| Author | Message | ||
     Vortec57 |
So Ive had an 06 uly for a couple years. When I got it the PO had swapped a lightning long suspension into it front and rear. (black spring). I put the uly forks back on as it was so low i drug the pegs constantly. I now picked up a bone stock 09 uly and its stitting 5 inches higher at the tail light. i can just get my feet to the ground there. id like it to be lower. I have a spare xb shock/spring from my xb9r days (blue). Anyone know if I can run the blue spring on the new uly? Should I pull the black one from my 06? im about 90% on road and almost never with luggage, maybe 40% with a passenger. Ive searched a lot and cant find solid answers on spring lengths or rates via colors. Any help appreciated | ||
| Tleighbell |
I don't believe you can just swap springs. I have lowered my 2006 Uly by about 1 1/2". First time around i had a suspension guy put a shorter spring in the forks and a spacer in the shock and replaced the spring. both springs were a higher spring rate to make up for the reduced height. This meant less sag so the actual height reduction was a bit less than expected. Both ends bottomed out on big bumps. Since then i got forks and shock from a 2010 Lightning long. If you review the specs online you will see that this bike sits about 1" higher than the previous model. I think the suspension is about the same as on the STT. The front forks are now rebuilt with Ohlins internals. My guy is trying to source parts to make up a custom Ohlins but in the meantime i am running the stock 2010 Lightning Long shock. It all works fine although i pulled the forks up through the triple clamps an extra 12mm. To do that you need a handlebar riser. The 2006-2008 or 2009 Lightning long will be too low for the Uly pegs. You can try getting straight pegs or use the LIghtning subframe but then you won't have a Uly. Suspension is critical to the handling and safety of your bike. don't mess with it, get an expert. BTW Fastbike Industries can supply a custom Nitron shock to fit and Twin Motorcycle in the Netherlands can supply a Wilbers in different lengths which might work for you too. I | ||
| Vortec57 |
Hmm, I love how my 06 handles, but the 9 is so tall! Was thinking along the lines of putting the firebolt spring/shock on the 06, so I could keep the long and uly springs to mess around with. Maybe I'll have to get used to being on a tall bike | ||
| Vortec57 |
Found an XT shock, that should buy me an inch if i remember right. | ||
| Tleighbell |
My Uly handles so much better since i lowered it. That feeling of being up on stilts is gone. XT shock should work ok. You can google specs for each model and see seat height, ground clearance (which i think gives a better indication of how much lower/higher the bike is than seat height) and suspension travel. IIRC the XT sits about the same height as the later LIghtning Long but has about an inch less suspension travel. if you raise your handlebars you can pull the Uly forks up a bit to match teh rear but then you risk the wheel smacking into the front of the bike somewhere. Plus Uly springs will be too soft because you still have that 6.5 inches of travel. Better to get a shorter stiffer spring and that will effectively lower the front of the bike. but you want to match spring rates and travel front to rear and also lower front and rear by approximately the same amount so you don't throw your rake and trail numbers out. getting it right is a safety issue, so again, i recommend taking it to a suspension specialist. |
