Bonanza Swing Arm
- Thread starter Frisco57
- Start date
I think it should drop a bit. How much might depend on your wheel size. Enough to look good and allow for adequate suspension flex, I say. I found this pic of what I think is a BC1200, all shiny and blue. (Credit likely belongs to someone on this site.) I note the frame's upward profile here.
I also include my own actual p.o.s. bonanza, having smaller wheels, but similar swing arm set up. It looked and rode more like a bench. And now that I think about it that bike offered next to no bounce... though I blamed the steel pole shocks at the time.
Anyway, yeah down a bit. Select your springs wisely, and leave your wheels a touch under inflated for added comfort. Good luck!
I also include my own actual p.o.s. bonanza, having smaller wheels, but similar swing arm set up. It looked and rode more like a bench. And now that I think about it that bike offered next to no bounce... though I blamed the steel pole shocks at the time.
Anyway, yeah down a bit. Select your springs wisely, and leave your wheels a touch under inflated for added comfort. Good luck!
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So, here's what I'm talking about...
The clearance between the edge of the swing arm and the frame is really tight and the shocks when placed in the mounting holes don't align correctly. Is the angle of the trailing arm and the pivot tube supposed to be about 90 degrees? I'm thinking my swing arm might be spread out or bent.
The clearance between the edge of the swing arm and the frame is really tight and the shocks when placed in the mounting holes don't align correctly. Is the angle of the trailing arm and the pivot tube supposed to be about 90 degrees? I'm thinking my swing arm might be spread out or bent.
Your swing arms should be below what your photo shows, with the shocks installed. So they never set parallel to the ground, not even on full compression doing sweet jumps.
Not knowing correct this and correct that on your machine, I can say 100% of the time I am having to make bushings for shocks on everything I've over restored with a shock. I do it to compensate for aftermarket, or different shocks, or engineering problems. I have never seen a minibike swing arm that was perfect. Even motorcycle swingarms tend to be tweaked if you put them on a rack and get precision measuing equipment on them.
I have rewelded many minibike swing arms because of this reason. They are not precision devices at all. I have also turned bronze bushings for swing arms, including Bonanza, because the gap between the swing arm and the jack shaft plate was excessive, not even on each side, etc.
Also, there are different swing arms. Front peg bikes should be 8 1/4, mid peg is 8 3/4. (According to Evil Ed)
Not knowing correct this and correct that on your machine, I can say 100% of the time I am having to make bushings for shocks on everything I've over restored with a shock. I do it to compensate for aftermarket, or different shocks, or engineering problems. I have never seen a minibike swing arm that was perfect. Even motorcycle swingarms tend to be tweaked if you put them on a rack and get precision measuing equipment on them.
I have rewelded many minibike swing arms because of this reason. They are not precision devices at all. I have also turned bronze bushings for swing arms, including Bonanza, because the gap between the swing arm and the jack shaft plate was excessive, not even on each side, etc.
Also, there are different swing arms. Front peg bikes should be 8 1/4, mid peg is 8 3/4. (According to Evil Ed)
