Looking for short rear shocks

[smokyjoe]

Hi,

I'm still in the parts gathering phase due to the nasty weather here and a bad bout of illnesses.....

I am looking for some short rear shocks, maybe about 8 or 9 inches eye-to-eye roughly (the shorter the better!), suitable for a 400lb bike. I only need about 2 inches of travel or a little less, and don't care about the pin size as I'll be making the mounts.

Any suggestions as to what bike I could scrounge these from? It appears that a Dnepr or older BMW may do (scaling the size from pictures), but I am not all that familiar with these machines or with parts sources and availability in the US.

Thanks!

[thundercougarfalconbird]

check out harley sportster low shocks, they may be just what you are looking for

[LocomotiveBreath]

This place might have what your looking for, Just down the street from me and the HDT factory.

http://www.progressivesuspension.com/

Might be a bit pricy, but its local for me, and if I can help out. I'm going over there soon when I rebuild my 27 year old shocks and forks. Also they can build you what you need. Just an idea.

Also look at ebay.

Good Luck,
Dave

[smokyjoe]

Hi Dave and thundercougarfalconbird,

Thanks for the tips. I have the 11" Progressive shocks on my '76 Sporty (they were on it). I wasn't aware that they did custom stuff. I downloaded their catalog and will read it over. Maybe I can get away with just shorter, stiffer springs on a standard shock. For now I'll cob up some solid struts, but don't want to ride much with them, I want to save my back and the fillings in my teeth!

I was wondering, does the Harley Softtail use shocks that have the spring pressure on push or pull? They look pretty short. I am not at all familiar with how it works, but I am guessing that the shocks are "pulled" by the swingarm. The '76 Harley is the newest I've ever worked on, and the first Harley I've ever put a wrench to that had rear shocks!