You need to jack the bike up off the ground from below then engine so the swingarm is free to move - with the rear wheel just touching the ground, Remove the shocks lower the jack an inch and reinstall the new shocks.

The shocks have springs and in a relaxed state will be completely opened and not compressible by hand- so you make the bolt-up points match by lifting the rear tire and to do that without a lot of strain you will be lowering the bike- it is the same thing.

I have inserted a piece of wood under the tire in the past so I can easily lever the wood with a tire iron to raise the rear wheel slightly to get the bolts to align.

Once you get one side on the other side should be aligned. So do the easiest (most accessible side) first.....if mufflers are in the way for instance.

 

So i probably need to get ahold of a bike jack of some kind....or is it possible with a standard floor jack?

 

Replacing shocks

I was able to change the shocks on my Sabre without jacking it up. I started by turning the shock on the opposite side I was replacing first to the highest preload setting and the side I replaced first to the lowest setting and removed and replaced it. Set the new shock to the highest setting and set the other side to the lowest setting and replaced it. It was a little tough to get the second shock on but I was able to pull up on the back of the bike and slide the top mount on. If you have someone to help you, it would probably go easier.

 

So i probably need to get ahold of a bike jack of some kind....or is it possible with a standard floor jack?

If you intend to do your own wrenching you need the tools, the jack is a very useful tool.......and for less than the price of the labor to pay someone to do the job you can buy yourself a nice MC jack (try Harbor Frieght about $50). You will use the jack many times and it will save you much time doing future repairs and maintenance. Just removing a wheel to get new rubber put on will save you about $20 in most shops - do both ends and you the jack will be paid for again.

Jacks are also useful for cleaning (raises the bike up to easy reach while sitting on a bucket chair, or allows you to spin the wheels and clean the spokes and rims).

I also used mine once to press one end of a beam hard into some ceilng joists until I could add support posts (to elminate some bounce in a floor....)

 

Yea I will probably pick one up. I have a normal floor jack for autos, but nothing suited for a MC.

 

dude, you have a centerstand - use it

 

Can I change the shocks using only the center stand? I thought about using the centerstand and putting something semi-soft between the back tire and the fender. I dunno.

 

Why not? Just get a rope and tye the stand to the front tire so It won't collapse on you and get some weight on the front to keep the back up in the air. Should work out pretty good for you.

 

This is not as big of a deal as every one is making it.

You can likely do the change out on the side stand. Do one shock at a time, the other shock and spring WILL hold the rear end of your bike up.

Since you're putting in shorter than stock shocks you may even need to compress the remaining stocker a little to get the new one on.

 

This is not as big of a deal as every one is making it.

You can likely do the change out on the side stand. Do one shock at a time, the other shock and spring WILL hold the rear end of your bike up.

Since you're putting in shorter than stock shocks you may even need to compress the remaining stocker a little to get the new one on.

+1

This should be all you need to do. I did my '83 on the sidestand. Even when putting on the solid struts this is all I did, just one at a time and push the rear down however much you need to. It's that easy. Dano

 

dude, you have a centerstand - use it

+1
I didn't realize you had a centerstand - no need for a jack.....you are golden. Just use a piece of wood under the tire as a lever and you should be good to go.