Rocket Rear Shocks

[oldbiker53]

Hi Can any one tell me the length of the rear shocks eyelet ctr and the size of the eyelets (bolt holes)for the rocket IIIs are they all the same lenght! as I have a pair of uprated Hagons Nitros off a Bonneville with 370mm ctr that I may keep to fit the New Roadster when it comes out in the spring thats if I'm lucky.

[tbsrider2000]

The Rocket weighs almost twice as much as the Bonneville, so I don't think those shocks would work on the Rocket..? The Rocket III Standard shocks are 12.5" (317.5 mm) center to center and I'm betting the Roadster is the same. However, the Roadster is supposed to have better shocks than the older Rockets, so you may not even need to upgrade... I'm at work so I can't measure the the hole size.

[oldbiker53]

Hi tbsrider2000, These shocks a Hagon Nitros they are uprated for my weight 17 stone (138lb)+ passenger and can still be uprated more but not the weight of the bike goes through the shocks in down would force it is only what is above the ctr line of the frame! Yes or No.

[JRCollings]

Not sure where you got that center line weight idea from....

ALL of whatever % of the bikes sprung weight is 'on the back' will be on those shocks, plus the same % of you and whatever else you load on it...

Also, your weight does not matter, as you weigh the same on either bike - so it is the difference in bike weight that matters here.... I agree with the other poster, Bonnie shocks are highly unlikely to be suited to a Rocket without significant rework to suit the new much greater sprung weight.

I weigh 254 and so far I quite like the standard Rocket shocks apart from when going over 'sharp' bumps.

*Obviously it is the SPRINGS that support the weight, but it plays a BIG part in damping requirements, hence reference to shocks.

[Diego]

Quite right, JR. While the springs support the weight, the shocks (dampers) have to be up to the task of absorbing the energy of the road vibrations...and that is proportional to the amount of mass undergoing those vibrations, which is greater for the Rocket than the Bonneville. The principle goes all the way back to Sir Isaac Newton.

I have no idea whether Hagons for the Bonneville can sufficiently dissipate the additional energy without overheating, but I would be doubtful enough not to want to find out the hard way.

[50002]

17 stone would be 238 lbs!

[oldbiker53]

your right 238lb, the wife said I should loose some weight, lol

[50002]

Good for you, fessin' up. Now lay off the bangers and beer!

[TallRocket]

Ahh yes I remember 238lbs, 8th grade I think. And I also recall my dealer sending me out the door with the stock shocks set on 1. I dialed them up to 5 and felt some relief it was only after replacing the shocks that I felt I had a working rear suspension that would not bottom out.

Reusing your shocks on the new bike might work for you. I guess the worse that would happen is one shock would fail and you rebuild or return to the factory shocks. I understand wanting to extend your shock investment. I wouldn't load two up and go cross country on the re purposed shocks until you completely trusted them. Any necessary modification should be made to the shock and not the bike.