Rear Shock Travel

Has anybody experimented with Commando rear shock travel when replacing shocks? I'm installing rebuilt Koni 76F-1282's and they come with spacers above the bump stops. I removed the springs of both the Konis and the Girlings. With the spacers installed, they give less travel than the stock Girlings travel of approx 2 5/8". Spacers removed, the 2 7/8" travel seems to be too much as I hear sheet metal contact. Looks like the chain guard and fender are making contact. I'll have to cut the spacers, I just wondered if the Commando rear could benefit with a little more travel.

Don

Keep in mind that you may have spring coil bind before you hit the rubber buffers.

Yes. I thought of that and am unable to measure the compressed spring height or fully compress the shock with a spring on. However, the Koni spring is 1/4" longer at rest. They both compress about the same to install. Since the shock could be used without the spacer, I didn't think coil bind would be an issue and probably accounts for the 1/4" difference. I'll probaby tune to achieve the stock travel since it won't cause me any problems and the 1/4" difference between the 2 lengths is not that great. I just wondered if anybody had anything positive/ negative to say about allowing any additional travel of a 13" shock. I'm sure not going to leave the spacer in at it's present height and get less travel!

Don

Are you using the right spring rate? The stock springs are 126 lbs as I remember because of the forward leaning position. Most replacement shocks use about 100-110 lb springs. I think I reused the stock Girling chrome springs on my Konis. (These were bought in about 1975 for my '72 combat - Koni #1373)

I did not change any buffers. From the specs it looks the the Ikon 1373 have the bump stop at 10.79" and your 1282s have it at 9.96" so yours has more travel.

Russ