blue07
Expert Class
Posts: 485
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posted August 17, 2010 10:01 PM
lowering
Hi all...been a long time since I was here.Hope everyone is doing okay.I have a question here.I lowered my zx14 1" front and back.My axle is adjusted to the third hash mark.I'm running 16/42 gearing.Chain and all is okay.My situation is...at stock gearing and stock height she would corner above 100 without any problem in the handling dept.Now however,she wants to weave at some curves above 100.I tightened my front preload,and ran the rear preload rings all the way to the top-she was hard as a rock just lowering her in the
rear,so that allowed some plushness.After readjusting my front and rear settings,the weave pretty much disappeared.However,it feels as if it may still raise it's ugly head at higher speeds.120 last night,and she felt firm in the curves,BUT...I sense it's not completely gone like when it was at stock height.I turned the rear comp. damping in all the way.That seemed to help.Also,I opened the rear preload damping to 3 turns.That seemed to help.Then I increased my front preload to 2 lines showing...that also helped.I'm 175 with gear,and frequently run canyon blasts over 120 mph(this is with no traffic and open roads).Has anyone had this issue with their 14? and how did you correct this.She's definitely on the right track.But I want really to know from someone here who has done this and can help me out.You all seem to have A LOT of experience with many types of 14 configurations.I can't find anyone on the web that can give me a clear answer.Thanks all.
  
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BobC
Pro
Posts: 1736
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posted August 18, 2010 12:26 AM
 Edited By: BobC on 18 Aug 2010 11:44
How did you lower the front? Dropping the triple's down the fork leg or shorter springs? It's possible that lowering the front and rear by different amounts has upset the steering geometry. You don't mention the swing-arm so I guess the wheelbase is still stock. A longer wheelbase would do it. Is the front tire profile still good, or is it worn? That can cause problems.
The only issue I ever had with the handling after lowering the bike was when it was also strapped at the front for LSR and sprints. I initially strapped it too far and there was no fork movement (or damping) at all on the front. This caused the occasional bounce and shake of the bars, easing the straps by half an inch cured it. On the road I ride with stock height.
If you'd asked how to make a ZX14 corner I would have said not to lower it in the first place. Set up the static sag properly for your weight, bump up the damping a bit and put some decent tires on it.
____________
Candy Thunder Blue 2006 ZZR1400
Stock wheelbase
Max: 205.4 mph in 1.25 miles
2012 ZZR1400 in Golden Blazed Green
Brock CT Full System. etc
Max: 203.1 in 1 mile (so far)
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blue07
Expert Class
Posts: 485
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posted August 18, 2010 09:38 AM
Edited By: blue07 on 18 Aug 2010 17:50
Okay...thanks Bob.Nice race times there and top end run!Lowered front by raising forks in triple trees/fork clamps.She's lowered the same both ends.I'm installing new tires tomorrow.See how that goes.May be all I need.The front's at twice the mileage as the back....probably around 7,000 miles by now(the front).That COULD be what's doing it all along.If it doesn't correct it(I COULD be okay with it how it is...it's not scarey bad),I'll probably raise er back up to stock and call it good.Again...thanks for your input.Ride safe!
I did increase the compression damping on the rear,to almost all the way,and raised the preload adjuster rings to the top of the shock....this seemed to really help the weave thing.Then I increased preload(it was already set for high speed and my weight)to two lines showing...that helped as well.
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