Lowering DB-08-250 (Storm 250)

[dossbag]

Well, I have been experimenting with shorter shocks, because I have shorter legs! :)
First one I got was WAYY to short.. and feeble. ebay dude said it was good for 400lbs.. that was crap, but it was the cheapest out there. I'll find a use for it one day.

I looked around and found one for the Roketa DB-07A-200 (http://parts.powersportsbest.com/index.php/dirt-bike-parts/air-filters-intakes/rear-shocks/11-3-16-rear-shock-for-roketa-db-07a-200cc.html) from Parts.Powersportsbest (http://parts.powersportsbest.com/index.php/) which was about an inch shorter than my original. Price was OK, (40 bucks) but they stuffed me a bit on the shipping. 21.58 UPS ground.. was the cheapest option. So, Grand Total was $61.58 and it was time to wait.

It turned up a few days later, no mail was sent to me as promised though? I bitched and I got a tracking number. Their sales email is "sales@example.com" lmao someone needs to set that up correctly. L Anyway. I knew it wasn't a direct swap for mine, so attacked it with the grinder. The bolt holes are also bigger? All in all, it's a much better shock. Has a bumper to stop it going too far and it is adjustable (unlike the original)

Took about 3/4 hour to adapt and fit. I'm not flat footed but it's a huge improvement (I'm 5'6") And wifey can handle it too now. Only issue is, the side stand may need to be angled out a bit, If I can't do that easily, I might have to shorten this one.. or find one an inch shorter somewhere?

[SpudRider]

Before you removed the original shock absorber, did you support the bike's frame with the kick stand and a piece of wood propped under the kick starter? :hmm:

[dossbag]

Yeah.. I did use a 4x2 under the swingarm bolt last time but I couldn't find it today. That worked though.

[SpudRider]

Some people hoist the bike on top of a milk crate, or a 5-gallon barrel, to support it for such procedures. ;) I don't have a very strong back, so I purchased a Motorsport Products P-12 Adjustable Lift Stand; I like it a lot. :tup:

http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/875/11012/Motorsport-Products-P-12-Adjustable-Lift-Stand?term=lift%20stand

http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/images/prod/400/m/mot_13_p_12_adj_lif_sta-red.jpg

It's important to have the bike stably supported during such procedures, lest it fall while partially disassembled. ;)

[SpudRider]

Did you put a bushing inside the larger bolt hole?

I have lowered my Honda XR650L and Honda CRF250X with lowering links. In both instances I shortened the kick stand about one inch. First I cut the foot off the side stand. Then I welded the foot back onto the side stand, after I had cut about one inch off the length of the side stand. :)

[Weldangrind]

I was wondering about a bushing in the new shock as well. If you don't have one, I can check my Roketa shock and see if it has one for comparison. Let me know.

BTW, Harbor Freight has a decent stand much like Spud's, but I can't seem to find a link for it just now. I think I got mine for around $30, but I'm not positive on that.

[dossbag]

Thanks guys, yeah, a stand would be dandy but I don't have ANY spare $$ right now.. pay day seems like it's never gonna come around and I'm stretched on all fronts :( Even buying gas right now might be an issue? Been stealing gas from the mower to ride.. haha.. starter went on that so I might as well.. MORE expense sheeeeee..

The bushings are too big for my bolts.. I "could" use larger bolts but that would mean drilling the mounts.. and I don't really want to do that. Not sure what to do there really?

[Weldangrind]

You can fabricate bushings.

If you can find a bronze bushing at the loacl bearing shop that fits the ID of your shock, you could drill it to match the bolt size. Cheap and effective.

You could do something similar with UHMW plastic, although turning the OD could be tough. Perhaps you know someone with a lathe.

The hillbilly method (which I'm fond of) is heater hose. If the hose OD matches the ID of the shock hole and the hose ID matches the bolt, you win.

Copper would be another solution, although you might struggle to find the size you need.

The idea is to select a material that is softer than steel.

A 2x4 piece of lumber can certainly be cut and screwed into a custom bike stand. I've done that before. Cheap and effective.

[dossbag]

Yes, I was thinking about copper pipe. Heater hose
' Is there another name for that? I can't picture what you mean.

RE:- the side stand being too long now.. I ground the stop away a little, now it goes back further and is a little more stable. Might need a bit more of, but so far so good. HA, the spring on the stand broke too.. just split/fractured. No Idea what it was made from, just glad it didn't happen when I was riding. I replaced it with a trusty Triumph spring. :)

[Weldangrind]

The Triumph spring is a good upgrade.

Heater hose is the hose that goes from the water pump in your vehicle to the heater core. It is commonly available in 5/8" ID and 3/4" ID, but there are a few other sizes as well. It is sold by the foot at any auto parts store.

On that note, try to find a hose that easily fits into the shock, but is too large for the bolt. You can then cut a piece of steel tubing to slip inside the hose to make up the difference. I made something similar for a shock bushing on an old Honda XL250S.

The heater hose bushing is installed in this pic, and the old wasted bushing is on the floor.

http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t109/Weldangrind/XL250S/DSC06018.jpg (http://s158.photobucket.com/user/Weldangrind/media/XL250S/DSC06018.jpg.html)

[SpudRider]

That's a great tip! :tup:

[Weldangrind]

It's hillbilly, but cheap and effective. With a foot of heater hose, you can replace it several times.

[dossbag]

Thanks for the tip, and pic. I do have the original bushing in.. I trimmed one to fit the mount, the other end fitted as it was. There is just a bit of slop. So I guess I'm good to go for a while.. perhaps I should have used a gob of grease, but ....another day maybe :)

[Ogre81]

I may go ahead and replace my kickstand spring. From which model Triumph was the donor spring meant for? Thanks!

[Skyteamst90]

How has the mod to lower it go? Is that Roketa 200 shock still holding up?

[dpl096]

It's hillbilly, but cheap and effective. With a foot of heater hose, you can replace it several times.

hillbilly or not - necessity is the mother of invention .. and many times one of our feats of hillbilly engineering ends up being a dependable repair and re-purposing. I know I always have a greater sense of accomplishment through that then slapping a new part on. . . but I'm :crazy: that way !

[dossbag]

Spring is still doing great :)

[BlackBike]

Spring is still doing great :)

It's about time you showed back up mister.