Planet Minis

SJ90 · 06-24-2009, 01:57 PM

I'm looking for a set of stiffer set of rear shocks for my ct70. I was hoping to keep it under $100 but if you know of a set post them so i know my options. Anything that will stop me from bottoming over big bumps is what i'm looking for. I don't need any fancy shocks made for jumping.

Also i'm looking to stiffen up the front. will a set of HD crf50 fork springs work for this?

Thanks for any help.

big pete · 06-24-2009, 02:13 PM

Kitaco or Takegawa shocks are about $100

SJ90 · 06-24-2009, 10:51 PM

Alright thanks. I'm not sure what i'm gonna do with the back yet. On to the second part of the question, is there a cheap upgrade for the forks like the z50 with the crf50 springs?

Long Crapper · 06-24-2009, 10:59 PM

I've got some old Mulholland shocks that were once on my '79 KZ1000 some years back that I'm gonna put on one of my CT70's.

All I have to do is take the plastic looking shims from the old CT shocks and they'll fit. I see no reason to spend a lot of money on some chinese shocks when theres plenty of used motorcycle shocks around that will stiffen things up and cost less and work better.

SJ90 · 06-24-2009, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Long Crapper

I've got some old Mulholland shocks that were once on my '79 KZ1000 some years back that I'm gonna put on one of my CT70's.

All I have to do is take the plastic looking shims from the old CT shocks and they'll fit. I see no reason to spend a lot of money on some chinese shocks when theres plenty of used motorcycle shocks around that will stiffen things up and cost less and work better.

Good idea I might head out to the bike salvage yards this weekend and see what i can find. How stiff are those KZ1000 shocks?

Long Crapper · 06-24-2009, 11:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJ90

Good idea I might head out to the bike salvage yards this weekend and see what i can find. How stiff are those KZ1000 shocks?

They were pretty stiff on the old KZ.

They are aftermarket shocks that I had bought to improve the handling. They also had them on the old Kawasaki 1000 LTD models from the factory. I imagine any shocks that came off a larger motorcycle would be better than those stock trail 70 shocks. They'll probably be a little taller but not very much, maybe an inch.

mexicanyella · 06-25-2009, 07:35 AM

Also i'm looking to stiffen up the front. will a set of HD crf50 fork springs work for this?

Thanks for any help.[/quote]

So you have an early CT with the sprung, non-hydraulically damped forks? With the little rubber accordion-looking boots as seen on early Z50s?

I don't own a CT70 but I know someone I can ask about spring interchangeability on the non-damped ones. I'll do that and get back to you. But I'm pretty sure after the first couple years CT70 forks grew primitive hydraulic dampers inside and I'd think that would have changed the springs' configuration. I'll let you know.

SJ90 · 06-25-2009, 07:49 AM

Quote:

So you have an early CT with the sprung, non-hydraulically damped forks? With the little rubber accordion-looking boots as seen on early Z50s?

I don't own a CT70 but I know someone I can ask about spring interchangeability on the non-damped ones. I'll do that and get back to you. But I'm pretty sure after the first couple years CT70 forks grew primitive hydraulic dampers inside and I'd think that would have changed the springs' configuration. I'll let you know.

Sorry i have an 81 ct70 with the big part on the bottom. There is no springs or rubber boots on the outside of these that was the earlier years. Like these ones http://images.cmsnl.com/img/models/c...07459_1cf9.jpg

Thanks

kball · 06-25-2009, 11:32 AM

I've bought some cheap chrome ebay shocks for $45 shipped and they're stiffer than the stockers. Nothing special, but they work for a bike you're not gonna abuse. I put em on my street legal one.

Merz · 06-25-2009, 12:26 PM

I got these and havent had any problems.
CT70_CHROME REAR_SHOCKS 30_TO_50% STIFFER_THAN OEM_SHOCKS

SJ90 · 06-26-2009, 08:30 AM

Thanks for the posts guys.
Any news on the fork springs mexicanyella? I tried to get the forks apart last night after work but nearly 30 years of not moving is making it difficult. I'll hopefully get them apart this weekend.

mexicanyella · 06-26-2009, 06:13 PM

I won't get a chance to talk to my CT70-enthusiast friend until tomorrow, but if you've got the later forks with the male part up top and the female part down below, that kind of shoots my theory, which was that the very early CT70s had undamped forks with female part on top, like
Z50s do, and maybe the springs would interchange. But I'll ask when I see him. Maybe you could just change to a heavier weight of fork oil, or run more fork oil than you do now, and see how it feels before getting into spring-swapping?

SJ90 · 06-26-2009, 06:58 PM

Yeah i was planning on running heavier oil also but these things are so soft its crazy.

SJ90 · 06-27-2009, 01:33 PM

So i think it's a no go on the crf50 springs i got my forks apart today and the fork springs are about 340mm (17") long and 15.4mm ( just under 5/8") diameter.

Here's a pic of the spring. If anyone knows a similar spring let me know.

http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/3108/p6180152.jpg

Thanks again for any help

FastMC · 06-27-2009, 03:18 PM

You could try adding a 1/2" spacer above the springs for some more preload or a stack of washers the same diameter. I would also use at least 20wt fork oil in them to stiffen the almost non-existent damping.

06-24-2009, 01:57 PM	#1 (permalink)
SJ90 PM Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 49	ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks I'm looking for a set of stiffer set of rear shocks for my ct70. I was hoping to keep it under $100 but if you know of a set post them so i know my options. Anything that will stop me from bottoming over big bumps is what i'm looking for. I don't need any fancy shocks made for jumping. Also i'm looking to stiffen up the front. will a set of HD crf50 fork springs work for this? Thanks for any help. Last edited by SJ90; 06-24-2009 at 02:01 PM.

06-24-2009, 02:13 PM	#2 (permalink)
big pete 2nd Gear Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Norcal Posts: 862	Re: ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks Kitaco or Takegawa shocks are about $100

06-24-2009, 10:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
SJ90 PM Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 49	Re: ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks Alright thanks. I'm not sure what i'm gonna do with the back yet. On to the second part of the question, is there a cheap upgrade for the forks like the z50 with the crf50 springs?

06-24-2009, 10:59 PM	#4 (permalink)
Long Crapper 1st Gear Member Join Date: May 2007 Posts: 108 My Mood:	Re: ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks I've got some old Mulholland shocks that were once on my '79 KZ1000 some years back that I'm gonna put on one of my CT70's. All I have to do is take the plastic looking shims from the old CT shocks and they'll fit. I see no reason to spend a lot of money on some chinese shocks when theres plenty of used motorcycle shocks around that will stiffen things up and cost less and work better.

06-25-2009, 07:35 AM	#7 (permalink)
mexicanyella El rey de los puntos Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Troy, MO Posts: 915	Re: ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks Also i'm looking to stiffen up the front. will a set of HD crf50 fork springs work for this? Thanks for any help.[/quote] So you have an early CT with the sprung, non-hydraulically damped forks? With the little rubber accordion-looking boots as seen on early Z50s? I don't own a CT70 but I know someone I can ask about spring interchangeability on the non-damped ones. I'll do that and get back to you. But I'm pretty sure after the first couple years CT70 forks grew primitive hydraulic dampers inside and I'd think that would have changed the springs' configuration. I'll let you know.

06-25-2009, 11:32 AM	#9 (permalink)
kball PM Newbie Join Date: Jun 2008 Posts: 47	Re: ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks I've bought some cheap chrome ebay shocks for $45 shipped and they're stiffer than the stockers. Nothing special, but they work for a bike you're not gonna abuse. I put em on my street legal one.

06-25-2009, 12:26 PM	#10 (permalink)
Merz PM Newbie Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Oregon coast Posts: 31	Re: ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks I got these and havent had any problems. CT70_CHROME REAR_SHOCKS 30_TO_50% STIFFER_THAN OEM_SHOCKS

06-26-2009, 08:30 AM	#11 (permalink)
SJ90 PM Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 49	Re: ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks Thanks for the posts guys. Any news on the fork springs mexicanyella? I tried to get the forks apart last night after work but nearly 30 years of not moving is making it difficult. I'll hopefully get them apart this weekend.

06-26-2009, 06:13 PM	#12 (permalink)
mexicanyella El rey de los puntos Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Troy, MO Posts: 915	Re: ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks I won't get a chance to talk to my CT70-enthusiast friend until tomorrow, but if you've got the later forks with the male part up top and the female part down below, that kind of shoots my theory, which was that the very early CT70s had undamped forks with female part on top, like Z50s do, and maybe the springs would interchange. But I'll ask when I see him. Maybe you could just change to a heavier weight of fork oil, or run more fork oil than you do now, and see how it feels before getting into spring-swapping?

06-26-2009, 06:58 PM	#13 (permalink)
SJ90 PM Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 49	Re: ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks Yeah i was planning on running heavier oil also but these things are so soft its crazy.

06-27-2009, 01:33 PM	#14 (permalink)
SJ90 PM Newbie Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 49	Re: ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks So i think it's a no go on the crf50 springs i got my forks apart today and the fork springs are about 340mm (17") long and 15.4mm ( just under 5/8") diameter. Here's a pic of the spring. If anyone knows a similar spring let me know. http://img32.imageshack.us/img32/3108/p6180152.jpg Thanks again for any help

06-27-2009, 03:18 PM	#15 (permalink)
FastMC Sporting the Merkin Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: boston area Posts: 5,060 My Mood:	Re: ct70 Stiffer Rear Shocks You could try adding a 1/2" spacer above the springs for some more preload or a stack of washers the same diameter. I would also use at least 20wt fork oil in them to stiffen the almost non-existent damping.

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