zx-twitch
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posted April 26, 2009 06:34 AM
lowering blocks???
I just bought some race tech springs for my front forks and have yet to install them. Well I just came across a set of lowering blocks for a good price. My question is can I use them with the race tech springs and how exactly do they work? do they just decrease the range of travel of the fork or do they actually lower the fork? If they just decrease the range of travel I will be sliding the forks up in the tree. I just bought a low profile plug from shane so I am not hugely worried about that. And my last question is: When I ordered the springs from race tech they said with my weight and spring rate I ordered I wouldn't need to re valve it. My question is with lowering blocks installed (assuming I can use them with the springs) would I then need to re valve it?
  
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dubious
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posted April 26, 2009 06:59 AM
 Edited By: dubious on 26 Apr 2009 15:02
They reduce your travel, will work nice with springs, and stock valving is not position sensitive, it is pressure sensitive, (hydraulic pressure blows through the base valve discs).
Valving will remain the same...
That said, reducing the travel is better than taking out the pan as most are doing when sliding the forks more than 1.5" in the clamps... anything beyond 3/4" and the fender starts colliding with the fairing as well.
I think its a superior and safer way than sliding the forks up...
Bolt er all up...! 
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destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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zx-twitch
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posted April 26, 2009 07:05 AM
so if I install the blocks do the springs have to be shortened? or to I still slide the forks up? If I understand what your saying I will still slide the forks up but the blocks will prevent travel so it wont allow the forks to compress far enough hit the pan?
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Shane661
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posted April 26, 2009 07:11 AM
Edited By: Shane661 on 26 Apr 2009 15:12
Do not slide the forks up. The forks will be lower with just the blocks.
Sliding the forks up can lead to clearance issues.
Shane
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dubious
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posted April 26, 2009 07:13 AM
The springs are not shortened on most kits--Schnitz etc,
What you lose in initial fork length will be lost in travel
The overall compressed length is not supposed to change either, so you "SHOULD" be able to slide the forks up about 1" and shorten the forks without interference with the pavement, but you better strap it till its bottomed and measure ground clearance to be sure...
Also figure you lose 1/2-3/4" of clearance when the sidewalls compress from dropping out of a wheelie hard...
So many guys have wiped out their bikes or almost wiped them after blowing holes in their pans that everyone should be double checking ground clearance after mods, and accounting for tire squat when it gets dropped from 5 feet with 500 lbs on it...LOL
12 oclocks with throttle closed hammer violently....
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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Shane661
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posted April 26, 2009 07:18 AM
The basic problem with sliding the forks up is:
The bikes are generally designed, from the factory to reach suspension travel limits without destroying anything in the process. When you slide the forks up you are taking that safety margin out.
Lowering the forks internally does not change where they will bottom out. Once you slide them up, all bets are off....
Shane
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zx-twitch
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posted April 26, 2009 09:02 AM
I want a total drop of 1.5- 2" in the front to level out the drop in the back. sounds like I can safely do this with the blocks with no need to drop it in the clamps. assuming i go with the 2" block drop do you think I will have any clearance concerns? I.E. the fender bottoming out on the faring, or hitting the horn, or worse yet hitting the oil pan. Keeping in mind I just sent you the payment for the oil pan bolt Shane and will be doing the mod as soon as it gets here, and that the pan bolt will be done before the forks are dropped.
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dubious
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posted April 26, 2009 09:11 AM
Edited By: dubious on 26 Apr 2009 17:12
If you do not move the forks in the clamps, the wheel will not travel any further than stock.
The bike will sit lower but will not travel farther... interference will not change from the lowering blocks
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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dubious
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posted April 26, 2009 09:17 AM
quote:
The basic problem with sliding the forks up is:
The bikes are generally designed, from the factory to reach suspension travel limits without destroying anything in the process. When you slide the forks up you are taking that safety margin out.
Lowering the forks internally does not change where they will bottom out. Once you slide them up, all bets are off....
Shane
Agreed , thats why I cautioned to measure as he seemed quite intent on sliding the forks up.
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natural selection.....
destiny will overcome intervention.
Some are not worthy of the effort.
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zx-twitch
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posted April 26, 2009 09:37 AM
no I just wasn't sure of what exactly I needed. thanks for the help. I am gonna go with the blocks
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fury
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posted April 26, 2009 12:29 PM
I have the blocks installed in my forks. Nice. No issues.
Strapping was not an option in my mind.
Sliding the forks will screw handling characteristics.
Sorry for the short note I am on my cell phone.
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