Lowering with the stock rear linkage ??

HANKSXXX · 04-08-2007, 6:14 PM

I was a bit bored today and was curious about the triangular shaped plates that tie the rear suspension all together. The spacing of the holes is not the same and with a little juggling, I found a position that lowers the rear of the bike 1". Now I realize this affects the handling and since it's a rising rate system, I'm guessing that the ratio would be changed also. Having said that, has any one tried this and what did you notice, besides being able to touch the ground easier? I'd appreciate any insight you might be able to provide...Hank

phillips2DAMAXX · 04-08-2007, 9:47 PM

Hank,
Not sure about adjusting stock link, but the XX I just purchased was lowered 3" in the rear and 1" in the front. Took about 5 days for the stock link to come in, so I went ona 300 mile ride witht the bike lowered. No difference in handling is noticed between stock and lowered. What you will give up is rear spring travel. So if you hit a humdinger of a bump or pothole, you could rub your back tire on your fender.

Hope this helps. If you are interested, I have the lowering link, which gives you a choice of 1 or 3 inch lowering. I will sell it to you cheap.

Scott

Toynut · 04-09-2007, 8:43 PM

If you raise the fork tubes in the clamps by an inch or so, you also stand a good chance of hitting the horn and brake hose brackets with your front fender. Assuming the same humdinger of a bump as noted above, or... if you are a bit larger than "petite".

HANKSXXX · 04-09-2007, 9:40 PM

Scott, thanks for the link offer, but I'm having an adjustable length shock built. This (rotating the linkage) was just an experiment and I can't see any reason why it wouldn't work for the vertically challenged. I was hoping someone had been there, done that.

Al, I've been petite + since I was 12 years old...LOL
I appreciate the heads up about the horn and brake line mounts,
but the intercooler hits first. SO, knowing that the front wheel travel is 4.3" and the intercooler/fender meet at 4.1", NCRick used a 1/2" internal spacer to limit front wheel travel to 3.8". I slid the fork legs down 1/4" in the clamps, which lost a 1/4" of overall height in the front while using the other 1/4" as the necessary clearance. The forks have a higher oil level to build the air stack quicker and I'll set the sag a little low to lose a little more hight in the front. Got Ricks valve kits in there, along with some 1.0 fork springs, so if all this comes together properly, ride and control will be improved while ride hight will be lower. The rear wheel has 4.7" of travel while there is 6.0" clearance between the top of the 190 and the inner fender, so lowering the rear 1" won't allow any bottoming out. Since I lowered the front less with more sag, I think more lowering with less sag will compliment the overall stance of the bike. I realize this all sounds good on paper (or maybe it doesn't) and I'm sure there will be some adjustments required after riding it. I really can't wait. Getting closer now....Hank

HANKSXXX · 06-18-2007, 10:08 PM

I thought I'd update this thread with some riding impressions after 3500 miles. I spent a week in the mountains around Asheville NC and rode to Laconia NH and back, along with riding in the White Mountains there and have to say, I can find no reason not to lower the bike this way. The bike flicks from side to side effortlessly, handles high speed sweepers like it's on rails and runs straight and true at go to jail speeds. I guess the rest of the suspension helps, but I think if there were any inherant instability issues, I would have seen them. I feel much more secure being able to put both feet down flat at a stop and that alone is worth lowering the bike. Lemme know if you have any questions...Hank

RedbirdXX · 06-18-2007, 10:41 PM

Hank,

I don't know if you found this out or someone else. I read it on both BB forums Saturday morning. Switched them around Saturday afternoon, rode about 25 miles or so after, straights, sweeping turns, and semi tights. Took it to work today.
My impression is it worked out great for me. It helped me feel more in control throughing into a turn. Now, I wasn't on a track nor knee dragging. But the steering actually felt more comfortable, like it needed to. Plus the fact that I can flat foot at a stop now was a big positive. I know I can't lean as far in a turn now but I don't ride that way too much anyhow. Did nothing to the front, kept stock position.

Thanks for the tip and Ride Safe,
Mark

Stonecoldnf · 06-19-2007, 11:07 AM

I totally agree. Have about 1500kms since the plate rotation and all's good...thanks again Hank.

Lee

Silverbird · 06-19-2007, 11:43 AM

That is a popular mod on the VFR forum. I think you rotate the plates one position clockwise.

slyxdevil · 06-19-2007, 1:12 PM

hank who made the shock for you ?

HANKSXXX · 06-19-2007, 5:14 PM

NcRick at Cogent Dynamics is making custom shocks.
Mine is a triple adjustable model with ride height adjustment.
Can't wait for him to finish it.

Hank

Beondwacko · 06-21-2007, 9:25 AM

Quote:

but the intercooler hits first

Ummm Hank ,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, is there something you want to tell us going on there or did you mean oil cooler ???

HANKSXXX · 06-21-2007, 9:44 AM

Nope...the oil cooler is tucked up inside the fairing.

The intercooler is mounted in front of the radiator.

It goes well with the Turbo...

Hank

googus · 06-22-2008, 2:45 PM

Just to confirm, which way do the arrow finally rest. I rotated clock wise and the arrow face up and are to the right. Is this correct and does anyone have a picture of the arrows?

HANKSXXX · 06-22-2008, 3:49 PM

Arrow is to the rear and faces up at the bolt through the swing arm...Hank

googus · 06-22-2008, 4:10 PM

Thank you. Now I raised my forks up from 1-5/8ths to 2inch. Is this the correct height?
Greg

HANKSXXX · 06-22-2008, 11:17 PM

That'll work...How's it feel?

googus · 06-23-2008, 3:17 PM

It feels the same before but I can't really say good or bad because the tires are in the craper and the bike handles like a pig with them on. Squared off if you know what I mean. Are you the fellow with the gold rims that was at the Chatterbox two weeks ago? My father and sister live in Hampton and fredon and I go up that way quite often threw Stillwater and around.
Greg

HANKSXXX · 06-23-2008, 8:04 PM

Yup, that's me.
New tires will make the world of difference.
If you don't have a good source, try Motorcycle Madness on Rt 94 in Lafayette...ask for Tommy, the owner and tell him Hank sent ya..He usually treats people I send there pretty well...Hank

googus · 06-23-2008, 8:36 PM

Thank you for the insight. I will look into them

TESLACOIL · 09-03-2008, 7:50 AM

any chance some one please post some pictures of the triangle before and after . with dimensions of the 3 sides in mm

TESLACOIL · 09-15-2008, 4:50 AM

bingo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

u can drill the triangle plates ( 10mm drill bit) to lower yer bird even more SEE MY GALLERY

just saved meself the cost of a lowering link

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see the hole the standard link attaches too

now drill an identical hole - up and toward the front of the bike

make sure you have the same thickness off aluminium ito the edge so the bolt wont rip through

the new hole edge is about 15mm from the old hole

( lowering link is longer than standard so the new hole is drilled in a point that makes the standard link feel longer - from the triangle plates point of view )

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confused

dont be , put bike on center stand - shove brick under rear wheel
undo bolt that attaches the straight link to the triangle plates

the straight link and triangle plates can rotate freely

now lying on the floor use yer elbow to raise the back wheel ( elbow wedged under the swingarm ) when you have the amount of lowering you want jam somthing between the brick and back wheel

now rotate the straight link up and thru the triangle plates till you have enough shoulder for a potential drill hole - mark it

double check - take the plates off the bike use tape or the bolts to keep em clamped together - now drill the triangle plates - use small pilot drill first - take care not to drill the plates at a funny angle or the holes in the triangle plates wont be the same

it took me all of an hour start to finish - sweet now the bird is like a 400cc bike riding position - bars are higher fairing is higher and i have a more upright position - i can get both feet flat on the ground with my knees quite bent at the same time

Oh joys of spring - went out for a test run round the block - came back 50miles later grinning

TESLACOIL · 09-15-2008, 5:23 AM

continued......................................... .........................................

97 bird - when i first got the bike handling stearing was light low and high speeds - nice - but bike was like a rocking horse on the brakes and throttle

suspension shot i guess - checked later the tyres where like 36 to 38 psi

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then i rotated the plates - stearing slowed a bit too much at low speeds so i upped the tyre pressure to 42psi front n rear - wow what a difference ( i normaly run my bikes a few psi under for better grip) but the bird just likes the standard 42psi front n rear

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then i drilled the triangle plates - i didnt measure the total combined drops but its at around 3 inches(suspension) total maybe up to 5inches cos i cut the seat right down too and removed the plastic base of the seat so its hard to measure when im not sat on the bike

( i think my arse is around 27 inches from the ground when im sat on the bike) im 5ft8 and this is brilliant

for me all round - i can paddle the bike forwards and backwards with ease - could only just about paddle backwards before the mods -

basically its it feels like a supercharged turboed 400cc with a heavy stearing damper fitted with NO2 coming in above 7k - loooool & looool some more

was worried the rear may become to firm but tbh its just perfect now - it was sloppy before - front has lost its slop too

straightline stability - read railroad tracks at motorway speeds

low speed very tight turns are a bit heavy - could live with it but im going to lower the front by at least 1cm to sharpen low speed steering up

rocking horse effect has gone alltogether - the bike just feels great

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if you are like me - sub 6ft average build or smaller and you do town work with the odd trip and even rarer Throttle to the stop A roads this is your setup up

yer bum will love u yer wrists will love u yer neck will love u and yer m8s see sparks showering forth from yer titanium sliders ( you do wear titanium sliders

) when u push hard at road legal speeds

do u realy want more?