[enriquez]

I feel like I've seen someone's bike on here with a set of stock ZRX rear shocks. Any problems with fitting them?



Scott

 

[50gary]

I feel like I've seen someone's bike on here with a set of stock ZRX rear shocks. Any problems with fitting them?



Scott

Funny you should say that? I have a pair rebuilt and valved. Now all I have to do is go get and pay for the rebuild ha! Stock the springs will be too stiff and they should be revalved to match the CX and your weight/riding style. They're not real cheap but less than the aftermarket shocks. Fitment, they are .5" longer I believe? Did you find some?

Cheers, 50gary

 

[enriquez]

Thanks for the info in the PM. I've had a pair on my radar for a while, I'm hoping to find them for less than $300. I rode a friends Bonnie that had a set and they were definitely stiff! The stock ZRX weighs about 50 lbs more than a CX (I think). I guess the weight, and maybe distribution of weight calls for much stiffer springs than needed for a CX. About how much is the rebuild running you? Does the rebuild entail new springs and having them revalved? In total that might put them out of my budget, it seems they won't be very usable in the stock form? Might just be better off with a set of Progressives all around. From my research, ZRX's are the only bike I could find with good quality stock twin shocks. Most bikes with twin shocks seem to be cruisers, and I'm thinking the stockers don't seem worth it. Maybe Progressives all the way around is the best budget option.



Anyone have any feedback on Progressive springs in the forks (I have 33mm forks, 79 Custom). I'm wondering if new Progressive springs and a fork brace will give an respectable improvement in front end performance. I don't think a fork swap is in the cards for me, though that CB900 fork is definitely intriguing...

 

[tvpierce]

Have you looked into Harley Sportster shocks.



They're all over ebay for dirt cheap.

 

[enriquez]

Thanks for the suggestion tvpeirce. I've thought about them before, though from what I recall they're on the shorter side. I was hoping to raise the rear end a bit. Also, Sportster's are heavy pigs, those shocks would have to be revalved and sprung for a CX...

 

[emtcustoms]

Thanks for the suggestion tvpeirce. I've thought about them before, though from what I recall they're on the shorter side. I was hoping to raise the rear end a bit. Also, Sportster's are heavy pigs, those shocks would have to be revalved and sprung for a CX...

Yep, I can tell you first hand that the sportser shocks are MUCH stiffer than the factory ones. I spring my bikes for a very aggressive riding style, so it actually turned out darn near perfect for me, but it is probably way to stiff for most people.

 

[philbrewer]

I have 15" progressive sportster shocks on my build. Cant tell you how they feel, but they fit.

 

[tvpierce]

Thanks for the suggestion tvpeirce. I've thought about them before, though from what I recall they're on the shorter side. I was hoping to raise the rear end a bit. Also, Sportster's are heavy pigs, those shocks would have to be revalved and sprung for a CX...

I know some of the Sportster shocks are about an inch longer than the CX stockers... I was looking at some to raise the CX too. All the Harley guys take off the long stockers to lower their bikes, so there should be some available.



FYI: dry weight of a Sportster is just shy of 500 lbs. IIRC -- pretty close to that of a CX.



Let us know what you come up with.

 

[bittenbytheCX500]

I tried some sportser shocks on my 81 cx500 and I am a good size boy and they were stiff as hell, I did switch to harley air shocks sit you up about half a inch bushings a pain to press out but the ride is so sweet. I am running them without any pressure currently. They are bulky looking but depending on look your going for very comfortable.

 

[romzrx]

Thanks for the info in the PM. I've had a pair on my radar for a while, I'm hoping to find them for less than $300. I rode a friends Bonnie that had a set and they were definitely stiff! The stock ZRX weighs about 50 lbs more than a CX (I think). I guess the weight, and maybe distribution of weight calls for much stiffer springs than needed for a CX. About how much is the rebuild running you? Does the rebuild entail new springs and having them revalved? In total that might put them out of my budget, it seems they won't be very usable in the stock form? Might just be better off with a set of Progressives all around. From my research, ZRX's are the only bike I could find with good quality stock twin shocks. Most bikes with twin shocks seem to be cruisers, and I'm thinking the stockers don't seem worth it. Maybe Progressives all the way around is the best budget option.



Anyone have any feedback on Progressive springs in the forks (I have 33mm forks, 79 Custom). I'm wondering if new Progressive springs and a fork brace will give an respectable improvement in front end performance. I don't think a fork swap is in the cards for me, though that CB900 fork is definitely intriguing...

You could find a set of ZRX shocks in the ZRX forum,I've seen them go from $150 to $275 a set recently.

 

[tvpierce]

I tried some sportser shocks on my 81 cx500 and I am a good size boy and they were stiff as hell, I did switch to harley air shocks sit you up about half a inch bushings a pain to press out but the ride is so sweet. I am running them without any pressure currently. They are bulky looking but depending on look your going for very comfortable.

Bitten,



Did you clearcoat your tank? If so, what did you use?

 

[enriquez]

Closing up a deal on some ZRX shocks, $225 plus shipping, pretty good! I found them by doing a ZRX search using searchtempest.com (craigslist search engine) with something like a 2500 mile search range. I just looked at pics and descriptions to see if the stock shocks were replaced and sent out emails asking if they still had the stock ones. Might be a good way to find them since this guy wasn't even thinking about selling them individually. Looks like I'll get them for a bit under what they go for on ebay. I'll report back once I get them on.

 

[enriquez]

ZRX shocks on the way

 

[enriquez]

Got them on today, what a huge difference. I had to bend the helmet lock mount forward to make clearance for the rebound dial. I used the stock rubber bushings and all in all an easy swap.

 

[79cx500]

I like it!

 

[tvpierce]

They do look nice.



any affect on ride height?

 

[cdyoung1985]

Anyone have any feedback on Progressive springs in the forks (I have 33mm forks, 79 Custom). I'm wondering if new Progressive springs and a fork brace will give an respectable improvement in front end performance. I don't think a fork swap is in the cards for me, though that CB900 fork is definitely intriguing...

I don't have them, but there are threads I've read about taking a 1" piece of PVC pipe and putting it in the forks I believe between the springs or something like that... If you're just looking for a stiffer front end, not so much drop when you hit the front brakes a lot of people are switching fork oil over to a heavier weight, at least 15w, but a lot are going with 20w, and it's a rather cheap thing to do, I have the fork oil, but I haven't changed it yet, I'm a professional procrastinator lol. I bought this but there are others too...

 

[50gary]

I believe the ZRX shocks are 1/2" longer than the CX shocks. Comparing the Kawasaki ZRX shock to the HD Sportster shock is apples and oranges IMO. ZRX is more of a high performance unit and is able to be re-valved for much more controlled damping for a given riding style and rider weight. Further, the ZRX shocks are more adjustable with regard to the compression and rebound damping. The reservoir is also there for a reason, to help keep the shock cooler during hard use I.E. track work or extended riding in "the twisties" as we say on this board. What convinced me to by my ZRX shocks was talking to the Ohlins rep at the Indy Moto GP, he said internally they are much the same as their base model Ohlins, I paid $30.00 for mine but they came off a bike that burned to the ground. I took them apart and checked the bores and they were fine then I sent them to Michigan Engineering for rebuilding and revalving/springs (haven't seen the bill yet)

Edit; I have to add that in no way am I saying the ZRX shocks are the exact equal to Ohlins, Penske, or the new Race Tech performance shocks only that they will work well when tuned to your application. The modern times we live in always require a disclaimer. Second disclaminer: in no way am I saying that anyone on this board is going to accuse me of claiming my prior disclaimed statement I'm just trying to be P/C which I'm not very good at. I hope this is clear, Achille will know, ha ha?

Cheers, 50Gary

 

[enriquez]

The ZRX shocks are longer. I didn't measure, but I think it's closer to an inch longer. I dropped the front end down on the forks about an inch. The bike now leans pretty far on the kickstand, I'm going to get a hockey puck to decrease the lean angle, maybe a longer or modified kickstand later on. I shaved down my seat and recovered so the seat height is about stock.



Gary, $30!!?!!? DAMN, that's a deal! I must say, after riding a good bit, the ZRX shocks are REALLY nice. I have my spring preload dialed down all the way, compression on 1, and rebound on 2. They feel worlds beyond stock, after my front end is sorted the handling will most definitely be transformed.

 

[50gary]

You're on the right track. Most OEM shocks simply do not work. If you put them on a shock dyno and check out the damping characteristics the shocks don't hardly damp at all. That's not what riders like to hear but ask soneone that does motorcycle suspension work as a profession. Even sportbikes that do track work, the most important thing to modify is the suspension, Horse power is not the way to go faster being able to use the available power is. Corner speed almost always wins. That's also what makes lower power bikes like the CX as much fun as the superbikes.. well nearly so? I'm fascinated by this stuff I wish Inweldingwetrust was still around. He was a wealth of info.

Cheers, 50gary