[33rdtuned]

I'm making rear struts for my CX500. At what angle does rear shaft angle become a problem? I've seen picture of bike stating it has 8 degrees up driveshaft. Really no other info on the build. Will this vibrate or kill joints? New to forum and shaft drive bikes. Always been a chain guy. Belts are for pants! Any insight is welcome.
, other than " that's stupid!" Thanks in advance. Peace

 

[reclinedrelic]

See post #2 here: Max swingarm angle?

 

[33rdtuned]

See post #2 here: Max swingarm angle?

Thank you. I've seen that some where else before. My intent with this bike is just around town putting. I'm building this for me to keep and never see highway riding it. Have other toys better suited that. This being said. Everyone feel 4.5 degrees is the max angle?

 

[Wolf67]

You can see my Bike on the Avatar. Driveshaft ist strait of the engine. Shocks don't do too much. Problem is Clearance of the Forward Rests.

 

[Sidecar Bob]

Remember that if you replace the shocks with struts the tire will be the only suspension and that can cause problems of its own.

Welcome to the forum. Please add your location and your bike's model and model year to your profile so that you don't have to remember to tell us every time and we don't have to keep asking when you forget (see Forum Settings link in my signature).

And welcome to the world of antique vehicle ownership (they own us, not the other way around). Your bike is about 4 decades old and the Previous Owners may or may not have done the maintenance necessary to keep it safe & reliable so it is highly recommended to download the Factory Shop Manual for your model (available through the CX Wiki - link in my signature) and go through all of the service procedures, regardless of whether your bike has reached the specified mileage.
I also recommend looking on all rubber parts with suspicion because rubber does not age gracefully. Check the date codes on your tires and replace them if they are over 5 years old no matter how good they look & feel (old rubber simply cannot flow around the irregularities in the asphalt well enough to grip, especially if it is cool or wet). If your bike still has the original rubber brake line(s) (should be replaced every 2 or 3 fluid changes = 5 or 6 years) I recommend shopping for modern stainless braided ones (they last practically forever and double the life of the fluid). And don't forget things like the rad hoses and the boot between the engine and swingarm (they can crack on the bottom where you don't see it).

The best advice anyone can give you about customizing any vehicle is to get it safe & reliable in more or less original condition and use it for a while before you start making any changes so it can tell you what changes it needs to make it do what you want/need better. That approach almost always results in something you actually want to keep and use but making changes based on style or on what someone else (who may or may not really understand how the changes affect the way it works) has done often results in a piece of expensive yard art that you can't stand sitting on for more than a few minutes and might even be dangerous.

 

[33rdtuned]

Thank you everyone for the input. In the stable we have a 79 Shovel ridged with 12 over Sugarbear springer wide turns and rough rides are nothing new. Thing about choppers, they don,t handle well, they don't stop well, but they do look good with a hot girl on the back and sitting at the bar! (just not to long at the bar!) Have a new set of Kenda K673 mounted on stock wheels. 100/90-19 front and 150/80-16 rear. Wanting to get rear height set so I can do the neck rake. Not my first time around the block, so no freakin out at me. We've had our frame jig for 20yrs and know how to use.
it well. We've built a bunch of frames from scratch and stretched and raked more than we remember. Fab work, we got that! We are how ever are virgins to shaft drive and water cooling! Until now water was for washing and wet Tee shirt contests! First item bought for this project was the factory service manual, so we're good there. many of the cafe builds we've looked at are very well done and skill levels are up with the best fab people out there! I'm sure some of that flavor will show up in this build. So back to the original question. Anyone used more than 4,5 degree up angle on the swingarm?

 

[33rdtuned]

Anyone else with thoughts or experience on this subject? Thank you again to those who have shared their knowledge and insight. We do appreciate the help.

 

[Sidecar Bob]

The post Mike linked to pretty much says it all. When you have been around the forum for a while you'll find that Murray understands how these bikes work very well and what he says can generally be considered trusted information.

BTW: Don't forget to add your location and your bike's model and year to your profile.

 

[33rdtuned]

Well 4.5 it is then. Thank you. I can't seem to update my profile? Life goes on. Peace

 

[Sidecar Bob]

Did you follow the instructions at this link?

Forum Settings that everyone should make

RECOMMENDED FORUM SETTINGS for the new forum (updated March 2020) The main settings we ask members to make are: 1) Make sure that you automatically receive a notification when someone replies in a thread you started or posted in. This should be a default setting but in case it isn't Click...

cx500forum.com

 

[33rdtuned]

Did you follow the instructions at this link?

Forum Settings that everyone should make

RECOMMENDED FORUM SETTINGS for the new forum (updated March 2020) The main settings we ask members to make are: 1) Make sure that you automatically receive a notification when someone replies in a thread you started or posted in. This should be a default setting but in case it isn't Click...

cx500forum.com

No, I did not. I'm kinda blind some times. I will though. Thank you.

signed, some time blind guy

 

[ChopperCharles]

I think you're not getting a lot of answers because most of us think putting struts on a CX500 is a stupid idea, but our mama's taught us if we don't have something nice to say, don't say anything at all.

Charles