Shane661
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posted February 08, 2009 07:27 AM
 Edited By: Shane661 on 8 Feb 2009 17:16
Fork Lowering Blocks, 1.5 or 3"?
Does anyone have internal lowering blocks on their 14? I see two sizes, 1.5" and 3". Is this the amount the forks are shortened with the blocks, or the amount that the bike is dropped?
I am trying to figure out my actual suspension travel with the blocks installed.
Thanks.
Shane
  
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dubious
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posted February 08, 2009 09:13 AM
I am quite sure they shorten the travel and lower it that ammount.
They reduce the height or length by reducing travel available.
Yesterday I was just looking at a 14 that had the 1.5" installed, and it clearly only had approx 2.5 inches travel left with no rider on board sitting on the floor.
The forks measured 25-3/4" from the center of the axle to the top of the fork tube as I was comparing everything to my GSXR1000 forks.
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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Shane661
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posted February 08, 2009 09:16 AM
I was thinking about going lower than 1.5". I figure I will end up running very little sag, and heavier oil, with increased preload. But 3" seems just too much.
Shane
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dubious
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posted February 08, 2009 09:27 AM
I would be wary of 3" as well. When a bike bottoms out hard it tends to make the front end swap... tank slappers are the biggest fear for anyone who has survived em...
Years ago I had a frt tire go flat at 150 mph on my GSXR1100.
It didn't blow out, it just leaked out real quick, when I tried to slow down it shook violently from 150 to 130 MPH.... that is most scared I have ever been in my life.
It would shake when let off so I would speed up again, when I realised I was running out of road and saw traffic approaching I prayed to god, squeezed the tank with my legs, put all my weight rearward, stiffened my torso, held the bars as tight as possible and used only the rear brake to slow down till I road through the wobble zone.
Yeah I was 20 yrs old... I would never ride that fast around traffic these days...
sorry for the threadjack.
I would think 1.5" and a strap for further lowering if necessary would be better.
The strap will give you tons more preload than the spacers.
____________
natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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Red1
Expert Class
Posts: 442
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posted February 08, 2009 12:00 PM
Edited By: Red1 on 8 Feb 2009 20:01
Shane,
I have the Schnitz internal lowering blocks on my 14 and I had them on my 12 as well. Anymore than 1.5" if you are going to ride on the street is DANGEROUS. I run stock wheelbase and do the occasional dragstrip day. To me with the bike lowered it feels even more stable at high speed. My bike does a small ( 6-8 inch ) wheelie in first gear and I think the bike being lowered helps. I'm currently running 16/41.
Riding a bike lowered isn't for everyone but personally I love it. Suspension up front is a little stiffer but the 14 suspension is extremely soft upfront from the factory anyway.
Just my .02.
Thanks,
____________
Red12/Blue14
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Shane661
Needs a life
Posts: 11494
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posted February 08, 2009 12:37 PM
Edited By: Shane661 on 8 Feb 2009 20:38
I normally strap it down quite a bit since it is lowered in the back. Of course, at the dragstrip I really slam it down. I still need to use the strap at Maxton, as it is now.
I'm trying to get away from having to pull the strap down so much to level the bike. I will probably end up either with the 1.5", or a little more. The bike won't see very much street use this year.
Thanks for the advice, I'm hoping to pull the forks this week.
Shane
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Compton
Zone Head
Posts: 969
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posted February 08, 2009 05:20 PM
3" on mine. street ride all the time. only dented a couples of header tubes and took put one oil pan.
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b.w.
zx14, little longer, little louder, little lower.
08 Busa, just a little longer and louder and lower than the 14
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