Help - New biker naive and confused!

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]

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)

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?

Someone elsewhere has suggested shorter 'Dog bones' what are they? and again is replacing them a job for the inexperienced?

[yorkie_chris]

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?

Originally Posted by Beut834

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).

15 Stone give or take a few pounds!.........I guess my riding style is pretty upright, and pretty conservative (compared to most!)

Twitchy does not sound good!

Originally Posted by Beut834

Twitchy does not sound good!

It depends on how much you steepen the steering angle. You might not notice any difference.

[yorkie_chris]

You can jack the back up stupidly high before it gets twitchy. SV has very conservative geometry.