Higher footpegs for more ground clearance.

[Kat1986]

I'm thinking about putting adjustable rearsets on my SV to give it more ground clearance and I was wondering whether anyone on here has done the same and what they thought of it? Whenever I take a corner at speed, the footpegs drag along the road, and I ended up having a big crash at the end of last summer because of it.
If I raised the footpegs, would I need to fit higher profile tyres to the bike? When I hear the pegs touching down I know it's a warning not to lean any further so if the pegs were higher would I be likely to go over the edge of the tyres?
Any advice would be appreciated, thanks in advance!

[yorkie_chris]

Nah you can fit rearsets and still not need to worry about the tyres. Best mod is for more ground clearance though.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yj5yeahoaTI&feature=related
that was peg near to ground, no squirming or sliding at all from the tyres.

warning though, solid pegs on rearsets are horrible when they touch down. You will either fall off or need new undies.

[-Ralph-]

Wow, scarily similar to a conversation Chris and I were just having in another thread about the edge of tyres, and you join and put this as your first post! :-s Ever find things so much of a co-incidence that it makes them spooky? :smt108

Can't help you with rearsets, but welcome to the org anyway!

[Kat1986]

Yeah that is quite weird. So Chris, I assume you have fitted adjustable rearsets to your bike and can get a much greater lean angle on the standard profile tyres without it causing any problems? Also the road in your video looks amazing, where abouts in Scotland is it? I was thinking about doing a long weekend in Scotland this year so I might have to visit it.

[Dave20046]

Yeah that is quite weird. So Chris, I assume you have fitted adjustable rearsets to your bike and can get a much greater lean angle on the standard profile tyres without it causing any problems? Also the road in your video looks amazing, where abouts in Scotland is it? I was thinking about doing a long weekend in Scotland this year so I might have to visit it.
If you can bear the people on here - there's a weekend in scotland in june (I believe chris's video was taken on last years).
If you don't want to splash out on rear sets, adapter plates would be a much cheaper alternative to get the pegs hitched up.
Don't forget when moving the pegs you might need an extension bar for your gear change (think they come included with most kits though - but check)

[yorkie_chris]

Yeah that is quite weird. So Chris, I assume you have fitted adjustable rearsets to your bike and can get a much greater lean angle on the standard profile tyres without it causing any problems? Also the road in your video looks amazing, where abouts in Scotland is it? I was thinking about doing a long weekend in Scotland this year so I might have to visit it.

Yes techG ones.

Only difference is that is a 120/70 front. But I have done same stuff on a 120-60 with no issues.

Better than rearsets is a longer shock, but it depends how long in leg you are as that will raise the seat height. But the improvement to the handling is marked.

What gen of bike do you have, is it early carby or later EFI pointy model?

That road was A87 I think. But they are all awesome up that way. The return leg of that ride was insane.

[martin_SV]

Couple of Q's for the O.P. ---- Are you on a faired (s) or unfaired? If unfaired then the faired has the pegs set a fair bit higher (and further back) as standard. I think they're a straight swap. Secondly even though it's 10 years since my first SV, I still read the supension Q's on this list.( sad I guess) So I notice that you've ( due to low rider weight) wound off the rear preload to minimum. This may be 100% the correct thing to do but the only way you'll establish that perhaps your ride height is now too low ( hence more grounding) is to check the static and "plus rider" sag measurements. Do a search and I'm sure there must be a few "How to's" on this site or elsewhere on the web.
HTH

[yorkie_chris]

Loads about, but you should not adjust ride height with preload.

[Kat1986]

As for a longer shock, do you know by how much it would raise the seat height? I'm only 5'4" so wouldn't want too much of an increase! Also, if a longer shoch raises the back end of the bike, does it make the handling a bit sharper?

[Kat1986]

Couple of Q's for the O.P. ---- Are you on a faired (s) or unfaired? If unfaired then the faired has the pegs set a fair bit higher (and further back) as standard. I think they're a straight swap. Secondly even though it's 10 years since my first SV, I still read the supension Q's on this list.( sad I guess) So I notice that you've ( due to low rider weight) wound off the rear preload to minimum. This may be 100% the correct thing to do but the only way you'll establish that perhaps your ride height is now too low ( hence more grounding) is to check the static and "plus rider" sag measurements. Do a search and I'm sure there must be a few "How to's" on this site or elsewhere on the web.
HTH

Sorry, my mistake, I meant the preload is on it's maximum setting, when I took it off it was like riding a jelly and I preferred it stiffer so I put it all back on. Wasn't really paying attention when I wrote that! Also it is a fully faired 2002 curvy model.

[yorkie_chris]

As for a longer shock, do you know by how much it would raise the seat height? I'm only 5'4" so wouldn't want too much of an increase! Also, if a longer shoch raises the back end of the bike, does it make the handling a bit sharper?

Yes it makes it turn a little more responsively.
Mine has a penske shock in it set to 350mm (1/2" longer than stock approx)

It is roughly double at the back wheel AFAIK. Seat height is still very manageable. Come along to hardy bikers rideout and have a sit on it if you are in no rush to modify now.

what sag numbers do you get with that preload?