Improve Shocks/Suspension for smoother ride?

akpasta · Post by **akpasta** » Thu Apr 25, 2013 2:59 pm

I have a 64' CB77 and the rough roads in SF aren't so hot, they really chew the thing up. I rode a friends' CB500 yesterday and the ride was quite smooth. Are there any tip to improving the stock CB77 suspension so it is a little smoother on pot holes and uneven, poorly maintained roads? Any modern after-market solutions? etc.?

Thanks.

ahenthus · Post by **ahenthus** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 10:00 am

I don't think it's the newer technology that would improve your ride. Worn out shocks on a fifty year old bike probably wouldn't perform as well as the newer CB's shocks. Have you rebuilt your shocks? If not you should either purchase new shocks or have the originals rebuilt. That, along with properly inflated tires, will probably make your CB77 as pleasing to ride as the CB500. Good luck and let us know the outcome.

akpasta · Post by **akpasta** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 12:39 pm

What does it mean to 'rebuild' the shocks?

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 3:49 pm

Take them apart, if possible, and refill with fresh oil and new seals.

G

LOUD MOUSE · Post by **LOUD MOUSE** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:37 pm

What is gained if the seal hasn't leaked and the oil is still there? ...........lm

G-Man wrote:Take them apart, if possible, and refill with free oil and new seals.

G

akpasta · Post by **akpasta** » Fri Apr 26, 2013 5:56 pm

Aerated shock oil?

G-Man · Post by **G-Man** » Sat Apr 27, 2013 3:18 am

Like all machines, the oil breaks down with time and picks up dirt from the moving parts.

The "non-leaking" shocks I have dismantled all have less oil in than Honda put in there in the first place, so some is lost from evaporation and tiny quantities will be lost past the seals. Over 50 years it all adds up.

CB shocks are not as good as the CL ones as they only have one-way damping

They all benefit from a fill of fresh oil to restore some of the original damping quality.

G