08-08-2014, 09:47 PM | #1 |
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Michigan
Posts: 162
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Lowering DB-08-250 (Storm 250)
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 from Parts.Powersportsbest 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?
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2014 Bashan Storm 250 Enduro 1998 Harley Davidson Fat Boy 1993 Suzuki GSX600F - Rebuilt 1995 Harley Davidson Chopper build from ground up. 1983 Yamaha XJ900 REBUILT! 1971 Triumph Daytona 500 - Restored 1987 Yamaha FJ1200 |
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08-08-2014, 11:17 PM | #2 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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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?
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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08-08-2014, 11:22 PM | #3 |
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Michigan
Posts: 162
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Yeah.. I did use a 4x2 under the swingarm bolt last time but I couldn't find it today. That worked though.
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2014 Bashan Storm 250 Enduro 1998 Harley Davidson Fat Boy 1993 Suzuki GSX600F - Rebuilt 1995 Harley Davidson Chopper build from ground up. 1983 Yamaha XJ900 REBUILT! 1971 Triumph Daytona 500 - Restored 1987 Yamaha FJ1200 Last edited by dossbag; 08-10-2014 at 09:02 AM. |
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08-08-2014, 11:31 PM | #4 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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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.
http://www.rockymountainatvmc.com/p/...m=lift%20stand It's important to have the bike stably supported during such procedures, lest it fall while partially disassembled.
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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08-08-2014, 11:35 PM | #5 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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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.
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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08-09-2014, 03:11 AM | #6 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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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.
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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08-09-2014, 10:50 AM | #7 |
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Michigan
Posts: 162
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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?
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2014 Bashan Storm 250 Enduro 1998 Harley Davidson Fat Boy 1993 Suzuki GSX600F - Rebuilt 1995 Harley Davidson Chopper build from ground up. 1983 Yamaha XJ900 REBUILT! 1971 Triumph Daytona 500 - Restored 1987 Yamaha FJ1200 |
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08-09-2014, 01:10 PM | #8 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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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.
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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08-09-2014, 08:46 PM | #9 |
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Michigan
Posts: 162
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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.
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2014 Bashan Storm 250 Enduro 1998 Harley Davidson Fat Boy 1993 Suzuki GSX600F - Rebuilt 1995 Harley Davidson Chopper build from ground up. 1983 Yamaha XJ900 REBUILT! 1971 Triumph Daytona 500 - Restored 1987 Yamaha FJ1200 |
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08-10-2014, 12:44 AM | #10 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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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.
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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08-10-2014, 12:52 AM | #11 |
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Idaho
Posts: 25,054
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That's a great tip!
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Spud "Never argue with an idiot. He will drag you down to his level, and beat you with experience." Mark Twain 2015 Zongshen ZS250GY-3 (RX3) 2006 Zongshen ZS200GY-2 (Sierra 200) 2005 Honda XR650L 2004 Honda CRF250X 1998 Kawasaki KDX220 Mods made to my Zongshen ZS200GY-2: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=6894 |
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08-10-2014, 12:58 AM | #12 |
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Sardis, BC, Canada
Posts: 25,977
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It's hillbilly, but cheap and effective. With a foot of heater hose, you can replace it several times.
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Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer |
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08-10-2014, 09:00 AM | #13 |
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: Michigan
Posts: 162
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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
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2014 Bashan Storm 250 Enduro 1998 Harley Davidson Fat Boy 1993 Suzuki GSX600F - Rebuilt 1995 Harley Davidson Chopper build from ground up. 1983 Yamaha XJ900 REBUILT! 1971 Triumph Daytona 500 - Restored 1987 Yamaha FJ1200 |
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08-12-2014, 12:13 PM | #14 |
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 44
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I may go ahead and replace my kickstand spring. From which model Triumph was the donor spring meant for? Thanks!
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06-17-2016, 12:28 AM | #15 |
Join Date: Apr 2016
Location: Minneapolis, mn
Posts: 175
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How has the mod to lower it go? Is that Roketa 200 shock still holding up?
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On the radar: CSC - TT250 Moto Aventure ride 2020. "If everyone is thinking the same thing, no one is thinking." Gen. Patton. -2017 Suzuki SV650 -2015 BASHAN - STORM Current mods: LED headlight & tail light, LED fog light, JT 428-130 chain, 47t rear sprocket, 4-fuse box, oil-cooler, CSC TT205 hand controls, 32" handlebars, aftermarket 295mm rear shock, digital speedo & tach, USB/12 volt accessory; painted flat-black. -2005 Skyteam ST90 (sitting in pieces) -2003 Buell Blast - SOLD |
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