Lowering links

[wrecks]

Does anyone here have any lowering links on their bikes? and if so how badly does it affect handling?

[Sev]

It will depend how much you've lowered the bike, what kind of bike it is, and what you've done to the front end. Dropping the back end transfers weight to the (duh) rear, slowing up your ability to turn in. Makes everything a little stiffer, and the front kind of wishwashy. This won't be a HUGE difference, but you might notice it.

However, with most bikes you can drop the front forks through the triple tree a litttle way to drop both the front and the back hopefully maintaining the original suspension dynamics from the factory.

This will affect clearance, and the potential of you slamming your front fender into the top triple tree, or engine is increased when the forks are heavily compressed.

I've seen it done A LOT, it can be done, and safely, though it isn't something I'd want to do.

[Gadjet]

Lowering links also partially compress your rear suspension, which reduces suspension travel and load capacity. I know this because I had lowering links on my KLR, but I've since switched back to the stock links for better off-pavement capability and to reduce bottoming out.

[wrecks]

Thanks for the replies. You've got me thinking about the performance. Not like I can take my gsxr to its maximum capability anyway. I guess I'll try boots and if that doesn't work I'll cut up the seat.

[Ninja Geoff]

http://www.traxxion.com/contact.shtml

Talk to those guys. Tell them what bike you have, what you're looking for (lowered, performance, etc) and stuff and they'll be able to help you out. Can get pricey, ecspecially the Penske ones. Hell, an Ohlins shock is cheaper than the penske for my bike! Also, lower the front end as much as you lower the rear, or you're going to get a twitchy sport bike even more twitchier. Again, traxxion may be able to help you figure this out as well.

[High_Side]

If you lower both ends equally to keep the weight bias the same the bike will handle just fine. We lowered my wifes Monster and it works surprisingly well.....'cept when I ride it and ground off the hard parts underneath.....

[Sev]

If they touch down under spirited corners you probably didn't need them anyways.

[High_Side]

If they touch down under spirited corners you probably didn't need them anyways.

I'm just looking for an excuse to lose the catalytic convertor anyway. I figure if it's missing when I get home, I'll get a little more support (or a kick in the pants...)

[Sev]

When you decide to shave it off let me know, I'll go with you.

[High_Side]

When you decide to shave it off let me know, I'll go with you.

I gave it a really good go already this past summer when I went here:
Port Renfrew on Vancouver Island. Note the scrapes on the sides of the converter near the front. With the new tire that I had installed earlier in the day, the only way I could get to the edges was in perfectly smooth corners.....the road to Port Renfrew did not have many of these corners ( but I disposed of the chicken strips just the same )

The picture doesn't do this justice but this was about a 12 % grade. Now I know how the corkscew at Laguna must feel