Thinking of Lowering 1"

Stonecoldnf · 05-16-2007, 4:08 PM

Hey guys,

Well I bought my '02 BB in Dec/06 and have so far put about 400kms on it. Love the bike but I'm not very tall & I've been in a few situations that were frustrating.

I have read past posts on this topic but most replies seem to point out the loss of ground clearance and handling as big issues. I'm not an agressive rider and this would not be a great concern for me.

If I lower the rear 1" with a lowering link how would the bike handle if I slide the forks in the triples about 1/2" ? I realize lowering should ideally be equal front and rear but when riding two-up isn't the rear considerably lower?

Having said that does anyone have a lowering link for sale or suggestions as to where to get the best deal on a new one. Also how much will the side stand have to be shortened if I go this route?

Thanx
Lee

ironmike · 05-16-2007, 9:29 PM

Lee,

May I suggest that you try the lowering link before you raise the fork legs..? Generally speaking, it's not a bad idea to try one thing at a time...

Since you assert that you're not an aggressive rider the slight increase in rake/trail will be a tad more stable at speed, and the slight slowing of "turn-in" may not even be noticeable... While the ground clearance will be reduced with a 1" drop in the rear, it'll be more forgiving if you leave the forks alone... and you don't have to alter the side stand. You can always experiment with the forks later if you wish. For 2-up riding, you may want to increase spring pre-load a bit (and watch the bumps).

In just a quick check in the current (2007) Dennis Kirk catalog (p. 732-733) I found four different manufacturers of lowering links that'll fit the XX... the only real differences seem to be the aluminum (6061 T6 or 7075 T6) and prices ($124-130).

Finally, I'd be remiss If I didn't suggest that you check with some of our member/vendors who could probably cut you a better deal...

Be safe... and remember - you can always put it back the way it was...

chuckfastbird · 05-16-2007, 11:37 PM

Hi, I bought the lowering bone off ebay for 89 plus shipping only a 1 or a 3 inch drop. They also have one ebay that is adjustable to what ever height you want as little as a half inch. I also took my seat to interior guy and he cut a inch out of it still feels great plenty of padding and you can leave it at standard height that only cost my 50 dollars reued the same skin. Chuck

WOLFCHIEF · 05-16-2007, 11:54 PM

One of my past 4 Blackbirds had a lowering link already on it when I bought it on ebay. It looked great and handled well on the 800 mile ride back to my house after buying it. The next days I took it out on the curvy twisty mountain roads where I live..........it had a 4-1 Muzzy on it. A little to often the bottom of the pipe would scrape the pavement around some curves and over minor bumps. Then twice hitting certain curves to the right.....maybe had something to do with how the curves were banked(angled), the pipe scraped hard, but it would send me or should i say it catapolted me into the oncoming lane.......thank gawd the was no oncoming traffic. Scared the shit out of me twice and that was all it took. Went straight to the shop and had that lowering link removed!!!

Just thought I would share my lowering link experience!!!!

Stonecoldnf · 05-17-2007, 1:01 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. I will try the lowering link only and see how it feels before making any changes to the forks. Thanks for the warning Wolfchief, riding into oncoming traffic is high on my 'Not To Do' list.

I'm also going to check into having the seat foam shaved somewhat. When reusing the same cover how does it fit the new shape? Is it loose or can it be pulled snug for a stock look?

Anyone with a lowering link for sale...anyone?

Thanx
Lee

chuckfastbird · 05-17-2007, 5:26 PM

Hi,

You can pull it tight or use a differant skin of your choice when I lwered my bike the inch when I had a passenger it hit the undertail if I hit a bump.

Chuck

breakaleg82 · 05-29-2007, 10:57 PM

From stock my 03' model was lowered 1 and a 1/2 inches down the front fork and 1 inch in the rear with a lowering link. As far as handling goes- I didn't notice any significant changes but I don't push the bike to find any either. I've been busted up once and I don't have nine lives to do it again. My bike is set up for highway/street commutes. So, if your riding style is similar than you shouldn't have any problems at all.

HANKSXXX · 05-30-2007, 10:08 AM

Lee, I started a thread about lowering the back 1" by turning the triangular plates around. I was hesitant to make any predictions/assumptions at the time, since I hadn't ridden it...but, I rode for a week on the roads around Asheville NC with some of the locals at a pretty brisk pace and can't find any reason not to do it that way. My buddy that does suspension work, NcRick, rode the bike quite a bit and loved it. With the bike on the centerstand, there was 6" of clearance between the top of the tire and the inner fender. The rear suspension allows 4.7" of wheel travel, so there is 1.3" to play with. By rotating the triangular pieces clockwise when viewed from the shifter side 120 degrees, or pointing the arrow up, there is now 5" of space between the tire and inner fender.
I also lowered the front 1/2". Rick redid the front end. The only downside I could find is the slight loss of cornering clearance. The upside is a much more secure feeling when stopped for us guys that are vertically challenged.
If any of you guys know of a reason that this shouldn't be done, please let me know immediately.
Hank

Stonecoldnf · 05-30-2007, 9:53 PM

Thanks for the replies guys. I am not an aggressive rider so the decrease in ground clearance doesn't worry me. I am a man on a budget so the triangular plates idea is very interesting. Which plates exactly are you talking about and how hard is it to do this modification? Any pics? Also did you have to shorten your sidestand, if so how much?

Since my original post I've had a mishap that makes me want the lowering even more. Leaving my driveway one morning (very slowly as the neighbor's van had my view of the street to my left blocked) my front tire slipped for a split second on some sand on the street. The bike tilted to the right and I thought 'no big deal, catch the tilt with my right leg' ...on level ground I can almost flatfoot with both feet, but because of the downward slope of the driveway and a small drop from the sidewalk to street, by the time my foot touched down the bike was leaned to the point of no return. I am about 220lbs and a fairly strong guy but just didn't have the leg length to bring it back to vertical. I stubbornly struggled til I felt my lower back giving up and very gently let it down to the sidewalk

I stepped off, picked the bike up and saw the damage to my paint. As it wasn't moving forward there are no scratches but lots of 'pits' where the black plastic of the fairing is showing. So guys if anyone knows a reason not to try HANKSXXX method please share your thoughts.

Thanks again
Lee

HANKSXXX · 05-30-2007, 10:45 PM

Lee, I've got about 2000 miles set up as described and I can't find a reason not to do it. Look under the bike at the front of the swingarm. The plates attach to the bottom of the shock, the swingarm, and the link that comes rearward from the frame. There are 3 bolts that go through them with nuts. Put the bike on the centerstand, put something under the wheel, remove the bolts and nuts, rotate the plates clockwise 120 degrees clockwise when viewed from the kickstand side (Directional arrows that did point towards the front will now point upward and reward), lift the rear wheel up to get the last bolt in, and tighten to spec. It's harder to get on the centerstand but still doable. Sidestand is unmodified. As an aside, I had lunch with a Honda Sport Touring Club from Michigan at a friends house in Asheville. I talked to a good number of the members about this mod and someone suggested that perhaps Honda designed the plates with this in mind...Dunno, but it seems to work real well..As said before, if someone knows of a reason not to do this, please let me know...Hank

Stonecoldnf · 05-30-2007, 11:11 PM

Thanks for the info Hank, sounds like a pretty straight-forward procedure. My bike's getting lowered very soon, I'll let you know how it goes. Can't thank you enough.

Lee

gunner1374 · 05-31-2007, 2:02 AM

I have a 1" and 3" lowering link. Let me know if interested. Slightly used. $40+shipping

JohnS · 06-03-2007, 5:18 AM

I have also rotated my rear suspension plates to lower the rear and have done one long highway trip and some weekend riding with no problems. In addition I have lowered the front 15mm.

I dont have a clearance problem yet and plan on leaving it the way it is.

JohnS

Stonecoldnf · 06-13-2007, 11:44 AM

Well guys I did the triangular plate rotation and now my feet are firmly planted at stops, nice secure feeling. Got invited by a friend at work to come along on a ride with him and his buddies this past weekend. We left friday morning and got back sunday evening. Put about 1200kms on the bikes and I think it handles great. Got into some nice twisties and the guys on the sport bikes didn't lose me. I got really comfortable on this bike during those 3 days and man this machine is awesome.

We had my BB, an RC51, 2 CBR600RR's, a VFR800, 2 750 Shadows, a Goldwing and a custom built Suzuki-Honda. The guys on the sport bikes had sore asses and wrists before we got to our cabins on the lake which was maybe 325kms. I was very pleased with the comfort of mine and the guys all asked why I wasn't squirming around on the seat like the most of them...love the Blackbird. The VFR clip-ons I installed a while ago made a world of difference for me.

I had planned to bring the fork tubes up through the triples about 12mms but with the VFR bars on my clutch hose from the master is plenty tight now, I don't think there's enough slack there to move them any. Anyone have a suggestion as I'd like to lower the front a little.

Thanks again Hank, I'm very pleased with the rear down 1" and it didn't cost me a cent.

Can't wait for the next long ride!

Lee

JohnS · 06-16-2007, 8:08 AM

Stonecoldnf

It shouldn't make any difference on the clutch line as the relative positions are not changing. Just get a 12mm allen key or anything flat that is 12mm thick to use as a spacer. loosen the clamps on one forkleg but not the bars. on the left side you better loosen the clutch master or remove it.

When you loosen the clamps push down till the tube slides up through the triple clamp and then carefully jack the bike up with the spacer between the handlebar bracket and the triple clamp. When the bracket is gripped tightly retighten the triple clamp bolts pull out the spacer and the lower the bar down to touch the top triple clamp again.

Repeat for the other side and it will be exactly 12mm lower.

JohnS

JohnS

RedbirdXX · 06-16-2007, 11:09 AM

Hank,

Heard this on the other BB forum about the rotation of the plate mounted to the shock. Definately giving this a shot myself!

Mark

Just did mine. I can flat foot now, I am 5'8", 30" inseam. Going out for a ride now to check it out!!!!!!!!

WELL IMHO FOR ALL YOU GUYS THAT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE YOUR FEET A LITTLE FLATTER ON THE GROUND AT A STOP, ROTATE YOUR TRIANGLES. I had been thinking about lowering links. Just didn't like the way they work or really had full trust for them.

I only rode about 25 miles after the change. But, it was dramatic. I actually felt like I had more control of the bike, maybe too much! It would be easy, for me, to overdrive or feel too confident when approaching turns and twists.
I did not push it too much. I did, kind of, find out where the limits would be.

It was not under nor over steering. Every turn was smooth. To me it actually felt better sitting back a little further and this slight bit lower. Before I always sat right on the tank. I was able to sit back a bit and it was real nice.

NOW, I was not on a track or dragging my knees. If you are pushing that hard, DON'T LOWER IT. You will grind your pegs down to nothing and could get scraped up real good. It could also be worse. But, if you just like steady riding and sweeping turns and want to be a little more comfortable this is the fix. That is if you are probably 5'8" or less.

SilverXXRider · 08-29-2008, 10:26 AM

I would like to thank all of you who posted up on this thread this is great info and I can't wait to try it out on my Bird. The other day I sat on my 1000F (which I haven't done in a long time) and noticed that it sits a lot lower than my Bird. I thought to myself "man this is so comfortable" don't get me wrong I love my Bird but damn the old 1000F is a lot more comfortable. So I did a search on lowering the rear and this is what I found. I am going to do this this weekend so I have it ready for the NeXXt ride.

TESLACOIL · 09-17-2008, 3:17 AM

i gone 1 step further drillign the plates to lower even more see my post

.see gallery for pic -- can seem to upload her grrrrrr!