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Message started by cFLOW on 08/23/07 at 05:42:46

Title: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike"
Post by cFLOW on 08/23/07 at 05:42:46

I finally got around to lowering the the front end. It only took about 45 min. with the fab work Ill post post a how too but, dont really need pics if you have removed the fork before. follow the manuel until you have l loosend the bottom allen bolt, then pull the fork tube out. pour out oil, take a wooden dowel or broomstick Thanks to max morley for this one. make a square, taped end to fit  in the end of the damper . put the dowel into the damper and with a light tap of hammer your there, now take the allen bolt out. pull the damper out. Add your length spacer to the bottom of the damper after the spring. reinstall. now cut the the metal spacer at the top cut less than the length of the spacer at the bottom to have extra preload or same for stock preload. now add the fork oil or ATF  and put it all back together. The nice thing about doing this is you dont have to pull for seals or anything out of the forks. Its a breeze I'll have pics some time today or tomorrow if you want pics heres is the link to what I used to help me

http://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5317

Go down about half way to Scrapers' post the theory is the same for all forks but we dont have to cut our springs

Title: Re: I DID IT YEA.
Post by steely on 08/23/07 at 05:57:45

Cool!  I can't wait to see pictures of yours.  The Jockey Journal is a great site, as is it's sister site the Jalopy Journal.  The H.A.M.B. has helped me out with my '58 on more than one occasion.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEA.
Post by islandwahine on 08/23/07 at 11:39:13


cFLOW wrote:
I finally got around to lowering the the front end. It only took about 45 min. with the fab work Ill post post a how too but, dont really need pics if you have removed the fork before. follow the manuel until you have l loosend the bottom allen bolt, then pull the fork tube out. pour out oil, take a wooden dowel or broomstick Thanks to max morley for this one. make a square, taped end to fit  in the end of the damper . put the dowel into the damper and with a light tap of hammer your there, now take the allen bolt out. pull the damper out. Add your length spacer to the bottom of the damper after the spring. reinstall. now cut the the metal spacer at the top cut less than the length of the spacer at the bottom to have extra preload or same for stock preload. now add the fork oil or ATF  and put it all back together. The nice thing about doing this is you dont have to pull for seals or anything out of the forks. Its a breeze I'll have pics some time today or tomorrow if you want pics heres is the link to what I used to help me

http://www.jockeyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=5317

Go down about half way to Scrapers' post the theory is the same for all forks but we dont have to cut our springs

Perfect timing!
I need to do this myself this weekend, and desperately wanted some pics to go with it.
I hope I can pull this off as well!

Title: Re: I DID IT YEA.
Post by cFLOW on 08/23/07 at 17:13:32

Here it is

Before: http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s53/Cabber_photos/Picture8949-1.jpg


After:
http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s53/Cabber_photos/Picture91831.jpg  

NOW HOW COOL IS THAT

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH.
Post by islandwahine on 08/23/07 at 21:28:28

PRETTY COOL!!! Nice job  ::) (an eyeturner)

Did you run into any problems with the parts inside the shock?
I was planning on ordering the parts (dust and oil seal) from bike bandit seeing our Suzuki dealer can't get them here sooner than 2 weeks. When I saw the order schematics there were a bunch of other little things inside the (??what do you call that tube thing??). Should I order all of those things just in case they might be broken? I'd hate to have my bike sit in the garage until one of those tiny parts finally got in.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH.
Post by steely on 08/24/07 at 04:23:46

Very nice!  Subtle, yet it changes the stance of the bike.  Has it done anything to sharpen the steering?

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH.
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 08/24/07 at 05:46:35

Wow, a Lowered Savage.. I thought we rode short machines in the first place, that thing IS way short! Looks nice. Doesnt that thing pound you, tho? I thought I saw an offer for a free upholstery job on that bench. Cant call it a seat with no padding!

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH.
Post by cFLOW on 08/24/07 at 06:02:33

I actually havent got a chance to ride it yet, tank have  a crack in it  that i plan to fix today. And to Island all you have to pull out is the damper. nothing else. The seat is actually quite comfortable considering the lack of foam. I covered it myself with free stuff friend gave me. Heres some pics of what it looks like disassembled notice that nothing is taken off the forks. it actually only took about 3 min. to pull the damper out. The  spacer has been added to the damper in the pic

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s53/Cabber_photos/Picture91833.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s53/Cabber_photos/Picture91834.jpg

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH.
Post by islandwahine on 08/24/07 at 11:43:06

Actually I need to change the oil in the shocks, and replace the seal, because I have oil leaking out of it. I thought you had to do all that too in order to change the hight, but I guess not. I just didn't want any surprises before starting this, that's why I was asking.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH.
Post by Savage_Rob on 08/24/07 at 13:50:28


islandwahine wrote:
Actually I need to change the oil in the shocks, and replace the seal, because I have oil leaking out of it. I thought you had to do all that too in order to change the hight, but I guess not. I just didn't want any surprises before starting this, that's why I was asking.

You're talking about changing the oil in the forks, not the shocks.  These are shocks.
http://i16.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/b0/df/02e9_1.JPG
If I remember correctly, in another post you said at least one of your fork seals was leaking.  If that's the case, you do need to change the seals or it/they will continue to leak.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&qu
Post by cFLOW on 08/24/07 at 17:48:52

It now rides like a sportbike. yep hugs the corners feels super stable and comfortable. best thing iv done to the savage ever, cept everything else LOL But im really glad i didi it feels completely different.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH.
Post by islandwahine on 08/24/07 at 20:27:43


Savage_Rob wrote:

You're talking about changing the oil in the forks, not the shocks.  These are shocks.
http://i16.ebayimg.com/06/i/000/b0/df/02e9_1.JPG
If I remember correctly, in another post you said at least one of your fork seals was leaking.  If that's the case, you do need to change the seals or it/they will continue to leak.

OOPS! I thought forks and shocks were the same thing! They both stop you from breaking your teeth when hitting another pothole!
And yes I am going to replace the seals, I had wanted to do it this weekend, but did not realize that it is not a common item for our Suzuki store to have in stock. He said it would take two weeks. I'm going to order it through Bike Bandit though, seeing as I just got my chrome toolbox cover, and it took less then a week to get here after I ordered it. Very speedy!!!

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&am
Post by Bugscraper on 08/25/07 at 13:53:39


cFLOW wrote:
It now rides like a sportbike. yep hugs the corners feels super stable and comfortable. best thing iv done to the savage ever, cept everything else LOL But im really glad i didi it feels completely different.

Excellent!  Glad somebody pioneered this mod.  Now looks like a serious motorcycle instead of some kinda wannabe (no offense to you chopper guys); and, I bet it does handle well.  Bike shoulda come stock this way (front AND rear lower).  Gotta be better for beginners, too.  Good for yourself, Cflow; hat's off to ya.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&qu
Post by babbalou on 08/25/07 at 15:13:26

Very cool mod there cFlow. Why didn't I think of that when I had my S40? :P Looks to have plenty of ground clearance left too.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&am
Post by jkhulon73 on 09/16/07 at 13:16:45

Here we go.  ;D

I'm just starting to attempt this mod since I was needing to change the seals... just waiting for the old oil to drain.

Edit: I know I said something about this another thread, but I wanted to bump this one up so I could find it easier...

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&am
Post by jkhulon73 on 09/17/07 at 09:00:25

Just got back about... twenty minutes ago from the test run. This mod is Fantastic! It was like riding a new bike! I felt a lot more... confident going through the twisties on a little back road 'round the corner. And that 'rhumba" vibration I'd mentioned somewhere else? Gone.

Pretty sweet.

http://home.comcast.net/~joehulon/BnA_lowered_sm.jpg

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&qu
Post by Savage_Rob on 09/17/07 at 09:32:50

Since I raised the rear with 12.5" Progressive shocks, I don't think I want to lower the front.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&am
Post by cFLOW on 09/17/07 at 10:04:50

Glad to here it worked for you. its like having a new bike. like what everyone said before,it looks good too.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&am
Post by Odar on 09/18/07 at 06:06:53

Hi Corey
I am waiting for some extra springs that I ordered from a company here in Sweden, because I didnt want to cut original ones, I ordered 140mm 5,51inch (original 182mm 7.17 inch) because it was a standard spring, they measured one of the original ones for the springrate and got a figure 36 the new ones have a rate of 48 so they are stiffer, I might have to make spacers for 10 mm but we will see.
Next thing is to go for the front fork.
When both front and resr lowered did you have to make any chances for the side stand?
Odar

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&qu
Post by cFLOW on 09/18/07 at 06:15:32

No actually i didnt need to, it is close though if you were to park anywhere with a slope away from the kickstand it would fall it is almost perfectly perpendicular to the ground. but to fix that all you would have to heat the stand up with a torch and bend it a little.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&am
Post by Odar on 10/11/07 at 13:59:36

Hi Cory
The spacer you did, if I measure in your picture about 5,5 cm (a bit longer then 2 inch) I plan to only go for 4 cm, but my question is did you make the hole 20 mm or did you go a bit bigger, was it tight to put on or did you make the spacer a bit wider at the centerhole? Outer dia did you make that app. 30 mm.
I have taken the hole front forks apart and cleaned everything, going to change the seals as well when doing the lowering. Did you use aluminium or SS for the spacers?
Howe mutch less did you cut the top spacer compared to the spacer at the bottom to get some extra preload on the spring?.
Sorry for all the questins, but want to have some figures that I can use.
Thanks in adwance Odar

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&am
Post by Odar on 10/18/07 at 01:29:31

Done with the lowering fork, everything came out perfect with howe mutch its lowered and the preload, but there is one thing that happend so have have to redo it.
What I did was using to separate spacers in eaght tube that I had, one straigth pipe for 2 cm and one with a small extra ring at the top against the spring, this make the spacer with the extra ring moving slower in the forkoil and make a sound when hitting the other spacer. Hope you understand what I try to explaine.
Now for the question for Cory and other that have done this mode, have any of you heard a sound from the fork when pressing it together hard and quick or is it because I used 2 separate ones instead of only one?
Anyone have the figures what high the front blinkers are from ground at center standing strait up, I did forget to measure the hight before I lowered the bike?
Odar


Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&am
Post by cFLOW on 10/18/07 at 19:12:20

I think it is b/c you used to separate spacers for the drop, I haven't heard any noise from mine( the last time I got to ride it that is). I would not worry to much about it now but to get rid of the noise I would think that you need to use on spacer .

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&am
Post by Odar on 10/19/07 at 08:09:21

Iam not worried for the sound at all and the bike did ride wery well, I didnt put in some extra preload at all  but I change to a thicker oil 20w - 30 and that was enought for preload, started with 2 cm extra for the spring. I came in from the garage 5 minutes ago and I started to remove everything again to change to solid spacers, I know that if I dont do it right away its going to be there, so the forks are hangeing upsidedown for draning for the moment.
The bike locks like this with both front (1,57 inch spacer)and rear (1 inch at the shock) lowered.
Odar
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v124/Odar1/IMG_5741.jpg?t=1192806721

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&qu
Post by Bobster on 10/22/07 at 16:21:44

What size spacers do you need? I mean diameter wise. And where to get them?

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike&am
Post by cFLOW on 10/22/07 at 16:36:13

I personally used some pieces of handlebars that I had lying around so something around 7/8' I.D. or close not exactly sure.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike"
Post by Michael L on 02/20/14 at 09:34:32

cFLOW, did you assemble the forks with the spacer located as on the pic??? In that case it's in the wrong order. Spacer goes on first, and then the spring.. Maybe that was what you guys were talking about earlier in the thread, about the clonky noise..?

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike"
Post by Dave on 02/20/14 at 12:52:59


4F7035363333030 wrote:
cFLOW, did you assemble the forks with the spacer located as on the pic??? In that case it's in the wrong order. Spacer goes on first, and then the spring.. Maybe that was what you guys were talking about earlier in the thread, about the clonky noise..?


Michael L.

cFlow has not been on this site is 4.5 years.  If you click on the forum name, you can see when the last time a person logged on or posted on this site.

Title: Re: I DID IT YEAH. "ride like a sport bike"
Post by nhbiker1 on 08/27/14 at 19:09:32

will lowering your front end change the rake & trail for the better?

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