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I am considering changing my rear shocks (on a 72 GT) to longer than the 305 mm marzocchis originally fitted to get a more sporting, aggressiv turning bike

I have seen mentioned somewhere in this forum that it is a pretty common change (but I cant find the post now) and road and race sell longer centerstands to make room for the longer shocks (http://www.roadandrace.com.au/cat13.htm)

Does anybody have any experience in using longer-than-stock rear shocks ?

yes that is a good thing to do, to a point. If you have an early GT with 12" [305mm] shocks, you can go longer no problem, but be aware that if you go 13" long, the bike will look funny being jacked up so tall, and, the chain will rub on your case like crazy. Even installing one of our case saver kits will help but not make that a non issue.

I would only add 1/2" to what was stock - how much clearance do you have under your tire with the bike up on the center stand now? Do you have a half inch or maybe more?

I put the shocks off my 900SS on my 750 and the center stand holds the bike stable but the tire is on the ground.Sure makes rolling on and off the stand easy! As for making the steering quicker, it doesn't do much really, it is still stable as a freighter and turns like one!

Your bike might be a later one that had 12.5 [or longer] shocks to begin with. Regardless, If the rear tire touches the ground when on the center stand, then you might run into a problem parking the bike on the street where the pavement is not smoothe. You might want to check your center stand 'bumpers' as well, if they are worn down, replacing them is an easy thing to do, I have made replacements out of black delrin here they are and they will hold the center stand more upright to give a bit more height.


http://shop.bevelheaven.com/detail.aspx?ID=994

If your running Icon shocks or I supose Koni,there supose to be the same,
I got a replacement top section thats 15mm longer than the standard bit that comes with them from the icon manufactor.Helped a lot to speed up the stearing on my Laverda.Its a shame there steel and a bit heavy,cost was $100oz,took a bit of work to fit them,had the shocks rebuilt at the same time.