Hi all,

Just sold the dirtbike so now in the market for a 48. One of the first things I'll want to do to it is lower the back, so I'll probably start ordering parts for it now.

I'm torn between going for the 10" fixed struts or the shortened shocks at 10.5" (that's as low as I can find).

I'll be getting a springer seat kit at some stage also, so personal comfort is not a huge factor, however about 1 in 10 rides might have a pillion on the back... so not sure if I should just get the 10.5" shortened shocks with this being the case. Otherwise I could always swap out the fixed struts for the short shocks the night before taking a pillion.

Anyone had both and recommend one over the other?

Struts are cheap and easy to make. Give it a go and see for yourself.

Hi Convert, I was looking at the Burley slammer kit but got steered away from them. How do you find them for comfort / long rides?

mate I was going to go rigid, mine has 10 or 11 inch progressive lows, and with the standard seat, you wouldn't ride far on mine at all, and if you went 2 up and caught a big bump, the belt guard would touch that silly little oval shaped side reflector casing under the rear guard. I have removed those two guards (you can see the tyre above the rear support now). Also most of the time I ride two up it is with my under 10yo daughters too, so not very heavy people.

It changed my mind on going rigid. The best thing I ever after that was put on a springer seat, it made the bike. My partner rode it with the standard seat and I was behind her when she hit a railway crossing in town at 50kmh, and I saw 3-4 inches of air under her and the seat.. needless to say that was 2 minutes into the first ride and it ended about 100m past the crossing, haha. But she loves it now with the new seat too.

 Thanks Convert. 

If you're going to go rigid struts remember to drop your rear tyre pressure down to around 16psi. Your rear tyre will then take up some of the road shock and smaller imperfections, and you'll be less likely to get bucked out of the seat on bigger bumps.

Just finished putting on some Burly 10.5" shocks. Went on easy and it looks just right.

For anyone that finds this thread via the search, here are some points on the Burly shocks (questions I had that I've been searching for answers on);

- You'll need a torx socket set (supercheap has the sockets in a pack for $20)
- They are shorter than stock, no doubt. Works out to sit about an inch lower, maybe even 1.5" with sag (comparison of shocks below)
- You don't need a centre stand or jack to install the shocks. Tip: install the side-stand side first.
- When removing the original shocks, release the bottom bolt first. Then undo the top bolt.
- You can adjust the ride height/stiffness really easily using the shock wrench (you get one in the box). Might be good if you carry a pillion.

hey smokeweazel.. haven't taken it out yet mate. Went home from work with a migraine yesterday and installing the shocks was my therapy. Looks like it will rain over the weekend as well, so may not know for a week or so. Can't be too much worse than the stockers, just stiffer.. from what I've seen the factory HD suspension is pretty bad at best.

Hay, I put a set of road king rear oil over air shocks on mine. Bought a 3" lowering kit from DKcustom. Put new oil in shocks and added schrader valves. Sit's lower than stock and the comfort is fantastic even 2 up. I run about 12psi in the shocks. Paid $100 for the shocks second hand on ebay and lowering kit cost about $50 delivered for USA. Bike handles 100% better. looks great to with the black gators on front and back now. Hope you find this helpful

i dont know how you blokes do shorter shocks than the stocks. My 48 is rough enough with just me on....cant imagine using 10.5's.

 

Ride on you crazy kids!

lol did 4 1/2 hours riding today, on the solo seat with the burly shocks.. and to make it a tad worse, 8" Z Bars that are mounted slightlty too far forward (or so I found out after about an hour on it). Fukn exhausted now. Seriously feel like I've run a marathon haha.

Guys if you don't have a bad back or neck now you will have later on down the track by running short shocks I know been there done it, yep running standard length may not look cool but being in a lot pain is not cool also and it can stop you from what we love doing riding our bikes just something to think about before turning your bike into what amounts to as a rigid frame to ride on our great Australian roads.