rear shock lengths

[Happy Eeyore]

I took the bike for my first real approx 30 mile ride.  Everything went well.  Now to change the low rider position.  I think a PO put Progressive short rear shocks on the bike.  Jacked up on a center stand the shocks measure 11 1/2 inches center mounting hole to center mounting hole.  I am 6' 3" and feel a little low in the seat.  Should I order longer rear shocks and what is the standard length and has anyone put longer on?

[Barry]

The standard shock length is 325mm or 12.8" 

R65 shocks were slightly shorter than those for the type 247 airheads which were 340mm.

R65's are small bikes for tall riders. I have the standard shocks and find having them on the middle pre-load setting increases the ride height.

[Happy Eeyore]

I have found some orginal R65n shocks and am going to try them.  The used parts supplier says they measure about 13" inches hole to hole.  That will help.  A PO must have put the short progressives on. Perhaps with the longer shocks, the center stand will be usable without hernia repairs.

 The bike appears to be in very good shape for being at 32,000 miles.  Someone had put in a switched head light which I removed and the clutch interlock did not work because the feed wire was pulled out of its connector by movement of the bars, so I jumped it and now can start without looking for neutral.

I have laid the bike down on a moving pad and am satisfied I can easily pick it up without strain.  It has a very low center of gravity. I have a Yamaha XT250 and a R1100 GS in  my stable and am going to sell the R1100GS because I cannot easily pick it up anymore.  I ride a lot of dirt and if you ride dirt you are going to have "unintentional dismounts"in the most inconvenient places.

The new /old shocks should raise the clearance on the R65  a bit but it is not a bike suited for terrain rougher than a a pretty good gravel road.  At my age I don't do enduro type trails anyway.  My next big ride is planned for the spring and I am going to do the MID Atlantic BDR on the XT 250.   That route might even be possible on the R65 but there are some water crossings and I don't know yet what depth the bean can can stand. I don't think it will work if the water is about 18 inches.

 

[dogshome]

I'm also 6'3". I have the 330mm YSS shocks on a mid setting, but also had the seat re-trimmed to remove the king/queen step and increase the height a bit. The 80/90/100 gives more seat room, but this helped a lot.

(BMW Traditionalists look away now)

Also cut and welded the left foot peg so it aligns with the right and my size 13 boot can select all the gears easily now.


I would not go very far off road on an R65. The sump will hit over anything like a tree-root, rock, large stick or branch etc. As you said, the bean can is also low and that front cover is just a dust/splash/beauty cover. The GS has a couple more inches clearance, even standard.