SuzukiSavage.com - shock length and alternate tanks

zipidachimp

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shock length and alternate tanks
09/27/14 at 23:06:45

spent some time friday staring at my bike with the idea that as a winter project, some changes would be in order:
1. the stock seat is way too low. has anyone tried 12" shock length? also, a flatter seat is in order.

2. I know Dave has used a gt550 tank with a lot of mods. is there another tank with better than stock shape that will fit with no mods? A search on this forum was only slightly helpful.

I have a limited storage/shop unit with no electricity but I have some skills, at least with assembly. Any ideas? Thanks. Cheesy

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Demin

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Re: shock length and alternate tanks
Reply #1 - 09/28/14 at 04:45:37

Sportster tanks mounted high are about the only thing that fit without a ton of work.The way the backbone splits at the back of the tank makes it hard to fit anything over the frame.There have been some done.Just not an easy task.Sounds like you're going more of a standard or café look.
Sportster tank:

Aftermarket tank called a Saga,from V-TWIN .I had to modify the backbone to fit this tank.The white parts are actually bulged out.

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zipidachimp Serious Thumper Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 1459 surrey, b.c. Gender:	Re: shock length and alternate tanks Reply #2 - 09/28/14 at 15:14:34 really want a 'tracker'. I'll stay with the stock tank if there's nothing better. Longer shocks????
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Demin Serious Thumper Offline We need more chlorine in the gene pool Posts: 2435 Warren,Ohio Gender:	Re: shock length and alternate tanks Reply #3 - 09/28/14 at 17:13:15 I think it's Serowbot has his done kinda tracker style.He has like 12" shocks on his.
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Serowbot

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Tucson Az
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Re: shock length and alternate tanks
Reply #4 - 09/28/14 at 17:31:40

12.25" shocks from a Suzuki Intruder 800... fit pretty nice...
Tank is stock, but chromed and raised an inch in the rear, a 2" lift on the front of the seat...
Low budget,.. the look comes from the details, ... ie, fork boots, mud flaps, tank pads, headlight grill, etc... mostly homemade mods...
A lot of people mistake it for an old Triumph... (I'm happy with that)...

...

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ToesNose

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Re: shock length and alternate tanks
Reply #5 - 10/02/14 at 05:02:56

I went with a set of long ones from JC motors 'Progressive Suspension 412 Series 13.5" Chrome Rear Shocks - Various Metric Cruiser Models 1973-2010'. The only thing I really had to do was modify the belt guard mounting and notch the pulley guard. I've been riding on them all summer and it really improved the handling, especially cornering. Next step is to cut off the rear end which looks more like a cruiser-dual sport at the moment LOL and make a new seat/rear fender frame Wink

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Spamy

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Re: shock length and alternate tanks
Reply #6 - 10/02/14 at 07:55:24

Most go with 11 to 12.5 inch shocks. Any farther and you start getting clearance issues on the belt and other parts.

I believe I did the GT550 tank first and its a pretty easy conversion (though Dave's may be cleaner). It takes minimal welding on a bench (not on the bike) and some some sheet metal hand/vice bending.

It should be covered in my build. The post is a bit old and the links are now super sized for some reason, but the tank install should be covered.

http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1343089863/0

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verslagen1

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Re: shock length and alternate tanks
Reply #7 - 10/02/14 at 11:49:52

Spamy wrote on 10/02/14 at 07:55:24:

It should be covered in my build. The post is a bit old and the links are now super sized for some reason, but the tank install should be covered.

image shack did an update and redid the syntax for the links.
The old links revert to original size unfortunately.
but if you open them in a separate window, they'll resize to something visible.

If you provide the new links, I can exchange them for the old.

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DesertRat Serious Thumper Offline I love rat bikes! Posts: 1569 Arizona	Re: shock length and alternate tanks Reply #8 - 03/15/16 at 09:00:03 Serowbot wrote on 09/28/14 at 17:31:40: MORE pictures Serowbot ... MORE PICTURES ...
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DesertRat Serious Thumper Offline I love rat bikes! Posts: 1569 Arizona	Re: shock length and alternate tanks Reply #9 - 03/15/16 at 09:03:16 Serowbot, what's that coffee thermos cylinder forward of the tank? WHERE did you get those bar end mirrors?
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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28996 L.A. California Gender:	Re: shock length and alternate tanks Reply #10 - 03/15/16 at 09:20:30 remember to get the boots he was recommended... http://suzukisavage.com/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1454104406/18#18
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Serowbot

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OK.... so what's the
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Tucson Az
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Re: shock length and alternate tanks
Reply #11 - 03/15/16 at 09:29:50

DesertRat wrote on 03/15/16 at 09:03:16:

Serowbot,

what's that coffee thermos cylinder forward of the tank?

WHERE did you get those bar end mirrors?

I don't mean to highjack,.. but these shots might be relevant to the OP...
The thermos,.. is a thermos... (for water Grin

,.. it's Arizona)... (a lot of people ask,.. thinking it's Nitrous Grin

)...
Bar end mirrors are cheapies from E-bay.. $15... (they work really nice)...
http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p2050601.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC...
Stock tank, chromed with 1" lift in rear,.. 2" lift on front of seat... Cool

12" Intruder shocks...

More pics?...

Oooh,.. pedals!... Grin

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DesertRat Serious Thumper Offline I love rat bikes! Posts: 1569 Arizona	Re: shock length and alternate tanks Reply #12 - 03/15/16 at 10:25:12 Serowbot wrote on 03/15/16 at 09:29:50: Oooh,.. pedals!... http://i600.photobucket.com/albums/tt82/serowbot/tm008.jpg LOVE those pedals, maybe some old skool bear trap pedals would keep my boots from slipping off ? I still have scars on my shins
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DesertRat Serious Thumper Offline I love rat bikes! Posts: 1569 Arizona	Re: shock length and alternate tanks Reply #13 - 03/15/16 at 10:45:55 Serowbot, the problem I have is that most of the bar end mirror shafts are TOO LONG. There's only 1/2" clearance until the shaft hits the solid bar stock inside the drag bars.
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Online OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 29276 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: shock length and alternate tanks Reply #14 - 03/15/16 at 11:56:16 You need new bars... Drags are only $25 or $30 on the fleabay...
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