01-24-2015, 09:44 PM
(This post was last modified: 02-01-2015, 07:09 PM by Chief_Mechanic.)
Well, I finally got started on my rebuild.
I ordered some Low-down shocks for a little over $200. They are 10.5 inch (about 267mm) compared to the 325mm stock suspension length. They are the shortest ones I could find that were getting good revues and were within budget. (Although I couldn't find any pics or people who had installed them on an SRV.)
G-Suspension offers two versions of this shock, the 265 and the 280. The 265 gives a firmer ride on a harder suspension while the 280 if softer for comfort. I want to drop the fender as low to the rear tire as I can, so I want a real firm ride.
While I'm waiting for the shocks to come in the mail, I jacked the bike up and put it on blocks. The SRV250 stock exhaust makes this a real bitch since it curves under the engine, preventing you from jacking it up by the frame or the engine. Though I don't have a center stand on my bike, there is what looks like a center stand mount, so I jacked it up there. It was a balancing act to then lift the front and get some 2x4's under the frames on the side. No problem on the right side of the bike, but on the left the exhaust comes just lower than the frame. I ended up using the kickstand mounting point to hold most of the weight. It looks like it should be okay and nothing that is bendable is under weight. I can readjust when I take the exhaust off.
I then removed the seat, the rear carrier bar and fender. I also tried out a scotch-pad drill attachment I bought to see how it would work for shining the aluminum and removing rust from the spokes. It seems a little too hard and it scratched the surface a bit more than I liked. It didn't do well at removing the paint that the previous owner put on the engine though. (I'd like to punch the guy in the head!!) It did alright on removing rust from the spokes though, so that's where I'll be using that.
I ordered some Low-down shocks for a little over $200. They are 10.5 inch (about 267mm) compared to the 325mm stock suspension length. They are the shortest ones I could find that were getting good revues and were within budget. (Although I couldn't find any pics or people who had installed them on an SRV.)
G-Suspension offers two versions of this shock, the 265 and the 280. The 265 gives a firmer ride on a harder suspension while the 280 if softer for comfort. I want to drop the fender as low to the rear tire as I can, so I want a real firm ride.
While I'm waiting for the shocks to come in the mail, I jacked the bike up and put it on blocks. The SRV250 stock exhaust makes this a real bitch since it curves under the engine, preventing you from jacking it up by the frame or the engine. Though I don't have a center stand on my bike, there is what looks like a center stand mount, so I jacked it up there. It was a balancing act to then lift the front and get some 2x4's under the frames on the side. No problem on the right side of the bike, but on the left the exhaust comes just lower than the frame. I ended up using the kickstand mounting point to hold most of the weight. It looks like it should be okay and nothing that is bendable is under weight. I can readjust when I take the exhaust off.
I then removed the seat, the rear carrier bar and fender. I also tried out a scotch-pad drill attachment I bought to see how it would work for shining the aluminum and removing rust from the spokes. It seems a little too hard and it scratched the surface a bit more than I liked. It didn't do well at removing the paint that the previous owner put on the engine though. (I'd like to punch the guy in the head!!) It did alright on removing rust from the spokes though, so that's where I'll be using that.
