Bonneville America Forums Forums Technical Forums General Tech America/Speedmaster shocks

Just noticed today the differences in shocks on our 2 bikes. The '02 America has a chromed steel loop for the upper mount. The '03 SM has a cast aluminum upper mount.
Anyone notice this but me, or am I the last to know?

Must be a year related item, or a vendor change, or both maybe.

Whats up Boogieman,
I've never payed attention to the upper mounting eye.
I was wondering if you knew if there was any reason I couldn't install "harley" rear shocks. New speedmaster wants about $400 for Ikon lowering shocks, and I think thats too much. I bought a set of lowering brackets already from you but would like to add some more drop.
I have a lathe and could spin some new bushing to fit the harley shock eyes.
What do you think?

Well as they say, "to each his own". As the lowering blocks will drop the rear 2" to 2-1/4", and the fender gets really close to the swingarm especially on the right side, I think some carefull measuring might be in order. I'm sure the drop can be made but you're getting into the area of maxium up-travel on the swingarm at that point. Should it bottom-out or bind up at that really low stance I would think the ridability would be severely compromised.

We engineered the brackets to work with the stock shocks to preclude having to drop $400-$500 large to get our bikes lowered. The stock shocks work quite well, at least for us.

As to the "harley "shocks, they don't know or care what kind of bike they're mounted on. As the TA/SM weigh app. the same as a "Sportster" those should work should you decide to try them.

Boogieman,
How much are you going to be charging for the lowering blocks? I'm assuming from the photos installation shouldn't be too tricky.

Hey nuthin, "nuthin" tricky to it. (Shameless pun intended) You need a jack/lift or a buddy to get the rear shocks off and the brackets on. Engineered to be a true bolt-on. You can go back to stock anytime. Cost is $75.00 unfinished, $95 for black satin powdercoat, or $135 for chromed. All hardware included.

Don't suppose anyone makes blocks to raise the ride height Cornering clearance = goodness

Well, we MIGHT look into that. Couldn't be too difficult. Just have to fab up and engineer another set of brackets. I can't tell if you're serious or not. I've seen a lot of different things done to alot of bikes!

Great idea - lowering blocks. Considered lowering but can't justify the above mentioned cost. Would us more 'generously proportioned' riders (230-250 lbs) spend a lot of time bottoming out, or would setting the shock adjustment to the highest level save our ample behinds?

The lowering blocks change the rear shock angle a few degrees more toward horizontal thus slightly altering the spring rate characteristics. Going up one notch on the setting puts everything back to near "normal". My son (roper) weighs about the same, I'm slightly more (hehehe) and the lowered ride is great with no bottoming out. We did trim the leading fender edge about 3/4" for ample clearance when riding 2-up. Setting the shock up to max will increase the ride heighth some, but the trade-off is a stiff, jarring ride. Adding the lowering blocks and then raising the bike up off the suspension seems counterproductive to me, or did I miss something in your post?
The idea for the blocks was to have a less expensive method of lowering our bikes compared to $400+ or so for lowering shocks.