| Author | Message | ||
     Zatco81 |
 I can see that the front fork length is very short which I assume greatly reduces travel. That's why I asked why you would do that. I like the look of the front fairing being close to the fender and it's a really pretty bike IMO but I was just curious. | ||
| Iamarchangel |
The blue exhaust is pretty cool. Wonder if Drummer, Voodoo, etc, will make matching colour exhausts. | ||
| Brumbear |
the swing arm looks different and its chain drive maybe its an adjustable swing arm and he lowered the rear suspension for the bling of it | ||
| Zatco81 |
I do like the blue exhaust. I was mainly asking about the front forks. | ||
| Cryptic1911 |
? its a looking stock swingarm and its running a belt i'm gonna go out on a limb and say they cut or took the springs out.. there's no indications that it has some kind of air suspension.. just looks like its resting on fully compressed shocks does look cool though | ||
| Augustus74 |
Obviously just a show bike but its freakin' sweet!!! Oh, they make a link to limit front end travel for drag racing, maybe he compressed the forks and chained/bolted them down with this??? (Message edited by Augustus74 on May 28, 2009) | ||
| Zatco81 |
Boooo...What fun is a bike that you can't ride??? | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Those straps used for drag racing attach on either side of the axle and are looped over the top of the steering head. The bolt in the picture doesn't appear to have one of those straps attached. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
there are no straps or nothing, all of y'all are wrong, they cut the fork springs down and put them back in, its common practice. and they probably too cut the rear shock spring too to lower it. it has a belt drive, and thats the stock swingarm, and it looks like it has the buell race can on it (Message edited by ochoa0042 on May 28, 2009) | ||
| Zatco81 |
So if they cut the stock springs how does that affect handling, ride, safety etc... My wife says if I can lower the bolt she'll take it and I can get something else. Is this something I should consider and what is needed...ie: does the factory shock work with the cut spring? What is involved in doing this and has anybody here done it? I don't want to do it to this extent of course...just take an inch or 2 off the ride height. (Message edited by zatco81 on May 28, 2009) | ||
| Ramm |
That actually looks good, I haven't seen a Buell done up like that. All the other ones with the extended swingarm, or "lowered", looked horrible. This looks cool. I'm digging the blue exhaust. | ||
| Halffast |
Looks like about 3/4" of travel.  | ||
| Froggy |
Thats the new XB9RLCG! Thats hot, he stole my idea for the blue muffler and then the polished lip on blue wheels! | ||
| 03worc9r |
That firebolt looks sweet. That paint combo of blue and white is perfect......but killed the function of the bike by lowering it I think. | ||
| Boltrider |
Zatco - If you lower it, I imagine you would need to run more preload front and rear since you would have less travel. It would be a good idea to adjust the damping as well. Running more preload would give it a harsher ride, but proper damping would help it out. I've never lowered a bike, but have lowered a few cars using a similar principle of shorter, stiffer springs. A shorter spring with a stock spring rate would make it bottom out like a mofo. (Message edited by boltrider on May 28, 2009) | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
zacto- all you need to do it take the front forks out, cut them both evenly, and put them back in I imagine you would need to run more preload front and rear since you would have less travel.... cutting the forks is killing the preload, by cutting them your are significantly lowering the preload.. and make sure to jack up the damping so when under hard braking they dont bottom out as easily.. same as to the rear shock, but it is so god-damn hard to get the spring out of the rear shock, and even harder to put it back in. definately take it to the professionals to do the work for you on the rear spring. | ||
| Boltrider |
Maybe increasing the compression damping is what I meant. I think I just confused myself.  | ||
| Glen |
brings back memories of my old man holding a torch to the springs on his hippy van...heated the springs until they sagged and the bumpers were resting on pre placed cinderblocks, let springs cool, remove blocks and drive. | ||
| Midknyte |
That's the '03 swingarm, redesigned/changed around '05 or '06, so... | ||
| Augustus74 |
So Zatco - Was the bike for sale? Where was it? Did you see it in person or find it online? Any more pics??? | ||
| Ourdee |
I like the paint job. What is it good for? Oh oh oh, could ride it on one of those steel tracks they slide go karts around on. | ||
| Tq_freak |
Zatco- You are much better off swapping out the forks and rear shock/spring on the Bolt to the ones off of a Scg or SL if you are looking to lower it for the wife. It will handle much better, ride much better and I feel be safer in the long run. It also has the benefit or using all Buell parts so maintenance in the future is cake. | ||
| Randomchaos |
Ummm, just raise the forks up in the tripples to lower the front end? Not sure how far you can go with that method on the XBs, but its a fairly common, cheap, and easy thing. | ||
| Zatco81 |
I found the pic online (can't remember where) but it appears to be at a dealer. It will probably be a little while before I do anything but at least the options are there. Thanks. | ||
| Swordsman |
Wow, I bet getting that front suspension retuned properly is a bitch. As touchy as Xb's are about suspension, seems like trying to adjust for a mere 1" of travel would be nearly impossible. ~SM | ||
| Fast1075 |
The forks have been slugged or otherwise modified....usually done on dragbikes to get them as low as possible.. The forks on the bike in the picture are not legal for sanctioned dragracing...the minimum fork travel needed is 2 inches. | ||
| Ochoa0042 |
dropping the forks in the tripple tree will work, but you'd have to watch out under braking because the tire will hit the lower tripple tree and break the hugger. it will work, and that will be the first thing to try for myself, i cant believe i forgot to mention that. but the rear is the hard part, you have to lower them both in tandom or else you'll just be leaning much farther foward and putting lots of strain on the wrists and such |
