Raising the height of an SV

[BigBaddad]

Probably going to open myself up to a lot of negative comments on this but here goes anyway.

Just seen a picture of myself on my standard SVs curvey. At 6ft 3inches I look a a bit of a plank. So can I raise the height of my bike to give it more pressence. I ride on A & B roads (real ones with bumps and pot holes) so want some thing set up for this and not for track perfect roads.

Longer dogs bones on the rear should go some way to help, but a gsxr front end swap is on the cards for next winter, which as I understand will lower the front not good. Could fit a taller tire, but I would guess this would move about a bit more and increase unsprung weight?

Me's a thinking, say, using a GSXR front end to start with either

1, Fit some kind of spacer or longer springs to extend them - would this weaken them of make them less stable.

2, Fit longer tubes - more unsprung weight.

3, Fit longer stantions.

4, Fit longer forks from something other than a GSXR.

Any ideas and thoughts would be welcome, and what bits might work well together.

Cheers.

[Baph]

I have no real advice to give, but feel it's well worth pointing out that you'd be playing with the bike's geometry as defined by Suzuki.

Personally, I'd rather look like a gimp than risk my neck because I personally wouldn't have a clue about how it would affect the handling.

Just something to keep at the back of you're mind whilst you're working on it, and good luck with it :)

[Luckypants]

Buy a big Trailie? No expert but trying to raise the ground clearance by a significant amount sounds rather hard and self defeating, since won't that ruin the handling?

However, I do remember seeing a piccy of a curvey SV modded into an off road bike with knobbly tyres and everything!

[Ter]

Just ride faster!!

That way noone'll be able to really tell that your too big for the bike!!

But really though - just be the best rider you can be and forget what they think, no real rider is going to be looking at you like 'OMG look at that big b@$t@rd on that tiny bike!!'

There's a satisfaction about outperforming a 'perfect' sized rider on a...

Knee down must be soooooo easy for ya!! :shock:

[Stu]

Firstly, you're not the only one, ask Bear.
Slight correction, it's shorter dogbones to raise the rear.
Yes GSXR front would lower, and 120/70 tyre is nornal mod to almost return to std height, sorry can't help you with lenthening the Gsxr springs or forks, that's the least of my worries :lol:

[rigor]

Take a look at the pics of Bear, and console yourself with the knowledge that you'll never look as silly as him ;)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9530/img0951qm8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[northwind]

You can have the GSXR forks lengthened, I think Racetech do a kit. Then, compined with a taller rear shock, would make the bike a bit taller, without changing the geometry much (every 10mm on the forks adds about 1.5mm wheelbase, that's half guess and half bodge but it'll be about right. Thing is, all that won't actually make the bike all that much bigger.

[BigBaddad]

Take a look at the pics of Bear, and console yourself with the knowledge that you'll never look as silly as him ;)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9530/img0951qm8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Point taken, no wonder there's a nation pie shortage.

Just an idea was playing with in my head. I just thought with "SHORTER" dog bones on, it would raise the rear by 25mm, by raising the front by a similar amount might not upset the bike.

Never mind, but thanks.

[Kate]

Instead of doing lots of things to the SV, what about using this as an excuse for getting a new bike? :)

My other half is also 6'3" tall and finds SVs (and my gsxr600) a little small for him. He currently rides a TLR which he finds perfectly comfortable and as its a v-twin you don't lose any of the fun you can only get from v-twins. Other options include Aprilia's and what about the Triumph 675?

Being 5'2" tall I can't ride any of these bikes since I can't actually touch the ground, even on the side stand. lol, I look for little bikes and my other half looks for big bikes!

[Stu]

Stop scaring shorties away from D675 it wasn't too bad when I sat on it :)

[Torn-Thorax]

Take a look at the pics of Bear, and console yourself with the knowledge that you'll never look as silly as him ;)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9530/img0951qm8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

That is indeed one large man.

[Bear]

Take a look at the pics of Bear, and console yourself with the knowledge that you'll never look as silly as him ;)

http://img291.imageshack.us/img291/9530/img0951qm8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Cheers Rigor, just when I thought that photo had sunk without a trace...

Beware the Bear: for he is Large and may Eat you...