Rear shock length on Marauder 800?

Does anyone know what the stock rear shock length is on a Marauder 800?

I'm planning on lowering it and I know they don't make lowering shocks for the Marauder. HOWEVER, I have been looking at other bikes and I found that the Honda Shadow Spirit 750 is very similar. The Honda is about 68 pounds heavier with 3.6" of rear travel vs 4" of travel for the marauder. So I'm thinking shorter progressive rate springs for the Honda might be a good sub for the Marauder springs. I've read where some people have used Suzuki Savage shocks on their Marauders to lower it but the Savage weighs 100 pounds less and the springs are softer which kills the handling. I'd rather have slightly stiffer than softer. Or I could try the VS800 Intruder lowering shocks. The VS800 Intruder and the Marauder 800 have the same dry weight. Any thoughts?

Here are a couple pics comparing the Honda and the Marauder. The stock shock length and angle look pretty damn close. The Intruder I believe has a much different angle.

That's a much nicer looking shock as well, would be worth it for cosmetics alone.

I don't claim to be a wiz when it comes to suspensions but I believe that spring rate is a function of vehicle weight, spring length, and attachment angle. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong. The stock Honda shocks are 12.5" which i believe is also the stock length on the Marauder. Moving to an 11" shock, by my calculations should be an approx. drop of about 2", give or take .25".

Actually I was wrong about the weight difference. There is only a 40 pound weight difference between the Honda and the Marauder. 496 pounds dry weight vs 456 pounds dry weight. From what I have found the Marauder has a weight distribution of 55.2% to the rear and I believe the Honda is around 51.5%. Which would mean there is only a 3.5 pound difference in the rear weight of the bikes. So the spring rates should be fairly comparable.

If anyone sees any fault in my logic or assumption PLEASE let me know.

And I've found these progressive rear shocks for $244 that I think will look shit hot. They're 5 way preload adjustable so I should be able to soften them up a little if the spring rate is slightly stiffer on the Honda springs.

They do look "shit hot"

They would look as bloody cool as.

Found them for $219 shipped on Amazon. Getting my Mapam forward controls first.

AmericanJambo wrote:

Found them for $219 shipped on Amazon. Getting my Mapam forward controls first.

That's damn cheap for a pair of shocks! Is there any reviews on them?

Flippin eck man, they really do seem to be a real bargain, good idea Simbo about looking for reviews but at that price it don't matter if they don't work does it, cause they is purty?

They're an entry level progressive dual rate shock. They've got good reviews. It's the 412 series.

AmericanJambo wrote:

They're an entry level progressive dual rate shock. They've got good reviews. It's the 412 series.

That should be plenty good enough then? The standard shocks will be very basic and made to a cost effective form/function standard,whereas aftermarket shocks are more designed for function, they look good as a bonus

Well this certainly doesn't mean the shocks I'm getting are any good but I did see a set Progressive Suspension shocks on the first episode of season 1 of Sons of Anarchy on Jax's bike. Thought it was a cool.