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[trot]

Has anyone had trouble wiyh Bitubos rubbing the inside of the saddlebags (see pic)., if so how did you cure it?.
Also at the moment the bitubo cylinders are at the top, can they be fitted the other way up? (see pic).

[trot]

Pic 2

[Gecko]

They can be mounted any way, cylinders up or down, forward or back, whatever works best for you.  I had to change spacers around to clear the bags on my SERK.

[trot]

They can be mounted any way, cylinders up or down, forward or back, whatever works best for you.  I had to change spacers around to clear the bags on my SERK.

Are yours this way up ? and do you mean the inside spacers on the bitubos if so the space looks pretty tight between the cylinder and the chrome rails and also between the spring and the brake calipers on the offside?
trot

[sadunbar]

They are intended to be mounted with the reservoir mounted up.  (sprung weight is better than unsprung weight)  You can always space your bags out a bit to provide the clearance you need...   








edit to say - sprung weight is better than unsprung weight - stated this assbackwards in my initial post!!

[16HD117]

I think some people (Chief for one) are inverting the Bitubos to fix the clearence problem with the saddle bags.

Here's an old thread with info that might help you:

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=13951.45

 

[trot]

I think some people (Chief for one) are inverting the Bitubos to fix the clearence problem with the saddle bags.

Here's an old thread with info that might help you:

http://www.cvoharley.com/smf/index.php?topic=13951.45

 

Thanks this seems to be the answer.
Trot

[porthole]

I had them mounted like Chief does (below). There was one spot where they did rub a bit, but they don't anymore, they are sitting on a shelf

[16HD117]

I had them mounted like Chief does (below). There was one spot where they did rub a bit, but they don't anymore, they are sitting on a shelf

Why did you take um off?

[porthole]

Remove saddlebags
adjust preload
adjust compression
adjust rebound

Add tourpak and load up for a trip

Remove saddlebags
adjust preload
adjust compression
adjust rebound

Add passenger and her stuff and load up for a trip

Remove saddlebags
adjust preload
adjust compression
adjust rebound

Get to location, remove all gear and tourpak

Remove saddlebags
adjust preload
adjust compression
adjust rebound

don't worry about adjusting day to day in case the BSR chooses not to go, just keep it adjusted for her.

Pack up to go home

adjust preload
adjust compression
adjust rebound


Get home, remove BSR, gear and tourpak

Remove saddlebags
adjust preload
adjust compression
adjust rebound

See a pattern here?

And don't forget, you are supposed to test ride in between the preload, compression and rebound changes, not all 3 at once.

Or, Howie's recommendation is to just find the ride with the bike set up for the heaviest load.
What good is that?

Besides, of the three aftermarket shocks I have now tried I believe they are all made for riders that weigh above 200 pounds. I have yet to get a good ride with any of the tree with just me on the bike and no extras. Load it up (passenger and gear) and I can get a decent ride with any of the 3.

[geezerglide]

Porthole,

You have a PM.

geezerglide

[trot]

They are intended to be mounted with the reservoir mounted up.  (unsprung weight is better than sprung weight)  You can always space your bags out a bit to provide the clearance you need...   

Think you could be wrong here see Dans reply ..
Trot
Dave,

 

Glad you like the ride now.

 

Notice that with the shock mounted the way you have them, the sticker on the reservoir is now upside down. Bitubo actually intended for them to be mounted upside down for this application. The shock is a gas charged shock, the oil is separated from the nitrogen with a floating piston. The shock can be mounted either way. On some applications, depending on the bags, you have better clearance with the shock mounted “upside down” and with the resi in the front. Most of the hard bags work best with the shock mounted “upside down” and with the resi in the back.

 

The mounting instructions with the shock could be better, sorry about that.

 

Best regards,

Dan

 

==============================

Dan Anderson

Internet Sales

Traxxion Dynamics, Inc.

Suspension Innovation Is Our Passion...

[porthole]

For those that have already sent or are thinking about asking - I am not ready to sell the Bitubo's, or the Progressive's, or the Arnott's. But I do have a pair of junk factory air shocks available (lowered)

[sadunbar]

Think you could be wrong here see Dans reply ..
Trot
Dave,

 

Glad you like the ride now.

 

Notice that with the shock mounted the way you have them, the sticker on the reservoir is now upside down. Bitubo actually intended for them to be mounted upside down for this application. The shock is a gas charged shock, the oil is separated from the nitrogen with a floating piston. The shock can be mounted either way. On some applications, depending on the bags, you have better clearance with the shock mounted “upside down” and with the resi in the front. Most of the hard bags work best with the shock mounted “upside down” and with the resi in the back.

 

The mounting instructions with the shock could be better, sorry about that.

 

Best regards,

Dan

 

==============================

Dan Anderson

Internet Sales

Traxxion Dynamics, Inc.

Suspension Innovation Is Our Passion...

Actually, I think what Dan is saying when he states "Bitubo actually intended for them to be mounted upside down for this application" is the shocks are mounted "upside down" on baggers because they provide more clearance to the hard bags when mounted "upside down" - and he further states the shocks will function either way.  I would have no argument with either of those statements.  They do provide more clearance when mounted upside down, and the shocks will function perfectly well mounted either direction.  However, mounting the shocks "upside down" produces more "unsprung weight", which is evil as compared to sprung weight.  Shocks with external reservoirs, on any performance bike, or race car for that matter, are always mounted with the reservoir "up", to reduce unsprung weight.  The shocks can be mounted "reservoir up", but it takes a bit of work to space your bags out and to space the shocks for sufficient clearance.  But, as Dan states, they will function fine either way, and when mounted upside down, they provide more clearance for the bags without need for the extra work of spacing the bags...  So, I think we are agreeing....

[porthole]

I can't see how little weight we are talking about will make any difference that we could actually feel with these bikes (unsprung weight).

Mounted "upside down the decal is right side up, the chrome is up and the smaller end is up, which is what you need on the baggers if you have the docking hardware.