| Author | Message | ||
     Dcentric |
Hey all, I dont know if this has been discussed, but is it possible to lower a bolt to the same height as a cg? | ||
| M1combat |
Swap the suspenders. | ||
| Dcentric |
Is that it? same parts as lowering the XBS? | ||
| Fran_dog |
Yes it can be done and it has been done. What he said, "Swap the suspenders," you know, the front forks and rear shock. And don't forget to also change the side stand too. | ||
| Lucas70374 |
put the rear shock off a low model (yellow spring) The front you can drop in the triple trees a little. If still not enough you can get somebody to cut the foam out of your seat. Cut the front sides to allow your legs to get a little close when your legs are down. If you want to spend the money you can switch the springs in the front forks out. GOOD LUCK | ||
| M1combat |
Ummm... Just swap the forks and shock (or at least the fork springs). Please don't fork with the geometry much. Extreme amounts of engineering went into making each of the XB models very stable with "radical" geometry. You may not want to undermine that. Keep in mind that XB front forks go for a good deal of change on Ebay, so you can probably make a good portion of the money back. Redneck engineering is probably not the best idea with a world class chassis that's already very tight... and tite... | ||
| Dcentric |
I'm inseam challenged at 5'6 so any extra distance is good. thanks gents | ||
| Lucas70374 |
we had a female that bought a buell and we had to drop the forks in the trees. I am about 5'6" and I refuse to lower my bike at all. I know all about the geometry that is involved but sometimes you need to "sacrific" to get it lowered. I agree with you M1combat | ||
| M1combat |
The hell you do... No offense  ... Are you saying that you dropped the front by way of lowering the triples compared to their stock location on the forks? If so, that's a BAD idea on an XB that's not being raced. They have a factory defined setup for a reason. I'm not saying that it's the best setup for all situations... Heck, I'm quite a ways from it myself. Did you inform the customer that she may be taking a very serious toll on the inherent stability of the bike? A local here in AZ did that and the bike became VERY unstable (and I think he only dropped it 5mm). So much so that he made it about a block as I recall before he very carefully turned it around and set it back where it was. If you lower the front, you lower the rear the same distance. I suppose you also went ahead and re-adjusted the suspension so there wasn't a large weight bias towards the front? The only place you sacrifice safety/stability is on a race track and you do it for speed. Sounds to me like you should have gotten an "L" or "SCG" for her. "I know all about the geometry that is involved" I've had more than a passing interest in suspension theory (both two and four wheeled) since I was a little kid. I wouldn't make that statement myself, but I suppose some of us are just gifted. I'm sorry if this post sounds a little cocky, but recommending that someone just swap out one end of the suspension and then lower the front end as far as it'll go sounds pretty irresponsible to me. Sorry, but that's my opinion  . At least you wished him good luck though, so that's good. | ||
| Slaughter |
Dave Stueve has some mods he did for somebody where they didn't have to give up the suspension travel. You ought to hit him up to see what it was (my memory fails me) One of our race group has a lowered XB and it drags the bellypan in turns. He's going to standard suspension as it really limits corner speed. | ||
| Ronlv |
you can lower it internally front and rear just like they do dirt bikes for supermoto my freind(he owns a shop that builds race dirt bikes) is going to lower mine that way, you dont have to swap anything according to him find someone in your area that builds supermoto bikes and they will know how to do it | ||
| Fran_dog |
Dito what M1combat said... | ||
| M1combat |
"you can lower it internally front and rear just like they do dirt bikes for supermoto " And how much static sag does he expect you to have... None? If so... Not a good idea. That's a good way to start a tank slapper. The safe way to lower an XB is to swap to the "L" or "SCG" suspenders. If it was as simple as limiting internal travel then that's what Buell would have done. I don't believe they did. I believe they used shorter springs and shorter uppers. Same thing on the rear I think. | ||
| Glitch |
If you do it right, and swap suspenders, you'll love the result. One of our members (Along4thride) swapped her XB9R suspenders, with Fran_dog's. She let me ride it, WAY nice, I was really surprised at how neutral it made the bike feel. It also made it feel WAY tiny, which is what she wanted. I wonder why they don't offer an XBR-Low. | ||
| Kenny_v |
I have the same problem , being vertically challenged ..and I'm on a 12R I also raced motocross for 20 years semi-pro , I do know a bit about suspension set ups . I would not consider altering the geometry of the XB , as we all know even slight adjustments in the settings on these wonderful machines have either positive or negative effects on the bikes depending on your riding style . So to simply change the fork hight to get the desired 'seat hight' is not a great idea ... I would have to say a complete suspension change to a low set up would be the best bet , this is actually what I am condsidering but I am still a little hesitant on making that change ... just my opinion . | ||
| Tq_freak |
I agree M1, all there engineering went into the lower springs for a reason. i know most people are most likely looking for the cheep way out but when it comes to keeping the shiny side up its no place to start cutting corners. I was very leary of even changing the settings based on the table in the manual, the devil you know is better then the devil you don't, but I said screw it and what a totally different bike it is and I love it now even more then I did when I got it | ||
| Bake |
Ride any modern dirtbike and your Buell will appear to have shrunk!  | ||
| Ronlv |
i had a very respectable dealer tell me to buy the shorter rear shock and have the forks lowered having the suspension professianlly lowered is not the cheap way out and those same professianals would argue with you about the handling when there done i have never known stock suspension to be better than modified yet | ||
| M1combat |
First of all, if you lower the forks, the front end of the bike goes up. WRT a professional who lowers bikes... That's not what I'm suggesting. I suggested that they replace the suspension with the engineered to be lower "L" or "SCG" suspension. That's the correct solution. | ||
| Johnb |
Question, anyone recommend/share experience w/aftermarket for custom matched set/kit of shortened rear shock & fork springs thanks. Seems safe/inexpensive way to lower a standard XB buell assuming tools & mechanical competency. Is it really worth it? Simplified specs between SCG/XB's: SCG: gnd:3.55" frnt:2.91" rear:3.56" XB_: gnd:4.35" frnt:4.72" rear:5.06" DIF: 0.80" 1.81" 1.50" Tech susp dynamics aside, looks like 1.5-1.81" travel loss. This probably doesn't directly correspond into drop in seat hgt. 0.8" change in ground clearance is probably more realistic. Impact of low/stock/aftermkt seats not considered. So, if correct (someone please correct me), is an approx 0.8-1.5" drop worth it? Compromising susp travel & unknown aftermarket spring performance rates seems a risky gamble unfortunately; but, quest of the inseam challenged inevitable, I'm about 30", 5'-8". Please, not ranting/complaining/commenting on the need to flatfoot just wondering about the numbers. Approx price comparisons for ref, Complete CG fork assembly is $240-300 EACH fork. (if the buell retail price book is to be believed). Include whatever add'l needed due to 41 vs 43mm fork dia (clamps). Nothing came up on a quick search of ebay. Individual components: fork spring $10(?), rear spring $45. Probably should include new seals/washers/rings/fluids. Ideally, it would be great if Buell sold a spring lowering w/kickstand kit; but again, I think we're only talking about 0.8-1.5" lower which on the other hand could make all the difference.. right? wrong? Pro-Series Suspension Kit (NOT lowering kit) goes for $77!  | ||
| Ronlv |
here are some professianals that can lower your suspension trackside engineering mcr suspension durelle racing racetech paloverde mx moto-pro m1- dont argue with me(i am not a professional), take it up with them(professional suspension companies), but thanks for your advice, if buell had the "correct solution" why did you do this to your bike; Race Filter, Chopped Airbox, De-snorkeled, Techlusion and PCIII (just to have a choice), Force Exhaust, re-routed breather hoses to a Norris Performance Catch Can there are more than one option for lowering a bike do your own reaserch and go with whats best for you | ||
| M1combat |
And add "Drummer exhaust (just to have a choice)" as well. I thought we were talking suspension. I also mentioned up above that I'm quite a ways from the stock suspension setup myself. My forks are where the factory put them though... | ||
| Buellshyter |
The diameter of the front forks between the standard XB and the cg is different. I don't believe it's just a simple swap. Furthermore, I understand from other posts that the Buell Pro-Series suspension is too stiff for the road. | ||
| Daves |
Jeez guys! Depending on what year bike you have 03-04 are the same diameter forks,05-06 are the same, except for the SCG. So if you have a 03-04 you get the rear shock off a XB9SL or XB12SCG, the whole shock, not just the spring, the way I have been told, the valving is different in the shock to make up for the lower height. Then you buy the springs,damper assm and preload assm, they are different also. Or you have the front end worked over by an expert, I use Trackside Engineering. He knows these suspensions inside and out. If you have an 05-06 you do the shock and send the forks to Trackside Engineering. DO NOT raise the forks in the triple trees to lower the front end. |
