Running Hagon Rear Shocks on my 1980 CX500D with Pirelli 100/90-19 front tire & Pirelli 120/90-18 rear tire on the 1978 wheels. My bike originally came with 16" rear wheel.

It's a Hagon 330MM shock. The rear wheel barely clears the ground while on the center stand with the front wheel on the ground. Have to use a piece of plywood under the center-stand while lifting the front & rear wheels together.

 

My rear wheel is off the ground by some way.

 

You didn't mention whether you are running the recommended tire sizes or fatter tires. Fatter tires can make a big difference in how much space there is below the rear tire and the ground when it is on the stand....

 

Factory set up, my rear sits about... 2-3 inches off the ground?

 

condemed you prob have the 16 inch with ac130 tire so its perfect

 

If you fit an 18 inch wheel to a custom it is likely to touch the ground. Custom {and deluxe?} stand is 10 mm shorter than standard.

 

Shouldn't. There is only 8mm difference between the diameters of a 130/90-16 tire and a 3.75-18 tire, after all, which would only put the bottom of the tire 4mm closer to the ground....

 

On my 1980 CX500D, If I remember correctly, had around 317MM (12.5") center of eye to center of eye shocks & plenty of clearance with the 16" rear wheel when on the center-stand.

Never used the center-stand with the 317MM (12.5") shocks and 18" rear wheel combination,

The 330MM (12.99") shocks with 18" rear wheel combination when on the center-stand rear tire clears the floor by 1/2" with the front forks set at original height with front tire on the floor.

Current Hagon Shocks used on my CX are 330MM (12.99") Center of eye to center of eye

1980 CX500D Center stand is around 304MM (12") from center of pivot pin to bottom of stand

Kenda Challenger 120/90-18 is 670MM (26.37") OD
Kenda Challenger 130/90-16 is 638MM (25.11") OD
The 18" Kenda tire makes the bottom of the rear tire 16MM (.63") closer to the ground when on the center-stand compared to the 16" Kenda tire
Kenda Tire | Powersports | Challenger

 

My rear shocks measure 330mm center to center of each eye.

Rear tyre is Pirelli MT68 Strada 4.00R18

The PO did was on the small side and has shortened the side stand, presumably to make the bike easier to get onto. This is why I now only use the center stand, since the bike leans way too far on the side stand for my liking.

I can't see how he could have shortened the center stand though?

The bike is a standard CX btw, not a custom/deluxe.

 

You may well already be aware but the UK CX club will be attending the Stafford Classic Bike Show in some numbers in a couple of weeks; they have their own stand. There will be a bunch of variants for you to examine up close if that helps. The 22nd Carole Nash Classic Motorcycle Mechanics Show | Classic Bike Shows

 

I am a member but didn't realise - thanks! I was planning on attending so I'll come and take a look :thumbsup:

 

I will be there too but I'm taking a 650 custom !

 

The difference between the 400-18 and Honda's recommended 3.75-18 should only bring the bottom of the tire 3mm closer to the ground so unless the front is very much larger than stock the tires aren't the problem.

It is also possible that someone changed the stand for a shorter one. When I had the GL500 sidecar outfit I replaced the forks with a set that were an inch or so shorter (long story - it slightly improved the handling with the sidecar but not recommended on a solo bike), which resulted in the back tire being really far off the ground when I put it on the centre stand. I happened to have a stand from a CX650E on hand and I noticed that it was somewhat shorter so I swapped it in and the space was more normal again. I don't expect that the CX650 stand would fit the CX500 frame but maybe one of who knows how many Previous Owners found a shorter one that would fit.

Maybe the forks aren't original - they could be similar but slightly longer ones from another model. 36 years is a long time.....