R1 shock into Roketa. Install and pics. - Page 2

ob1 · 04-01-2007, 04:22 PM

Huh, you may be onto something Red, maybe an aftermarket kit to mod the linkage on the chinabikes?

8 inches travel from normal ride height? Sound a whole lot better than 3 followed by linkage binding!

red2003 · 04-01-2007, 04:57 PM

OB1, the 8 inches of travel will be stop to stop. I am keeping the stock ride height so as to not change handling characteristics. I will look to get about 2 inches of sag (25%, as suggested

) and that'll leave 6 inches of compression. I ride 2 up with my kid sometimes so that'll also leave room for the extra weight to settle. The irony here is since I need to modify the scissor anyway, I could have left the stock top mount alone :? . I'll update when it gets done.

ob1 · 04-01-2007, 05:13 PM

OIC!

I love messing with backyard engineering projects.

SamM · 04-01-2007, 05:18 PM

When we were lifting the rear of my bike to install the bolt through the shock eye, it seemed like the suspnsion was on a bind. I was looking to see if the link was switch backwards or something. Now it makes perfect since.

I'm going to need some sort of fix for this. My rear suspension barely moves. Not good!

ejcycles · 04-01-2007, 08:32 PM

Quote:

I love messing with backyard engineering projects.

S.R.E.

fatboy250 · 04-02-2007, 09:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamM

When we were lifting the rear of my bike to install the bolt through the shock eye, it seemed like the suspnsion was on a bind. I was looking to see if the link was switch backwards or something. Now it makes perfect since.

I'm going to need some sort of fix for this. My rear suspension barely moves. Not good!

Yeah, ours too. I've managed to make it work with a larger tire with about 20lbs in it, so the ride is ok. Otherwise it is stiff.

Jason

red2003 · 04-02-2007, 10:21 AM

On a side note, my son has a China 110 dirtbike (the one in my avatar). It came with a nice set of front forks with about 4 1/2 inches of plush travel. The rear stocker had less then 1 1/2 inches of travel, and blew out within a week. What's the deal with the crummy rear suspensions I wonder?? BTW, I replaced his rear shock with a Kawasaki KLR110 shock (direct bolt in mod) and that brought it up to about 4 inches of travel and much better ride quality. The rear suspension on these China bikes HAS to go.

SamM · 04-03-2007, 10:03 AM

I think I've found my fix. My thought, is to replace the rear shock on the Viva with one from a Yamaha XT225. From the looks of it, the shock bolts to the swingarm on the XT with no linkage. I'll need to fab a bottom mount and maybe remake the top mount. It should lower the bike back down where it needs to be. The rearend is very high! The bikes are very similar so it may work very well!

Ebay here I come!

4xflyer · 04-03-2007, 10:45 AM

Hi Sam,
Why is your bike so high in the rear..did you fit a different shock?
Hope you find an XT225 shock but check the length first!
My son's jetmoto shock isn't adjustable and barely moves! I'm looking for a
fairly easy fix as well.
Gary

red2003 · 04-03-2007, 11:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SamM

I think I've found my fix. My thought, is to replace the rear shock on the Viva with one from a Yamaha XT225. From the looks of it, the shock bolts to the swingarm on the XT with no linkage. I'll need to fab a bottom mount and maybe remake the top mount. It should lower the bike back down where it needs to be. The rearend is very high! The bikes are very similar so it may work very well!

Ebay here I come!

Hey Sam. That sounds like a possible fix!!! Here's what you'll need to check on. If you mount to the swingarm, you're gonna need to redo the inner fender and find a way to mount a flap of rubber or the like to keep crud off the shock. Also, to keep the shock angle correct you can only use a shock that's about 12 inches eye to eye if you mount on top of the swingarm. That length will put the top bolt hole of the shock at the top of the frame rails (you'd need to fab a bracket between the rails). Any longer shock and you'll need to go go up into the seat area. I looked into 4 wheeler shocks when I contemplated this mod and they are all too long :( . Also, if you get me a shock travel measurement on that 225XT shock, I can tell you how much rear wheel travel it'll give you. I have everything modeled to scale on my kitchen table.

4xflyer · 04-03-2007, 01:34 PM

It might be possible to flip the swingarm over and use the existing mount on the swingarm. I was going to do that but couldn't find a shock short enough. Chances are if you do find a very short shock it will on;y have about 2 inches of travel which would be about 4-5 inches of wheel travel. By moving the top mount up it would be possible to use a slightly longer shock. Old technology but better than we have now.

red2003 · 04-03-2007, 01:58 PM

Flipping the swingarm would put the brake mounts on the wrong side. Easier to just weld a mount on top of the swingarm. 2 inches of shock travel will give you about 8 inches of wheel travel. On my Roketa swingarm its just about a 4:1 ratio at the stock mounting location.

SamM · 04-04-2007, 03:36 AM

Here's a picture of the Yamaha XT225 shock. It seems a bit long, I don't have the specs for it yet or a price. I'll be getting with the Yamaha dealer sometime soon to see what we can do and what the specs are. They should have some information. I tried to download a PDF file but it failed. I may try again later.

4xflyer,
I haven't done anything to the bike. All we did was bolt the shock on. I believe it's just a poor design.

red2003,
The plan is to cut the mount completely off and start afresh. I don't believe the shock angle is that critical, on this type of bike with this type of equipment. I'd like to keep it near the stock angle but what is the stock angle? That's rhetorical. My bike sits, so tail high that the measured angle isn't correct. What I mean is the measured angle won't be correct with the current setup. What is the correct shock angle? I may try to remove the rear suspension and try to level the bike and go from there. It'll be interesting to see what can be done and even if the XT shock can be used. It may be too long!

This is crystal clear huh? I know it is to me!

red2003 · 04-04-2007, 08:00 AM

Yeah, that looks pretty long. Looks like you'd have to chop up the front frame under the tank and mount into it like they did. Looks like a good design though. A lot like a KTM. BTW, stock shock angle for the Roketa was 18 degrees. With my new linkage, it'll start at 16 and rise to about 21 by the end of the shock travel.

ob1 · 04-04-2007, 08:18 AM

If you are going to build a shock mount for the U-shaped bottom clevis, you might add the Honda XR200 shock to the list. The short travel version measures about 13 inches center to center of the mounts. The hardware is a 9mm bolt at both ends.

'93 XR200 and up, short travel version.
'87-'92, long travel version, guessing 14 inches [mine is in use right now!], same hardware, will have to mount a remote reservoir.

The long travel version is better, having a compression adjuster clicker. Both have spring preload adjustment by threaded collars.

Remember to drop the tubes in the triple clamps after raising the rear end to level the ride out, or steering can get twitchy, sometimes dangerously...

04-01-2007, 04:57 PM	#17
red2003 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern Vermont, USA Posts: 1,271	OB1, the 8 inches of travel will be stop to stop. I am keeping the stock ride height so as to not change handling characteristics. I will look to get about 2 inches of sag (25%, as suggested ) and that'll leave 6 inches of compression. I ride 2 up with my kid sometimes so that'll also leave room for the extra weight to settle. The irony here is since I need to modify the scissor anyway, I could have left the stock top mount alone :? . I'll update when it gets done. __________________ First Chinabike: 2006 Roketa RSX200E Current Chinabikes: 2023 Titan DLX & 2022 Lifan KP Mini w/ 210cc BRT kit, 22 RWHP!
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04-01-2007, 05:18 PM	#19
SamM Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,194	When we were lifting the rear of my bike to install the bolt through the shock eye, it seemed like the suspnsion was on a bind. I was looking to see if the link was switch backwards or something. Now it makes perfect since. I'm going to need some sort of fix for this. My rear suspension barely moves. Not good! __________________ 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara MOAB 2005 BMW E53 X5 2011 Schutt Industries LTT-HC LQG trailer 2017 Coleman CT200U 1978 Yamaha SR500E 1979 Yamaha XS650 Special II
	0

04-02-2007, 10:21 AM	#22
red2003 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern Vermont, USA Posts: 1,271	On a side note, my son has a China 110 dirtbike (the one in my avatar). It came with a nice set of front forks with about 4 1/2 inches of plush travel. The rear stocker had less then 1 1/2 inches of travel, and blew out within a week. What's the deal with the crummy rear suspensions I wonder?? BTW, I replaced his rear shock with a Kawasaki KLR110 shock (direct bolt in mod) and that brought it up to about 4 inches of travel and much better ride quality. The rear suspension on these China bikes HAS to go. __________________ First Chinabike: 2006 Roketa RSX200E Current Chinabikes: 2023 Titan DLX & 2022 Lifan KP Mini w/ 210cc BRT kit, 22 RWHP!
	0

04-03-2007, 10:03 AM	#23
SamM Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,194	I think I've found my fix. My thought, is to replace the rear shock on the Viva with one from a Yamaha XT225. From the looks of it, the shock bolts to the swingarm on the XT with no linkage. I'll need to fab a bottom mount and maybe remake the top mount. It should lower the bike back down where it needs to be. The rearend is very high! The bikes are very similar so it may work very well! Ebay here I come! __________________ 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara MOAB 2005 BMW E53 X5 2011 Schutt Industries LTT-HC LQG trailer 2017 Coleman CT200U 1978 Yamaha SR500E 1979 Yamaha XS650 Special II
	0

04-03-2007, 01:58 PM	#27
red2003 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern Vermont, USA Posts: 1,271	Flipping the swingarm would put the brake mounts on the wrong side. Easier to just weld a mount on top of the swingarm. 2 inches of shock travel will give you about 8 inches of wheel travel. On my Roketa swingarm its just about a 4:1 ratio at the stock mounting location. __________________ First Chinabike: 2006 Roketa RSX200E Current Chinabikes: 2023 Titan DLX & 2022 Lifan KP Mini w/ 210cc BRT kit, 22 RWHP!
	0

04-01-2007, 04:22 PM	#16
ob1 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 499	Huh, you may be onto something Red, maybe an aftermarket kit to mod the linkage on the chinabikes? 8 inches travel from normal ride height? Sound a whole lot better than 3 followed by linkage binding!
	0

04-01-2007, 05:13 PM	#18
ob1 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 499	OIC! I love messing with backyard engineering projects.
	0

04-03-2007, 10:45 AM	#24
4xflyer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: W. Massachusetts USA Posts: 25	Hi Sam, Why is your bike so high in the rear..did you fit a different shock? Hope you find an XT225 shock but check the length first! My son's jetmoto shock isn't adjustable and barely moves! I'm looking for a fairly easy fix as well. Gary
	0

04-03-2007, 01:34 PM	#26
4xflyer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: W. Massachusetts USA Posts: 25	It might be possible to flip the swingarm over and use the existing mount on the swingarm. I was going to do that but couldn't find a shock short enough. Chances are if you do find a very short shock it will on;y have about 2 inches of travel which would be about 4-5 inches of wheel travel. By moving the top mount up it would be possible to use a slightly longer shock. Old technology but better than we have now.
	0

04-04-2007, 03:36 AM	#28
SamM Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: West Virginia Posts: 1,194	Here's a picture of the Yamaha XT225 shock. It seems a bit long, I don't have the specs for it yet or a price. I'll be getting with the Yamaha dealer sometime soon to see what we can do and what the specs are. They should have some information. I tried to download a PDF file but it failed. I may try again later. 4xflyer, I haven't done anything to the bike. All we did was bolt the shock on. I believe it's just a poor design. red2003, The plan is to cut the mount completely off and start afresh. I don't believe the shock angle is that critical, on this type of bike with this type of equipment. I'd like to keep it near the stock angle but what is the stock angle? That's rhetorical. My bike sits, so tail high that the measured angle isn't correct. What I mean is the measured angle won't be correct with the current setup. What is the correct shock angle? I may try to remove the rear suspension and try to level the bike and go from there. It'll be interesting to see what can be done and even if the XT shock can be used. It may be too long! This is crystal clear huh? I know it is to me! __________________ 2013 Jeep Wrangler Sahara MOAB 2005 BMW E53 X5 2011 Schutt Industries LTT-HC LQG trailer 2017 Coleman CT200U 1978 Yamaha SR500E 1979 Yamaha XS650 Special II
	0

04-04-2007, 08:00 AM	#29
red2003 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Northern Vermont, USA Posts: 1,271	Yeah, that looks pretty long. Looks like you'd have to chop up the front frame under the tank and mount into it like they did. Looks like a good design though. A lot like a KTM. BTW, stock shock angle for the Roketa was 18 degrees. With my new linkage, it'll start at 16 and rise to about 21 by the end of the shock travel. __________________ First Chinabike: 2006 Roketa RSX200E Current Chinabikes: 2023 Titan DLX & 2022 Lifan KP Mini w/ 210cc BRT kit, 22 RWHP!
	0

04-04-2007, 08:18 AM	#30
ob1 Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 499	If you are going to build a shock mount for the U-shaped bottom clevis, you might add the Honda XR200 shock to the list. The short travel version measures about 13 inches center to center of the mounts. The hardware is a 9mm bolt at both ends. '93 XR200 and up, short travel version. '87-'92, long travel version, guessing 14 inches [mine is in use right now!], same hardware, will have to mount a remote reservoir. The long travel version is better, having a compression adjuster clicker. Both have spring preload adjustment by threaded collars. Remember to drop the tubes in the triple clamps after raising the rear end to level the ride out, or steering can get twitchy, sometimes dangerously...
	0