i found a good deal online for a set of burley 10.5" shocks. the describtion says fit 84 to present touring bike. Can i use these on my 80 ironhead. right now i have longer shocks with homemade lowering brackets and if i measure between the stock mounting brackets it is 10.5. Is there something that i dont realize that would make these not work

 

I went to this link, put in 1980 Harley Davidson, and it did not list Sportster ...
http://www.burlybrand.com/product/27/slammer-shocks

Lots of info when i Googled burley 10.5" shocks

1979-1981 Sportsters have a different frame from all previous and subsequent Sportster years.

I do not know what is the length of stock shocks for 1980. It would be useful to know. 10.5" seems very short to me.

Anyway, hope these few comments help a little.

 

the shocks that are on it right now are 12'', but it has some lowering brackets that move the bottom of the shock toward the rear. With the 12" shocks and the lowering bracket in place, if you measure between the stock mounting brackets it is 10.5" right now, so i feel fine about the lenght, i just dont know if they will fit on the bike because on this bike the shocks are so close to the rotor and sprocket

on another subject,
Mick I printed out the ironhead electrical diagnostic pages you posted a link to and i keep it with all my manuals because the procedures are better than the manual

 

Just guessing, but the lower part of those shocks looks small enough to clear ok. I do know that Progressive 412 shocks have an offset lower mounting eye to push the shock outward a bit for clearance, but they are larger diameter than the stock shocks. Short shocks made for a touring bike are likely to have really stiff springs, though, and even if they fit your bike, they may not work too well on a lighter bike like a Sportster.

 

12.5" is OEM lenght in -80 ironhead. It's got to use shocks that are meant light bike as sportster is, BT shocks are usually too stiff ( if you are riding lone). PS 412 set has shims-set to be correctly installed. They might be some tweeking if you have saddlebags. I have god experience from PS shocks...

 

i ordered the shocks, they were cheap enough to give it a try. if they dont work i think i could find someone that would want them