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Buell Forum » 1125R Superbike Board » Archive through February 19, 2012 » Why Would You LOWER The Forks??? « Previous Next »

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Rogue_biker
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2012 - 07:10 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Please explain why you would LOWER the forks from the triple clamp.

I was reading an old Sport Rider article and KK complained that the 1125R has handling issues that consisted of slow turn in and tendency to stand up under acceleration out of a corner. Their solution was to lower the forks through the triple clamps until they were “nearly flush with the triple clamp”.

I was reading another article about the BMW S1000RR changes in 2012. One of the changes were to lower the forks to raise the front end.

Now, I’m reading the Buell Owner’s manual on suspension adjustment. According to the manual, if you want your 1125R to turn quicker, increase rear spring preload to raise the rear of the bike. If you want even more quicker turn in, lower the front spring preload and raise the rear spring preload. The goal is to keep lowering the front and/or raising the rear. This method is something I have understood for a while now.

So, WTF is up with Sport Rider’s method of lowering the forks? Isn’t that counter-productive to quicker turn in?
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Slaughter
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2012 - 08:03 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

LOWERING the front end makes it "quicker" on turning-in. Dunno why Sport rider says to lower the forks (unless they MEANT lower the front end)
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Jdugger
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2012 - 08:08 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

Some of this stuff can be counter-intuitive.

In the case of raising the front end ("lowering" the amount of fork tube showing above the top triple), you are also increasing swing arm angle, the same thing you get when raising the rear end.

It's a system... and changes to one end do impact the other.
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Duphuckincati
Posted on Monday, January 23, 2012 - 08:09 pm:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

And raising the front (aka lowering fork tubes) slows the turn-in and may make it less twitchy going straight. Some feel the 1125 is a bit "nervous" and this calms it a bit. I've done it and am more comfortable with the tubes being flush at the top. I'm on a high-bar CR with damper. And I'm not as quick as I used to be. And the older I get the faster I was.

YMMV for sure.

(Message edited by duphuckincati on January 23, 2012)
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Mesozoic
Posted on Thursday, March 15, 2018 - 12:10 am:   Edit Post Delete Post View Post/Check IP Print Post    Move Post (Custodian/Admin Only) Ban Poster IP (Custodian/Admin only)

So I tried this (lowering the forks to gain some ride height) on my '09 1125CR and found that it introduced a fair bit of headshake at high cruising speeds (80-85 mph). I'm running the stock Clubman bars, though.
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