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PW80 rear suspension breakthrough!

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Posted by: gwcrim

Ya know that wimpy little POS shock that is on your PW80 or TT90R or whatever? In searching for fixes, all that seems to be available is a $100 spring or a $300 Works Shock.

Well this Mother of Invention wanted more options. So I was searching around E-bay for something that might work and the light bulb went on. The stock shock is roughly 11". And I just happened to have some take off shocks from a.......................... Harley Davidson Sportster!

Yup. It's a 12" shock and it squeezes into the frame tightly. But it does suspend the bike far better than stock. I have a shifter seal to replace before it can be test ridden. My biggest concern is that I'll need a 'real' chain guide as the bike sits pretty high in back now.

I'll take some pics and post them.

These shocks are frequently taken off in favor of better pieces. I bet you can find them on E-bay for maybe $50 a pair. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Oh.... an there are no bent valves on a PW80.


Posted by: Vic

Can you say, "headshake"?




Posted by: gwcrim

Eh... a PW80 doesn't have radical geometry to start with. I raised the rear last summer by drilling another hole in the frame that moved the mount about an inch back. My boy hasn't had any trouble with that set up. This one might be a little steeper. We'll have to see.


Posted by: DEANSFASTWAY

KAW VULCAN shock and others work also . You might want to take the spring off and heat it and squash it down a bit if the kids are going to be riding .


Posted by: Rhodester

The damping might be a shade heavy, don't ya think?


Posted by: gwcrim

The Jesster rode it yesterday with decent results. But it does seem to kick up the rear end a bit when he tries to get air.

I'm by no means a suspension expert. The dampening in HD shocks is pitiful to begin with so that seems to be OK. Two of them hold up a 500 LB. Sportster and me so you're looking at 700 lbs. Figure the PW is 130 lbs. and Jesse weighs maybe 80 in riding gear so there's 210. Plus riding off road is a bit tougher than what the HD shock was designed for in the first place.

It is definitely an upgrade from the stock POS. But I'll have to keep an eye on it kicking up the rear end. The spring might be a tad too stiff.


Posted by: Vic

Don't know for sure, but I would guess that the swingarm/shock geometry is slightly different than on the Harley.


Posted by: gwcrim

Oh, I'm sure it is, Vic. But it's close enough to rock and roll for now. We'll just have to see.


Posted by: gwcrim

After a couple of weeks on the HD shock, it's apparent that it's not the cats meow. While it is better than a sacked out stock unit, the travel doesn't seem to be enough and the spring rate is a bit high.

I'll keep looking on **** for something <$50.

Anyone know of a shock that is 11-11.5"?


Posted by: NGE

have you considered a Mtn Bike shock?.... Fox makes shocks in ALL KINDS of sizes for them, and all kinds of applications (from air sprung lightweight CC shocks to coil sprung/ heavy dampned DH rigs).... and places like Risse Racing will make a shock to whatever specs you want..

I would think that (that auction place) would probably have some used ones out there (they are a common upgrade for DH'ers.... and you probably want a DH shock anyways)


Posted by: 2dayinc

Hey Guys,

There's a site called the X-tender at www.x-tender.com.
It has a great ideal on lifting the PW80 or TTR90 stock suspension. They also have stronger triple clamps!


Posted by: 2dayinc

Quote:
Originally Posted by gwcrim
Ya know that wimpy little POS shock that is on your PW80 or TT90R or whatever? In searching for fixes, all that seems to be available is a $100 spring or a $300 Works Shock.

Well this Mother of Invention wanted more options. So I was searching around E-bay for something that might work and the light bulb went on. The stock shock is roughly 11". And I just happened to have some take off shocks from a.......................... Harley Davidson Sportster!

Yup. It's a 12" shock and it squeezes into the frame tightly. But it does suspend the bike far better than stock. I have a shifter seal to replace before it can be test ridden. My biggest concern is that I'll need a 'real' chain guide as the bike sits pretty high in back now.

I'll take some pics and post them.

These shocks are frequently taken off in favor of better pieces. I bet you can find them on E-bay for maybe $50 a pair. Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Oh.... an there are no bent valves on a PW80.

Check out www.x-tender.com for all your Yamaha PW80 & TTR90 needs!
I ran across it the other day and it's awsome!


Posted by: Jasle

have you considered just using the stocker until you break down and get a better bike? I don't mean to sound crude but the pw80 is just really a get your feet wet type bike. once they are finding the limits of that bike its really just time to get a proper racer and go from there. Lots of headaches fiddle farting with the suspension. Once you get the rear sorted you'll be working on the front. Hell even a klx 110 is better to deal with from a suspension/ performance aspect than the pw80.


Posted by: kawi_101

i know most people have pw80's to start themselves off but im keepin mine until shes broke. I am upgrading mine until its faster than an 85. Right now i have about $800-900 canadian invested in my machine.

I also have a kvf 650 and am buying a CRF450 soon, but the pw80 is for my younger brothers and for me to just ride on the road with.


Posted by: kawi_101

the upgrades i have on my machine are:

Air box modification
Moose Air filter
Blue Sport ATV Fairing
Carb Jet (.120)
FMF Gold Series Pipe
FMF Power Core II
Boyesen Power Reeds
Namura Teflon Piston
High Performance Head
Removed oil injector (GAs is 33:1 Syntec 2stroke)
BP4HS Platinum Spark Plug
X-Tender Lift Kit
Pw80 Motorcross Graphics Kit

I also removed as many restrictors on the machine as possible (Exhaust restrictor ETC).

Believe me, its worth the money to do this. Its almost like having a 125. Next upgrade im getting is to port the cylinder. I will put up a pic of my bike as soon as i get all these ups installed.


Posted by: hawksbmx

Hey,

Will X-Tender post to the UK? As I really need this.

Thanks,
Michael


Posted by: spw1993

did you ever think of trying a YZ 80 shock


Posted by: hawksbmx

costs more money


Posted by: ss NOVA ss

Will X-Tender's change the chain length?


Posted by: paulopw80

my bike is gets hot so quick why?


Posted by: danny136

would the rear suspension from a 74 SUZUKI GT 550 GT550 work to stiffen up the rear?
thanks



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