View Full Version : Help - New biker naive and confused!
Beut834
03-09-09, 06:20 PM
Hello all,
I have recently passed my test! - I have bought a SV650 (2001) which I am delighted with. My only complaint is that fact that i feel a little too big for the bike!
Is there a simple way to raise the overall height of the bike? I have seen springs for sale on Ebay which claim to raise the rear by around 40mm and the seat height by around 20mm! are these worth buying? and can a complete novice like me fit them easily?
I would be eternally grateful for any advice! buying a new bike is not an option as the wife will not release the funds!
Thanks!
Beut
yorkie_chris
03-09-09, 06:32 PM
Springs cannot raise the rear on their own, that's not how it works.
Out of curiosity why do you want to raise the seat height, are you scraping the foot pegs a lot, or do want more legroom (less bent knees)
Beut834
03-09-09, 06:38 PM
Bit of both mate! - when my feet are on the floor my knees still have alot of bend in them!
The whole issue was raised when i caught my reflection in a window the other day! I look like a melon on a toothpick! although the main driver is not vanity!
I also here raising the height will also improve handling?
Beut834
03-09-09, 06:40 PM
Someone elsewhere has suggested shorter 'Dog bones' what are they? and again is replacing them a job for the inexperienced?
yorkie_chris
03-09-09, 06:40 PM
Ok well to improve the handling you want a longer shock or jack-up plates. These replace the standard ones which attach the swingarm to the linkage. Shorter dogbones = higher bike.
However, this pushes more on the front forks, which are already well undersprung.
How much do you weigh, and what is your riding style like?
madness
03-09-09, 06:44 PM
I also here raising the height will also improve handling?
Improve is not necessary the right word to use. Raising the rear end will steepen the steering head angle. This in turn will make the steering a bit 'quicker', but it will be less stable in a straight line (twitchy).
Beut834
03-09-09, 06:44 PM
15 Stone give or take a few pounds!.........I guess my riding style is pretty upright, and pretty conservative (compared to most!)
Beut834
03-09-09, 06:45 PM
Twitchy does not sound good!
madness
03-09-09, 06:47 PM
Twitchy does not sound good!
It depends on how much you steepen the steering angle. You might not notice any difference.
yorkie_chris
03-09-09, 07:03 PM
You can jack the back up stupidly high before it gets twitchy. SV has very conservative geometry.
Beut834
03-09-09, 07:15 PM
So is the spring the answer?
yorkie_chris
03-09-09, 07:21 PM
So is the spring the answer?
No, the height is controlled by the shocks extended length. spring will not change anything.
Also you could change spring, but it would handle really badly since the standard shock has no damping in it anyway.
Old Git
03-09-09, 07:25 PM
Chap, there are much more technical guys on here than me, but I only passed my test in Feb, have eaten way more pies than you & can stand over the bike as well.
You know best for yourself, but why not give it a little while.
I found I started sitting upright & looked a bit of a :toss: , seen self in shop window, but as I've got more used to riding, find i have changed seating / body position & all is well.
Still never going to look or ride like Rossi, but how often are you sitting bolt upright on the bike on any ride? very seldom i guess.
Hope you enjoy your new toy - OG
Spiderman
03-09-09, 07:26 PM
how tall are you?
And where in the country are you? Seeing and talking to others of a similar size to you on their SV may help you feel a bit better or make a considered decision.
Biker Biggles
03-09-09, 07:29 PM
Shorter dogbones will raise the rear.You can also raise the yokes so that they are flush with the fork tops to even out the steeper steering and raise the front a tad.
Id say you would also benefit from stiffer fork springs and a rear shock upgrade both of which would reduce sag and hence raise the bike a bit.Is the bike fitted with a sculpted out rider seat?Many svs are,as they have been used by the vertically challenged in earlier lives.
How massive are you? Has the bike been lowered for a previously shorter rider?
Beut834
03-09-09, 07:42 PM
6 ft and I am living in Germany presently! - so Spiderman's suggestion is no good! Thanks anyway!
Old Git - sounds like sensible advice!
Biker Biggles - Sounds expensive?! I am fairly sure the seat is standard! how much would the work you suggest cost? (ballpark figure!)
Beut834
03-09-09, 07:45 PM
Yorkie Chris - would a combination of shorter dog bones and bigger springs do the trick?
yorkie_chris
03-09-09, 07:47 PM
How much do you weigh?
6ft, and 15 stone plus/minus a few pounds.
Keep up ;)
Beut834
03-09-09, 07:53 PM
Sorry i meant dog bones and bigger shock (not springs! you have already told me that is not the answer!)
yorkie_chris
03-09-09, 07:54 PM
Jack up plates and some .90 front springs then.
These are easy to fit.
Bigger shock, this is more involved but better overall. ZX6R B1H is a good one or later ZX10R, I think C1 05-06.
Otherwise, you are looking at £400+ for penske, nitron etc. with ride height adjuster.
fizzwheel
03-09-09, 07:55 PM
6ft, and 15 stone plus/minus a few pounds.
Keep up ;)
About the same as me then. I rode a Curvey for two years. Only thing I did was drop the forks through the yokes my 10mm or so.
I left the back end alone and I never felt uncomfortable on it or that I was to big for it.
I suggest on my experience that you probably arent to big for it and that you just need to get used to riding it and how the bike feels...
If you want a bit more leg room then maybe try some rear sets that allow you to move the pegs about to get yourself more comfortable on the bike.
I suggest on my experience that you probably arent to big for it and that you just need to get used to riding it and how the bike feels...
+1...just give it a bit more time and you'll get used to it.
You're certainly not the biggest SV rider out there!
Beut834
03-09-09, 07:58 PM
Cheers guys! - This has been a useful exercise!
any idea why my photo is not showing on my profile?
Beut834
03-09-09, 07:59 PM
+1...just give it a bit more time and you'll get used to it.
You're certainly not the biggest SV rider out there!
Seems to be the general consensus! - Thanks mate!
Spiderman
03-09-09, 08:03 PM
yeh dude i;m 6ft and about 12 stone at mo. You'll get it right without too much effort or cost i'm sure :)
Cheers guys! - This has been a useful exercise!
any idea why my photo is not showing on my profile?
It is, if you want a photo when you post, upload a avatar picture?
You uploaded a profile picture, when you visit you're profile it shows a picture.
I am 6ft, and 14 stone give or take a few, and I find mine fine, try moving back in you're seat, will help you're 'image', the way the bike feels and will improve you're riding. (In my experience).
Beut834
03-09-09, 08:08 PM
Front fork pre-load adjusters? - what are these badgers?
yorkie_chris
03-09-09, 08:14 PM
Not fitted to the 2001. You can buy and fit extra, but they don't help anything like as much as properly weighted springs and oil.
keith_d
03-09-09, 08:46 PM
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it. If the previous rider was a bit of a short-**** you might have a lowered seat and dogbones fitted already.
If you can find anyone else over there with an SV in your area you could try theirs for size.
Just a thought,
Keith.
Thingus
04-09-09, 11:59 PM
Like some others here i'm over 6ft and 14 stone... first thing i said to Ed on my first ride was 'i think i'll need to change some things because of my size', it didn't feel right, but now it just kinda does. Agree with Spiderman and others, try it out for a while, don't make extra work for yourself, it might just be because you ain't used to it.
davepreston
05-09-09, 04:15 AM
your all midgets (im 6"8) and after 2 months i was really comfy on my curvy the only reason im upgrading forks ,shocks and dogbones now is to improve handleing not comfort
Bluefish
05-09-09, 08:23 AM
your all midgets (im 6"8) and after 2 months i was really comfy on my curvy the only reason im upgrading forks ,shocks and dogbones now is to improve handleing not comfort
:smt046 or because they are a little bent.
Just a thought... if you are basing what you look like on one quick glance in a shop window, it may be that to everyone else your are just a bloke on a bike.
We are all (humans) worried about what we look like to other people and that quick glance may have been distorted.
The SV isn't the biggest bike out there, but take a look at some pics & vids on here, I'm sure the rest of them (us) arn't migets and most they all look fine to me.
Just a thought...
G
Beut834
05-09-09, 09:57 AM
I think I am definately going to leave it as it is! - for the tme being at least! Thanks to all for the advice!
Thingus
05-09-09, 11:53 AM
Nice bike by the way ;)
Specialone
05-09-09, 08:35 PM
I think I am definately going to leave it as it is! - for the tme being at least! Thanks to all for the advice!
I'm 6'1" and 15 1/2 stone, I felt the same when I got my bike, the only thing I changed was the handlebars from clip ons to risers, that transformed the bike for me.
Does get easier though, I can confirm that !
How massive are you? Has the bike been lowered for a previously shorter rider?
I'm not sure if anyone has mentioned it. If the previous rider was a bit of a short-**** you might have a lowered seat and dogbones fitted already.
If you can find anyone else over there with an SV in your area you could try theirs for size.
Just a thought,
Keith.
My thoughts exactly
Oh & just to let you know Davepreston's 6' 8) means 6'8"
Beut834
06-09-09, 07:05 AM
If the bike had been lowered previously, which parts would have been changed?
Beut834
06-09-09, 07:05 AM
Nice bike by the way ;)
Thanks mate!
yorkie_chris
06-09-09, 02:46 PM
If the bike had been lowered previously, which parts would have been changed?
Seat and dogbones are the usual ones.
Seat and dogbones are the usual ones.
Perhaps some kind soul could post up here the length of std curvy dogbones
yorkie_chris
06-09-09, 02:51 PM
Should have the "20F" markings on, 115mm rings a bell but I will check.
The sv isnt a big bike, I passed my test in March and went straight out and bought 1 (curvy) not knowing even what an sv was (It was recommended by a mate).
Im 6"2 and around 13 stone. Ive been told the bike looks small for me but.... I dont care, I enjoy riding it and I find it comfortable so...
If the bike is too big and your not comfortable with how you look on it, then I wouldnt mess about with it to be honest because there wont be a huge amount you could do, i'd just find another bike. If you want to stick with suzuki why not try a bandit? That abit bigger.
P.s. Did your hair look nice in that shop window..?!
Beut834
12-09-09, 08:44 AM
The sv isnt a big bike, I passed my test in March and went straight out and bought 1 (curvy) not knowing even what an sv was (It was recommended by a mate).
Im 6"2 and around 13 stone. Ive been told the bike looks small for me but.... I dont care, I enjoy riding it and I find it comfortable so...
If the bike is too big and your not comfortable with how you look on it, then I wouldnt mess about with it to be honest because there wont be a huge amount you could do, i'd just find another bike. If you want to stick with suzuki why not try a bandit? That abit bigger.
P.s. Did your hair look nice in that shop window..?!
Call me old fashioned, or even a little conservative! but i did opt for the crash helmet!......although I am sure the hair looked great underneath!
Beut834
12-09-09, 08:46 AM
I'm 6'1" and 15 1/2 stone, I felt the same when I got my bike, the only thing I changed was the handlebars from clip ons to risers, that transformed the bike for me.
Does get easier though, I can confirm that !
Could you explain the difference between 'Clip on' and 'risers' are they dificult to change?
Dangerous Dave
12-09-09, 09:50 AM
Could you explain the difference between 'Clip on' and 'risers' are they dificult to change?
Risers mount above the top yoke in two clamps, whilst clip-ons attach to the front forks (either above or below the top yoke)
Risers
http://www.1tail.com/cartimages/15895b.JPG
Clip-ons
http://images.sportrider.com/bikes/146_0306_zoom+2003_suzuki_sv1000s+dash.jpg
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