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Help, Differences between suspensions

Buellxb Forum

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lexhere27

Well-known member
Joined
Oct 13, 2009
Messages
192
What is the difference between the SS, TT and S suspensions, rear shock/spring and front forks?

I know that the scg has yellow, s has blue and TT/SS is white or black not sure if it has a different spring rate.

Thanks, the more info the better
 
the scg has a yellow spring? now is that standard for all years on the xb? im just curious.
 
All years of scg had yellow. my 2003 xb9sl had yellow and the 2010 scgs still did. can't tell you much about the blacl or white shocks, although at times I have thought about putting them on my 9 to make wheelies more fun.
 
Yes they have different spring rates, the Scg (yellow) has a shorter strock since it is a lower spring.

The Ss and Stt have different colors but I am not sure on rates for them, but they are different rates even from the S/R shocks. Also the Ss/Stt shocks are the same length as the regular S shock. But the reservoir line is much shorter on the Ss/Stt shock, so some movement of parts or thought will have to be put into mounting it.

Here is a picture of an Ss shock next to an R shock (same as a S)
520_20101024120914_L.jpg
 
Interesting. I have been looking at doing the Ss swingarm onto an S, and the limiting factor has been the availability of used Ss shocks.

I saw from your swap that you need to make a bracket for your shock, and I assumed it was so that you could use your shorter S shock in the place of the longer Ss unit.

If what you are saying is that the shocks are the same length, that means I can just swap the springs and not look for a whole shock, then?
 
Correct you will need to make some type of bracket or like one member did he cut the lower shock tab off and welded a new one on that made up for the needed difference in length.

I short the shock won't get you anything unless you are going from an Scg shock then you will gain some but not if you are going from an S to an Ss.

Here is my setup just invade you need a quick reference
520_20091211234029_L.jpg
 
If the SS/TT shocks are the same length as the S/R, do they have different mounting locations on the frames? Anyone have pics of the upper mounting comparing the SS/TT to the S/R
 
the SS/TT are the same height after 07 or 08, before that the SS was about the same height as the standard s/r and as you know the Sl or Scg are lower.
 
YES, the SS/TT shocks are the same length as any normal S or R shock. If you do the SS/TT swing arm on a S or R using a SS/TT shock will still leave you with an extremely low rear end. You have to get a custom longer shock, or make a bracket like xtremelow did. The reason the SS/TT is the same overall height as a S or R is because the front shock mounting point is lower on the frame.

~Mike......
 
The reason the SS/TT is the same overall height as a S or R is because the front shock mounting point is lower on the frame.
Click to expand...

the STT and later SS are taller than the standard S/R by just under an inch.
 
Thanks for clearing that up Delta, but I meant the actual shock, not bike ride height. I should have said length instead of height.

Think a Ulysses shock is longer than all the rest? Perhaps if someone was doing a SS swinger to S/R a Ulysses shock would be long enough to not have to make an adapter?


~Mike....
 
I have not compared shocks between them but I do know that the late SS/TT also has longer rear suspension travel too, cold be geometry or shock lenght

4.92 in. (125 mm) VS 5.63 in. (143 mm)

via buell.com city X VS. SS
 
I have not compared shocks between them but I do know that the late SS/TT also has longer rear suspension travel too, cold be geometry or shock lenght

4.92 in. (125 mm) VS 5.63 in. (143 mm)

via buell.com city X VS. SS
Click to expand...


The shocks being the same length (S, R, TT, SS) I've gathered from xtremelow's experience since he's had both side by side and said there the same length (first picture in the thread). I'm guessing it's geometry and hence has a higher spring rate. Haven't seen anyone compare a Ulysses shock yet though (6.4" travel), uses same swinger and frame as the TT/SS no?


~Mike.....
 
Quick question. Will the 1125R (red spring) fit xb's?
Click to expand...

Spring maybe, shock, doubtful. The 1125 rear shock is a piggy back, not a remote resi. You'd probly have to get creative to make it fit. The rear shock on the 1125 if off center from the bike frame/swinger.

~Mike.....
 
Haven't seen anyone compare a Ulysses shock yet though (6.4" travel), uses same swinger and frame as the TT/SS no?
Click to expand...

I will go by my dealer and price out a Uly spring, and compare part numbers for the shock body parts between a Uly and SS. The Uly spring may let me compensate for the lowered height without needing a bracket built like xtremelow
 
The shocks being the same length (S, R, TT, SS) I've gathered from xtremelow's experience since he's had both side by side and said there the same length (first picture in the thread).
Click to expand...

depends on the year of the SS shock, remember the SS gained nearly an inch in later years, though the swing arm most likely stayed the same.
now that I look it up I know the STT was introduced in 2007 and was taller than the SS but shorter than the ULY, its final year was 2008, I think it was 2009 that the SS became taller because it adopted the retired TT suspension.


Sorry I suck at explaining things sometimes.
 
depends on the year of the SS shock, remember the SS gained nearly an inch in later years, though the swing arm most likely stayed the same.
now that I look it up I know the STT was introduced in 2007 and was taller than the SS but shorter than the ULY, its final year was 2008, I think it was 2009 that the SS became taller because it adopted the retired TT suspension.
Click to expand...

Ahah, I did not know any of that!

thejackal, I'm guessing the Uly shock is longer. Guess we will wait and see what others say about it. Perhaps post a question on a Uly forum and get quicker results on the shock length. But if the shock is longer, I doubt just using the spring on a R or S shock body would give you the desire effect. You'd essentially just be upping the pre-load using a longer shock spring on the same size shock body. Even if it gave you the desire height, you'd have very little suspension sag which could be bad. Best bet would be to use the whole shock (again, need to know the length, but I can't imagine it being the same length if the Uly uses the same frame, and swinger and has that much more travel).

~Mike......
 
The largest factor that makes the Ss sit higher is the upper shock mount is in a completely different location.

Here is a picture of an Ss you can see how it is mounted and the upper circle is where the S/R mounts to the frame. Also the fact that the frames are different lengths comes into play on how high the bike sits and the geometry as well.


520_20110107053537_L.jpg
 

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