I know how to raise the rear but how do I lower the front. On my zx6r I had no problem but that was so long ago I can't seem to get it on my bike.
Lowering the front end?
faceman
- Status
1 - 20 of 66 Posts
First, Jack stands. Loosen the lower then your upper tripple tree, while the front wheel is being supported. Such as wood blocks, holding your front , tire/forks, in the stock position.Measure your fork tubes in relation to your top tree. Calipers work good for this. Take an initial measurement. Loosen the tripple clamps, as to the manual, I'm sure you have? Slowly, the weigh of the front end, Gravity Thing, will want to push your fork tubes up through your tree. I would go to small increments at first. For example I lowered mine 8mm. That converts to about a 1/4 of an inch. You might be surprised about the quick turning. I suggest you be very careful, till you get used to it.
Joined
·
57,023 Posts
You would do it exactly the same way, the front end on the two bike are the same.
Get a triple tree stand and put the bike up on it. Loosen the the clamps and the clip-ons, and slide both forks up a little so that the same amount of fork tube length is protruding out from the top of the clamp......then tighten all the bolts back up. (be sure to torque the clamp bolts to the right spec so you don't crush and distort the fork tubes.
One other thing. If you are going to go as far to lower the front. You might want to do a complete suspension set-up, sag static etc. If you lower the front only, without considering the rear set-up. It could become unstable. If you need a baseline, go to SportRider, they have some good suspension settings for many different bikes. For example, I weight 113 lbs. When I first good my K-5 1000, the bike did not know I was one it. I had to tweek the shit out of it to make it rideable. Now the bike is very quick, and I'm still catching up.
Joined
·
89 Posts
i dropped mine so i could put my clipons above the top triple, huge comfort upgrade. the quicker steering is a bonus.
Joined
·
116 Posts
I might be saying this wrong but with my zx6r you could just turn one of the nuts on the triple tree and lower the front end according to how many lines were showing. But at the same time that was an 02 and it didn't have inverted forks so maybe thats why I cant do it on this bike. I just want to set up the suspention to better suit my rideing and make it more comfortable. I am 6'2'' so I have no problem touching the ground. Thanks anyway for all yall help.
Joined
·
57,023 Posts
???
Are you talking about the preload adjuster? That's the only nut with line that I can think of and that doesn't lower your front end per say. It adjusts how much preload is on the front springs.
Joined
·
116 Posts
Is that when you adjust it you see the lines come up above the triple tree?
i think faceman is talking about setting the preload. i tried to messed with the preload a couple of days ago but for so some reasons i couldn't see the line coming out, just like faceman described, even though i know i was turning it. Personally, i think it was because i didn't use a triple tree stand. going to give it another try and see how it goes. any suggestions or comments are welcome. thnx in advance.
Joined
·
13,893 Posts
Can you post a pic of this?
Do you mean you moved the clip on's so they are on top of the triples? Meaning you took the clip on's from below the triples and moved them to the top of the triples and dropped the front so they would fit?
Joined
·
89 Posts
ur exactly right, im on lunch right now but i will take a pic after work and post it up.
Joined
·
116 Posts
After further investergation it is spring preload that I was looking for. On some bikes as in my 06 zx6r spring preload is adjusted by showing the lines that come up above the triple, while others like our gsx-r adjust spring preload but turning the dial on the shocks. I just read the sportrider full test of the 08 750 and the 08 middleweight shootout and spring preload is adjusted as above. The Triumph the Ducati and the Yamaha are the only bikes that I see right now that uses the "lines showing" preload adjustment. I just did not know that all bikes did not adjust the preload in the same manner. Sorry for the run around question, still learnig all the "lingo" I just somewhat know waht I want to do. Thanks to everyone that tried to answer.
I also think that I going to try to set my bike up like sportrider say and see how I like it.
I also think that I going to try to set my bike up like sportrider say and see how I like it.
Joined
·
111,311 Posts
OH MY GOD :blink....... :eek :scared
this is such a BAdddddddddddddd idea. Please read up on suspension, and how it works. :eek...... and put it back.
must be...
Edit, apparantly so. But that is not lowering it. It is setting the preload, which effects the sag numbers.
With the K8, it doesn't show lines. You just have to turn it full in, then count backwards, etc, etc.
Joined
·
12,113 Posts
Remember it depends how and where you lower it.
Joined
·
111,311 Posts
No, not really. Any lowering adversely effects handling, period. What it does depend on is how you ride, thus how apt you are to notice, or suffer from the ill-effects of lowering.
1 - 20 of 66 Posts
- Status
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
-
?
