxi wrote:

Extended swing arm and shorter strut/spring? Or just short spring?

Yes, to both. But it was also fairly low before the swing arm extension. :tu:

Quote:

Id be worried about the tire catching the fender and severing my spine

Okay...

He hasn't bottomed it out yet, and he's pretty tough on them...

shane_lxi · **Posted:** Sun Jul 10, 2011 9:32 pm

I suppose it'd be easy enough to stack washers or something on the shock as a solid bumpstop to prevent too much suspension travel. I really like the low softtail bikes.

shane_lxi · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:08 pm

^what is that btw? Like a 125?

john · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 8:40 pm

shane_lxi wrote:

^what is that btw? Like a 125?

Nah, I believe it's a 450. And it's for sale.

shane_lxi · **Posted:** Mon Jul 11, 2011 9:48 pm

Too far away

. I love it though! Its pretty much exactly the type of thing I'm into. I wish I understood bikes more, but I guess there's only way to learn.

john · **Posted:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 2:21 pm

shane_lxi wrote:

Too far away

. I love it though!

I'll pick you up at the airport then you can ride it home? Imagine how awesome that would be... :mrgreen:

shane_lxi · **Posted:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 6:38 pm

That would be awesome :cool:

What does he want for it? I dont even have an endorsement yet, lol. I definately want something like this, I love that look.

john · **Posted:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:32 pm

I think he's asking $2000, but it's a very well sorted bike. All the best was put into it, even though it doesn't look like it.

He can spend 100 hours building a bike that looks like it took 15 minutes to build, but it's perfect and indestructible when he's done with it. Exhaust alone was pretty spendy, all handmade stainless. Vintage race tank, digital speedo, etc.

shane_lxi · **Posted:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 7:47 pm

Well I think it's perfect, and I'd gladly pay that for it if it were in Washington, lol. It's exactly what I'd build for myself, even my wife likes it

. Tell him to move up to the great Pacific Northwest and start building bikes, lol.

What size is his rear wheel? 15" or 16"? I need to learn how to lace wheels.

john · **Posted:** Tue Jul 12, 2011 9:00 pm

shane_lxi wrote:

What size is his rear wheel? 15" or 16"? I need to learn how to lace wheels.

IIRC, 16" rear, 20" front. He has a shorter front wheel to match if the buyer prefers.

shane_lxi · **Posted:** Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:08 pm

You need to get that guy to join up so I can pick his brain, lol. I was researching wheel lacing last night, and I'm trying to wrap my brain around it. I can find 40 spoke rims from 16" up to 21"s, but I can't seem to find any info on figuring out what spoke length I'd need if I went to a 19" front and 16" rear wheel. I've never laced a wheel together before, but I'm fairly confident I could figure it out if I had the right parts, lol. So I'm pretty sure I'm going to be getting a honda cm series bike this winter when I get my bonus, unless something really good pops up between now and then. I'd settle for a cb series, but I'd prefer a 2cyl and something a little smaller displacement. I'm fairly certain your friend's bike there is a cm400, but I'm not sure. The engine looks similar to other cm400s I've seen online.

john · **Posted:** Wed Jul 13, 2011 7:16 pm

shane_lxi wrote:

You need to get that guy to join up so I can pick his brain, lol.

I'll see what I can do.

shane_lxi · **Posted:** Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:23 pm

Look what I found! This thing starts looking familiar around page 5...

http://forums.vwvortex.com/showthread.p ... progress...

john · **Posted:** Thu Jul 14, 2011 4:38 pm

That would be him. :mrgreen:

shane_lxi · **Posted:** Fri Jul 15, 2011 5:43 pm

Build thread says that he is running an 18" in the back and a 23" in the front!! What do you suppose those wheels came off? Front looks like an enduro or dirt bike wheel, and I dont have any idea on the rear? cb750 maybe? I called the local bike shop today, and got a quote of ~$500 for lacing a 23" front and a 18" rear wheel to the stock hubs

(granted it's brand new aluminum rims and brand new custom cut spokes, etc), I've kinda got my heart set on a cm400 at this point but I'd like to do it on the cheap, lol.

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