Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums Custom Corner Lowering blocks

I just put on the lowering blocks and they look great ... no problems. One question. There's now an angle from the top of the shock to the bottom. The bottom has a spacer included with the blocks in order to clear bracket and other things. Is this angle a problem? Anyone run into any issues with this?

I had the blocks on my America for a while (took them off after meeting my new girlfriend who loves to ride; the back tire would drag), anyway the angle was definitely not good for the bike; it would bottom out and rode like a hardtail, plus it started wearing the bushings out. Had I kept them on, I would have had spacers made to get them at the proper angle. I may still do that depending on the situation with my new girl haha.

Lee

this is my plan

http://www.skullenterprises.com/shocks.html

Robert in Utah

the angle makes me nervous ... what other options are out there??

Most chopper shops have chrome spacers you could use.

I'm trying to picture this...
Is the shock angled out away from the bike like the lowering blocks are pushing the bottom out farther that the top?

The shocks are naturally angled front to rear, but I can't imagine they would work well if they are angled out like wings - would seem to bind up and make the ride pretty harsh. Can they be straigntened out witha spacer and longer bolt?

I think that is what he is getting at.

yep ... thats exactly it. Further out from the bottom than the top. The (bushings?) twist a bit in the shock mount to make it work, but it seems funky. I guess a spacer with a longer bolt would help, but would it be getting to a point where its becoming weak?

Any time you change the angle on the shocks, no matter which plane,
you put extra load on the shock itself and the mounting bolts!
Grade 8 bolts are a must!!!
I have kicked back shocks to lower a few bikes.
And I have snapped grade 8 bolts because of the stress
and some swallow semi holes!
It's a neat trick, it's cheap.
But do you want to bet your LIFE on it?

I repeat:

this is my plan

http://www.skullenterprises.com/shocks.html

Robert in Utah

Robert, will they make them gas shocks for us??? have you checked into it or were you just gonna send them your shocks and have them built??

$69.00 if top of shock is held on with "clip"
$89.00 if shock screws toghter. one day turn around, with shipping time. im sending mine in with the first snow fall.

1-800-852-5545.
MB Products
8025 Aerostar
Falcon, CO 80831

please let us know how it goes ... how much are you thinking of getting cut off?

Wouldn't 11inch Progressives solve the problem?? Even 10.5 inch.

My shocks are there getting shortened right now, hope they leave this week. They arrived in the dreaded snowfall of the century so we will see. I get new shorter shocks, my bobbed fender painted the chaingaurd painted and the dash cover painted and I am working on my own pipes to test for clearance after lowering 1 inch, Great time as it is rainy and cold.....
Vic

i made my own the only problem was that it sat to close to the rear brake and put a bind on the caliper so the outer brake pad would wear out to fast so i removed them and cut my shocks it rides pretty good and the brake is wearing even now.

Did you cut them yourself or take them somewhere to have it done?

It all depends on how steep the angle is. The Velocette I once owned was designed to adjust the suspension by changing the angle of the shocks. The top of the shock was bolted through a curved slot in the fender brace and you just loosened the bolt and slid it forward or back in the slot to change the angle for a softer or stiffer ride.