In Shock

[The Nutty Professor]

I am seriously getting tired of trying to make shocks work on the screwed up X22 layout. Finding shocks that will fit in the space and have a good adjustment range are high priced hogs and I'm not willing to waste the mony just to find out it's not right. OK I'm cheap bluelaugh I was sitting next to TN after finishing with the forks and I got a idea that won't cost a dime to try just time. Check out the first picture. The gas strut is from a wrecked Crown Vic. At first I tried using it as is but it was impossible to compress it and when I say impossible I'm not kidding. I was finally able to compress it by using a floor jack and pushing the strut up against the underside of my work bench. But that wasn't practical and I couldn't see my buck sixty-five even making it blink.

SOOOOO I came up with the bright idea of releasing the pressure and seeing what I had to work with. ROTFLMAO I used the smallest bit I had and slowly drilled into the very bottom away from the rod. lololol .... lololol After I wiped all the oil that blew onto my welding mask (I had enough sense to remember it was oil filled under pressure...boy was it under pressure) off I tried to see how much resistance I had left. Damn! Not enough to do anything with...soooo new brain storm.

I slowly filled the strut with transmission fluid and pushed it back and forth until I got a resistance that I could live with. Of course all of this was seat of the pants, but that's how I roll rolleye0010 I then welded the hole shut hoping the oil won't blow out a seal or go grenade on me. Then I threw together a bracket system. See the second photo.

I know the bracket isn't re-enforced but that was the plan until my welder ran out of wire.

The whole objective was to see if I could stop the stock shock from acting like a pogo stick and I did. How does it feel at speed I dunno but I will try it. What's the worse that can happen??? It wobbles around like every other shock I have Nutty-Rant

[The Nutty Professor]

Last one.

[Unproracer]

trans fluid is a detergent man... its pretty harsh on rubber but i like your style man. Nice mcgyver'n. Sounds like something id do.

[CAM2]

You will have a better ride with a GS-57 Supershock;-the shock is 8 3/4" adjustable to 9 1/4" and its air adjustable / oil filled and has an adjustable spring rate adjuster;-I put the old one I bought for one of my X-15's in my X-22 and it rides mint now...........................Peace

[swheels]

If it works for the time being run with it.
You know i what i'm really gonna say.Weld up a mount.........You can probably do it so you can bolt up a second shock mount that will make it easier to use a 7 or 6 1/2'' shock.I truly think it's the angle of the shock.Change the angle and get better results.

I'll definitly give ya points for that one clever.thumbsup2thumbsup2

[The Nutty Professor]

Unpro I know it can be nasty to some rubbers but it was the thinnest I had so hey what's to lose. "S" when it gets to cold to ride I'm going to strip the frame down and weld that mount or to be more precise have someone with better welding skills than me do it.

[rene13]

Since my K2 smart shock broke, I have been looking for a shock for my bike and this is what I found. Now the part that I liked was that they customized the shock for you (you get to choose your spring 500 or 800 lbs.)
this what they want Please provide the following data
1. eye to eye length
2. shock stand width
3. screw diameter
4. preferred spring rate (if not advised, we ship 800lb)
5. your weight (if you are not sure about spring rate)
6. Brand and model of your bike

[rene13]

here is one more

[rene13]

I almost forgot, to give yall the link guys and gals. http://stores.ebay.com/i-Sportinggoods

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

nut, awesome bit of thinking there

[The Nutty Professor]

Thanks for the props guys...let's see if I deserve it bluelaugh

[JAGspeed@XMR]

Hey Nut. I see that you are trying to reinvent the wheel with your strut idea. Although it's not a bad idea, I think you will have a hard time making it work well enough to keep up with all the other trick things you have done to the bike. We have made several shocks work on different types of X-bikes X6's X12's X15's X18's etc. Some bolt right up and some need new mounts welded in place. Your bike has a unique swingarm similar to a Kawasaki Ninja 650 and that works fine. Your idea reminds me of a Suzuki TL1000S where they use a separate dampening devise that is not part of the shock. Your right about one thing control is everything. That is why I am always willing to spend the money where it counts the most. I am not telling you to abandon your idea just trying to see if there is a better alternative in finding a workable shock.
What is the eye to eye length of your shock? What is the amount of shaft travel of the stock shock? What is the overall leverage ratio on the suspension? And how much travel does it have? If you can get me some answers I will see what I can come up with that may work for you.

[Unproracer]

Now the part that I liked was that they customized the shock for you (you get to choose your spring 500 or 800 lbs.)
this what they want Please provide the following data
1. eye to eye length
2. shock stand width
3. screw diameter
4. preferred spring rate (if not advised, we ship 800lb)
5. your weight (if you are not sure about spring rate)
6. Brand and model of your bike

What do you think theyll say if you said it was a buyang x18?? lol

[Blitz$M.Inc.$]

bu-what??? bluelaugh

[The Nutty Professor]

Hey Nut. I see that you are trying to reinvent the wheel with your strut idea. Although it's not a bad idea, I think you will have a hard time making it work well enough to keep up with all the other trick things you have done to the bike. We have made several shocks work on different types of X-bikes X6's X12's X15's X18's etc. Some bolt right up and some need new mounts welded in place. Your bike has a unique swingarm similar to a Kawasaki Ninja 650 and that works fine. Your idea reminds me of a Suzuki TL1000S where they use a separate dampening devise that is not part of the shock. Your right about one thing control is everything. That is why I am always willing to spend the money where it counts the most. I am not telling you to abandon your idea just trying to see if there is a better alternative in finding a workable shock.
What is the eye to eye length of your shock? What is the amount of shaft travel of the stock shock? What is the overall leverage ratio on the suspension? And how much travel does it have? If you can get me some answers I will see what I can come up with that may work for you.


bluelaugh Jag I think you missed the part about me being bored and cheap at the time of this abomination bluelaugh It's just a "I wonder" sort of deal. I have no intention of keeping this thing on the bike. I do plan on welding a different mount. I think all the shocks are flexing in the middle because of the angle and the swingarm pivot point. I don't think any shock is going to work like I think it should. Something will work but it will not work to it's full potential.

[The Nutty Professor]

Well the final verdict is in...and I'm impressed. My first ride I was mildly amused let's say. I went home and changed out a bracket that was a little long. It was flexing. The short bracket made it a lot stiffer. Second ride today and I didn't even know the rear end was there. That meant it was doing what it was supposed to so I didn't have to think about it. The final thing that sold me was on my last go 'round'. I was still using the brake lever Swheels had made out of my broken lever from a crash. There was a bolt used for adjusting the lever but it also actuated the cylinder piston. I had put loc-tite on it but it had worked loose? The last turn is sharper than than the other three (It's a road with 3 sweeping turns and one sharp turn). So I carry a fair amount of speed to the last corner. I was up to my brake marker and speechless33 no brakes speechless33 I squeezed again still nothing. It was either lean and make it or lean and crash. I leaned the bike then leaned some more still not enough so I leaned some more. I've never had this bike leaned that far. The front and rear stayed inline no drama no wiggle I was through the turn with more speed than I thought the tires could handle (I have since Elgin used a secret sauce tire prep that softened the rubber a whole lot!). I had also used modification inside the USD's after I talked to "S" and we had a brainstorming session. The forks are miles better than they were. Would I use this shock on my race bike as standard. Nope wave_finger no telling when it will give up the ghost (I used it for a short time but putting a lot of miles on it...) and at speed I ain't risking that. Is it a cheap fix for a cruiser bike...HELL YEAH!!! Getting one at a U-Pull-It while pulling something else should be easy. Or getting one out of a AMC Pacer on blocks (I have no idea if they had them that was just the ugliest car I could think of) is another option. The damn bike still steers to nervous and twitchy even with those improvements but it's a hell of a lot better.

[rene13]

What do you think theyll say if you said it was a buyang x18?? lol


Thats what I was thinking. Tey ask this to get a shock that would fit that specific bike anyone of those shocks with an 800 lbs. spring would work wonders. I plan on getting one when my money permits.

[rene13]

Well the final verdict is in...and I'm impressed. My first ride I was mildly amused let's say. I went home and changed out a bracket that was a little long. It was flexing. The short bracket made it a lot stiffer. Second ride today and I didn't even know the rear end was there. That meant it was doing what it was supposed to so I didn't have to think about it. The final thing that sold me was on my last go 'round'. I was still using the brake lever Swheels had made out of my broken lever from a crash. There was a bolt used for adjusting the lever but it also actuated the cylinder piston. I had put loc-tite on it but it had worked loose? The last turn is sharper than than the other three (It's a road with 3 sweeping turns and one sharp turn). So I carry a fair amount of speed to the last corner. I was up to my brake marker and speechless33 no brakes speechless33 I squeezed again still nothing. It was either lean and make it or lean and crash. I leaned the bike then leaned some more still not enough so I leaned some more. I've never had this bike leaned that far. The front and rear stayed inline no drama no wiggle I was through the turn with more speed than I thought the tires could handle (I have since Elgin used a secret sauce tire prep that softened the rubber a whole lot!). I had also used modification inside the USD's after I talked to "S" and we had a brainstorming session. The forks are miles better than they were. Would I use this shock on my race bike as standard. Nope wave_finger no telling when it will give up the ghost (I used it for a short time but putting a lot of miles on it...) and at speed I ain't risking that. Is it a cheap fix for a cruiser bike...HELL YEAH!!! Getting one at a U-Pull-It while pulling something else should be easy. Or getting one out of a AMC Pacer on blocks (I have no idea if they had them that was just the ugliest car I could think of) is another option. The damn bike still steers to nervous and twitchy even with those improvements but it's a hell of a lot better.

Does your bike sit up higher in the rear? I noticed when my bike sat up higher in the rear is was twitchy and once I lowered the rear that eliminated. Have you thought about a stabilizer?thinking_smilie

[The Nutty Professor]

Does your bike sit up higher in the rear? I noticed when my bike sat up higher in the rear is was twitchy and once I lowered the rear that eliminated. Have you thought about a stabilizer?thinking_smilie

No it's still the standard height and I got the damper. Just don't have it on yet.

[rene13]

No it's still the standard height and I got the damper. Just don't have it on yet.
Did you see my dual stabilizer vid?