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Old 07-04-2007, 8:36 AM   #31
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Has anyone got the dimentions of the spacer (slot size, lenght, and width) off hand?
John, I don't want to take any business away from you but I have a serious run coming up this weekend and want to see if I get quickly manufacture a spacer out of uluminium.

Thanks,
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Old 07-04-2007, 8:43 AM   #32
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Here you go: BlackBird Items - 6mm Height Spacer by John's Bike Bits
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Old 07-05-2007, 10:18 AM   #33
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Quote:
Originally Posted by GPR View Post
Has anyone got the dimentions of the spacer (slot size, lenght, and width) off hand?
John, I don't want to take any business away from you but I have a serious run coming up this weekend and want to see if I get quickly manufacture a spacer out of uluminium.

Thanks,

No Problem !!
I only carry them due to demand from riders. They can easily be made from large spacers from the hardware store. Shock removal is required to install round spacers or cut out a notch to slide them in place with the shock loosened up but not removed. Just be sure to only create 6mm of space for maximun benfit.

I am currently sold out of the Ride Height Spacers anyway. I have more on the water from Jaws right know but won't be here for another week.

John
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Old 07-09-2007, 3:35 AM   #34
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Good day all,

I fitted the spacer and went on a 150Km run yesterday - with a pillion. I can honestly say that there is a difference. For the first time the bird is on rails through the corners, still not as quick as the blades, but at least I'm not holding them up anymore.
One small piece of advice - don't let, whatever u use to support the fueltank, slip with your fingers in he way. The sharper edges onderneeth the tank cuts to the bone. For the sake of your health and involuntary donating blood, rather remove the tank prior to installing the spacer.

Regards,
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Old 07-10-2007, 11:57 AM   #35
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

I did the shimming with 6mm aluminium cut out and vat a difference.
I have 190 tire on the back and this little thing ( 6mm shim ) did wonders
It took me about 10-15 min with the help of my friend holding the tank up and I did not have to remove the resorvoir
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Old 07-17-2007, 10:52 AM   #36
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

I finally got around to installing the shim last weekend (took less than 15 minutes) and then I took it out for a ride. WHAT A DIFFERENCE !!! This is exactly what this bike was missing. I didn't notice much extra weight on my wrists.
For those of you out there that have not done it, do it now! It is the best cheap mod I've ever done to the bird.

Go to John's Site and buy it !
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Old 09-24-2007, 12:32 PM   #37
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Ok i'm thinking about doing this but my front has been lowered by 2 3/4" from top of tree to top of hex section of fork and my seat height at lowest point of seat top is 29" will this still work? The bike is a 2003 with a rear adjustable lower shock mount. The rear tire rubs on over 1" high bumps with a passenger. Also no center stand so will have to lift from frame.
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Old 09-25-2007, 11:45 AM   #38
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Here is the lower adujustable linkage for my rear shock should i still shim or adjust a 6mm rise with the linkage?
Attachment 5556
Also does any one know who makes this.
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Old 09-25-2007, 11:47 AM   #39
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Put it back to stock & install the shim Splat
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Old 01-22-2009, 12:13 AM   #40
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

i just bought a 6mm shim... i know this is severely redundant... but could i get some better detailed pictures on how to install? the pics that show up on top are smaller then they appear in the room... anyway, im not completly suave on everything on the bike, but im getting there, i think under the gas tank is really where i have to explore....
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Old 01-22-2009, 12:29 AM   #41
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Quote:
Originally Posted by DeathWish01 View Post
i just bought a 6mm shim... i know this is severely redundant... but could i get some better detailed pictures on how to install? the pics that show up on top are smaller then they appear in the room... anyway, im not completly suave on everything on the bike, but im getting there, i think under the gas tank is really where i have to explore....

No.....leave your tank on.
1) put XX on center stand
2) remove seat
3) locate shock nut. (located on the crossmember behind your battery)
4) loosen nut, but do not remove
5) slide shim under crossmember onto shock shaft. (you do this by feel, as you can't see it)
6) tighten nut
7) put seat back on
8) take bike off of center stand
9) pick bike up off of garge floor
10) put side stand down
11) put bike on side stand
12 inspect for damage
13) put on gear
14) go learn to how to ride your XX again.




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Old 01-22-2009, 12:32 AM   #42
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

so afterwords i learn to ride the bike w/ the sidestand down now? LOL j/k thanks
oh, do i have to take the battery off? <shrugs> im gonna go have a cig and see if i can find the shock shaft, and what torque do you recommend?
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Old 01-22-2009, 12:37 AM   #43
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

What size is the hole in your shim? Looked thru this whole thread but didn't see that listed anywhere. I only want to make one once!
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Old 01-22-2009, 12:44 AM   #44
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

the one i bought was a U-shim from John01xx's website
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Old 01-22-2009, 12:49 AM   #45
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

I was just wondering what size of hole or slot was needed. I went thru the post again and found it. The slot is 3/8" wide. Thanks.
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Old 01-25-2009, 11:55 AM   #46
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Quote:
Originally Posted by Rumrunner View Post
What size is the hole in your shim? Looked thru this whole thread but didn't see that listed anywhere. I only want to make one once!
I just made mine it was 30mm x 38mm x 6mm.the hole goes in the middle of the shim and is 10mm.The top shock bolt goes through a rubber bush and holds the overflow bottle for the radiator,it will be pushed down so it will need triming unless you think it will be ok.
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Old 01-27-2009, 4:11 AM   #47
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

ok im not sure what im doing wrong, but i just loosened the nut almost all the way and i can only squeeze MAYBE 5mm out from under the frame, what am i doing wrong? i have a board under the cs and the rear wheel isn't touching, and the bolt that i loosened isn't even touching the plastic piece anymore, im sure if i took the bolt off it would just sit there.... any suggestions? (sorry lois, i had to lift the tank to get my monkey paws down in there)
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Old 01-27-2009, 4:49 AM   #48
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Mike, are you loosening the nut pictured in step # 4, in post # 1?

If so, is the top shock clevis (the bracket the top of the actual shock mounts into) dropping at all? If it is moving a bit, loosen the nut off a bit more and try wiggling the swingarm - but dont be to vigorous, remember that you are only on the centrestand.
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Old 01-27-2009, 5:17 AM   #49
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nutter67 View Post
Mike, are you loosening the nut pictured in step # 4, in post # 1?

If so, is the top shock clevis (the bracket the top of the actual shock mounts into) dropping at all? If it is moving a bit, loosen the nut off a bit more and try wiggling the swingarm - but dont be to vigorous, remember that you are only on the centrestand.
i figured it out, the shim was getting caught on a lip so i just hammered her in there untill she fit snug and tightened her up.... there is no way in hell she's comming out w/o taking the damn thing completely apart... (god i hope i end up liking this shim....) and no, the bolt only moved down about 5mm so i pryed it down a little w/ a metal bar which gave me about 5.5mm so i wiggled it in and hammered it in... i even tried sitting on the back end while on the cs hoping that it would give a little.... nope... but its done, and now my knees and fingers hurt like hell... (my dumbass decided to work on my bike when its -10*f outside).....
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Old 01-27-2009, 5:19 AM   #50
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

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Originally Posted by DeathWish01 View Post
so i just hammered her in there untill she fit snug and tightened her up.... there is no way in hell she's comming out w/o taking the damn thing completely apart....
Oh, so your a qualified Kawasaki mechanic now, are you ?????
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Old 04-30-2009, 10:49 AM   #51
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Ok, so here's what is probably a really stupid question/issue I wanted to address before moving forward with this mod.

I went to do it yesterday but as I was starting to lift the tank (after removing the stays that hold the inner fairing molding pieces on and the wiring harness on the left side of the bike next to the tank bolts) I felt a strong tug back. After looking under the tank, I realized that there are a number of lines under the tank for the fuel system that seem to be way too tight to just lift the tank up.

At that point I stopped and closed her back up because I didn't want to jeopardize loosening something important or pulling something off.

Clearly I haven't done any of my own work on this bike before but I did do my own work on my other bikes (CB700SC Nighthawk, 91 VFR 750, CBR1000F), though it's been a while. Am I just being ridiculous or are there harnesses that need to be undone before lifting the tank all the way up?
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Old 05-01-2009, 4:03 PM   #52
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Just the fuel lines. You don't need to remove the tank completely, just lift it enough to access the shock top bolt and prop it with a paint stir stick or something similar that won't cause any damage if it slips.
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Old 05-04-2009, 5:00 PM   #53
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to give it another shot Wednesday after work. Just wanted to make sure there wasn't anything I was missing because I wasn't able to print out the directions at the start of this thread.
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Old 05-04-2009, 5:50 PM   #54
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Yesterday, I used 2 washers for my shim and tried it out. It definately changed the feel of the bike, especially in corners. It seems, to me any way, that you need a lot more speed, to really feel the cornering. I'm not sure if thats a good thing or a bad thing. Only because if I get one more speeding ticket my bike days will be done and I've just learned how to keep the speed reasonable.
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Old 06-01-2009, 3:28 PM   #55
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

I did this mod with 6mm shim last year. Like it , and all is great.
But now I have a new girlfriend who is not used to riding. I took her out and when we hit a small bump like bridge or rr track she fills unstable and fills like she will bounce forward. I got three choices. Remove shim, new seat, or she just hasn't learned to ride and be comfortable back there. Anyone else make this change while maintaining same passenger and get feedback from them?
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Old 06-23-2009, 5:32 PM   #56
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Got the shim in the mail yesterday from John's bike bits. Put it in last night. Took me maybe 40 min, mostly to find something to support the tank and I took some time to look everything else over. Shim went in easy. Buttoned everything back up and went for a short ride. Seemed better. Took the bird to work this morning and I have to say everything said about this mod is true. The big XX feels much more agile now. Not like my blade, but better. My bike has corbin bags, I think the bike is more stable at freeway speeds than it was before. Not that it was bad before. I know before the mod, it felt a bit nervous at 135+ mph.
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Old 11-24-2009, 1:52 AM   #57
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Has anyone installed the 6mm shim on a bike with a 19.6 kg/mm rear spring rate which is about 1100 lb. spring on the rear and 1.1 kg/mm springs in the forks? I'd like to know if the shim is needed if the suspension has been set up this firm?
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Old 11-24-2009, 6:29 PM   #58
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

I have an 1100 spring I think. For 2 up riding. on a Penske triple clicker,
Still have the 7mm shim and a little more from the shock.
Also have 1kg springs up front with 4mm spacer for preload.

Bike turns fast, real fast.And I no longer grind holes in my fairing,,

The benefit for me is that even putting another 2mm in the front preload (causing increased front ride height) causes a slightly firmer hand grip while steering, This is evident at low speed and quick turning at higher speed.

I find that with 4mm spacer the bike being able to turn lighter and faster my grip is less and I have more control.
The feedback actually decreased a little going to the 4 mm spacer in the front as opposed to the 6mm one , but the bike feels more consistent.

Fyi I weigh 79kg and the pillion 74kg.

For one up riding I back the rear preload off by 3 turns and it is good.
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Old 11-24-2009, 6:32 PM   #59
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Quote:
Originally Posted by Islandbird View Post
I did this mod with 6mm shim last year. Like it , and all is great.
But now I have a new girlfriend who is not used to riding. I took her out and when we hit a small bump like bridge or rr track she fills unstable and fills like she will bounce forward. I got three choices. Remove shim, new seat, or she just hasn't learned to ride and be comfortable back there. Anyone else make this change while maintaining same passenger and get feedback from them?
Its not the shim or the bike it is the way she is sitting on the bike.
Tell her to get more onto the balls of her feet and not to lean back.
If she just sits on the seat and has pegs under the instep she will always slide foreward under brakes or a big bump especially if you back off.
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Old 12-13-2009, 5:54 PM   #60
 
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Re: Increasing the ride height on a Honda CBR 1100XX

Hello,

Is this still okay to do with an aftermarket seat?
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