| Author | Message | ||
     Dvc357 |
I didnt want to put this seperate issue in my last post. Does anyone have any recommendations on lowering my '97 S3T. Often people recommend Westec and i've gotten their lowering blocks in the past, but apparently they are no longer making them. Even White Bros made lowering spacers but no longer. Any body out there modding swing arms or making custom blocks? Thanks | ||
| Ratbuell |
Try the rear setup from an M2L, and slide the fork tubes up in the trees as far as you can (I think you'll get about 3/4" before you hit the handlebars). | ||
| Dvc357 |
On that M2L set-up; do you mean the shock AND swing arm? | ||
| Purpony |
from what ive seen, most people modify the front shock mounting point. By welding to small pieces to it and basically moving the bolt location back slightly, will push the rear swingarm out/up farther causing it to be lowered. | ||
| Snowbees |
front shock mount i made to lower my x1, adjustable.  | ||
| Dvc357 |
Good day all, Unfortunately, since my divorce i have no access to a shop/garage. Does anyone know a competent person i could pay to fabricate something like that for me. By the way snowbee, that looks like a well thought out design, adjustability is premium. | ||
| Ratbuell |
I have to check, but I think the M2L was just a different shock assembly. I don't think (I could be wrong) that the swingarm was different.... | ||
| Snowbees |
'By the way snowbee, that looks like a well thought out design, adjustability is premium.' Thanks Dvc357 the shock mount works well, any good welding shop should be able to knock one up for you, The front shock mount profile is traced onto 10mm steel plate and plasma cut. M16 threaded tube welded to the base. I also dropped the forks as much as i could, the x1 forks being upside down. Please make sure the welding is on the overkill side and done by a competant welder, the last thing you want is the shock dropping off at 100mph. | ||
| Dvc357 |
Anybody else got some lowering options? | ||
| Bartimus |
here's what I did to lower an X1:    The ratio this works is about a 3 to 1. For every inch you move the shock mounting point back, it will lower the bike 3". I finally settled on 1/2" which dropped the back of the bike about 1 1/2" | ||
| Buellistic |
Dvc357: Snowbees Front Motor Mount Plate "IMPROVISE" looks good ... Their used to be someone that made a FRONT SHOCK Bracket to lower the rear end ... "NO" one ever talks about FRONT END which can be lowered by lowering the triple tree on the FORK TUBES ... "i" have lowered the front end this way to put more weight on the front tire ... "MAY THE LONG LASTING BUELL WITH YOU !!!" | ||
| Dvc357 |
Thanks for the pics and ideas guys! Also i do plan on lowering the front as well, but only after doing the rear. What i'm really hoping to find is someone who has knowledge of a shop or person that i can pay to fab one for me. Anybody know of a fabricator? | ||
| F_skinner |
Michael, pm sent. Frank  | ||
| Hotrats |
i've got a west-tek front shock mount - i think - let me look. i'll post pics if i do andyh | ||
| Skntpig |
I would like to Raise the rear ride height about an inch. I hate dragging the kickstand and shifer/pegs. Anyone want to make me a new front mount? I can't imagine riding a lowered buell. They're made for the twisties. | ||
| Hootowl |
Snowbees, that adjustable mount is the Bee's Knees! | ||
| Dvc357 |
Hey Frank, thanks for that reference, unfortunately they cant help me without a prototype/model. AndyH, if you have a Westec that you are at all ambivalent about, i'll buy it. I'd even rent it to use as a prototype/model. Are far as "twisties", no doubt, outstanding handlers. We campaigned a HD 750 and a Sprint in Leguna Seca in 1972. Did fast twisties through the early 90's. Now i'm about putting together a v-twin drag bike to beat up some of my v-twin peers. And, every inch you go down in the rear nets 0.125 seconds off the quarter mile elapsed time. | ||
| Snowbees |
trojan horse here in the uk do a set of neat risers that raise the handlebars by about 3/4" giving more room to raise the fork tubes in the yokes. Upside down forks are tapered so can only be dropped in the yokes by about 3/4" max.To drop any more you will need to replace the springs for shorter ones. Take the origional front shock mount as a template and a picture of my adjustable mount to any machine/welder worth thier salt and they should be able to knock one up | ||
| Hotrats |
Dvc357- sorry for the delay in posting a pic, but here it is....  it appears to be made of aluminum, about 1/3 thicker than stock steel. i think i'm more comfortable with a steel mount. | ||
| Brinnutz |
I've got an M2L rear shock with 15000 miles on it...it's the 14.5" flavor...Let me know if you are interested..I've got no use for it any longer as I have a Penske to put on. | ||
| Dvc357 |
PM Sent to Hotrat! | ||
| Terrycoxusa |
I'd be real careful about fabricating shock adapters. If they broke, you could crash and burn. If I wanted to lower, I'd get some type of one piece bracket. That West Tek piece looks nice. | ||
| Hotrats |
the west tek does look nice. i've read they produced steel ones. but this one is aluminum. even though it's about 1/3 thicker than steel.... i can't bring myself to trust it. anyone know anything about them? i can't find much info. dvc357 - pm replied | ||
| Scott_in_nh |
Does anybody know how much ride height adjustment, up and down, a Penske shock has? I know they are expensive, but if you were looking at an aftermarket shock anyway and the cost of having a adjustable lowering mount made - it might not be a bad choice... I'd like the ability to lower my bike 1.5 - 2 inches at the dragstrip and raise it maybe .5 inch for back road riding.... | ||
| Dvc357 |
Hey all, i have priced some adjustable shocks and ultimately an adjustable shock would be the way to go. Currently i cant find any adjustable shock for under $575. If i can find a West Tek shock mount to use as a model, i can have a prototype waterjet cut from 1 3/4" tool steel for $75, and then have that jetted part milled out for an additional $100. So, id have $175 into a custom shock mount. A lot, but a third of the cost of the cheapest shock. If i could just hit the damn powerball! | ||
| V74 |
if anyone is interested i have a used west tek front shock mount hanging around doing nothing,if anyone wants it make me an offer? i originally was given it to put on my M2 with a short shock to raise the back end of my bike(cant understand anyone wanting to lower the back end of a buell unless their feet cant touch the floor)but got a AST rear shock instead, on the right side you can see where the washers for the bolts where,and on the left side the lower middle whole has a mark around it where it was clamped against the crankcase, and it just needs a bit of a polish to get the finish to new, if no one wants it i was thinking of converting it to a front exhaust mounting bracket, | ||
| Brettx1 |
V74 PM sent | ||
| Dvc357 |
PM sent to V74. | ||
| Dvc357 |
Hey guys, anybody else have any successful lowering strategies? (considering i dont have a machine shop or welder at my disposal) |
