Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre.
 

Hi guys .... newby I'm afraid !!
I've had a quick look, and not been able to see anything so far that has helped me .....

I've just bought a 2004 SV650S (with 9000miles on it) .... the original owner was a little on the short side, and had it lowered (via dog-bones) ... he'd also had a smaller style numberplate on the rear .... (not sure if its typical, but the rear NP bracket is a very basic affair (that looks standard to me))

Anyway - I've stuck a full size numberplate on the rear, and when I hit a pot hole, or large bump, the numberplate is hitting the rear tyre .... :-(

Anyway, I'm having the original dog bones put back on, but I'm being told that it won't make any difference !!

The old owner is telling me that it'll just be the angle of the rear bracket that needs adjusting ??!!

Pic if it helps ........ bike has full service history, and has just been serviced ... TIA .....

http://i459.photobucket.com/albums/q...EXSSNCAZ-1.jpg

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

the bike has a tail tidy fitted and an undertray by the looks of it so its not standard, and yes the numberplate is ment to be at more of an angle so that the back wheel, mine has a similar setup so ive attached a picture to show you what its supposed to be like! if the tail tidy is like mine tho i cant see any way of adjusting the angle other than bending it or something....., the owner before you wouldnt have noticed becuase of the smaller plate

http://file043a.bebo.com/8/original/...819642179o.jpg

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

Fantastic .... thanks mate .....

Thats a relief, scary times buying my first bike bike (privately) !!!

I did think that (no way of adjusting it) .... I'll try and give it a careful bend !!

The other option I suppose is a smaller plate (although not keen).... I'll look elsewhere for the answer .... but these legal ??

Thanks again ....

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

Oh, sorry ............ what difference will fitting the original dog bones have ?? ... is it worth doing ??

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

the smaller plates are completely illegal as far as i know.... a new tail tidy is only like £30 of ebay but isnt the easyest thing in the world to fit!

looks like a nice clean bike tho! get the pipe changed and enjoy yourself on it!

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

not too sure about the dog bones, im asuming it will just raise the back back up to what it was stock, if your a taller rider then you may want to, someone will be along shortly that knows more about that im sure!

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

Thanks Warren ... all very helpful !!

Warren ... sorry, are you suggesting I get a new tail tidy ?? Or just give the one I've got a slight tweak ??

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

Put the new dog bones in and it will raise the back of the bike up so you won't have any numberplate/tyre interfaces. It does look slightly angled down so just bend it to more of an angle.

But if you are a normal sized person get the standard sized dog bones in there.

And who is telling you it won't make any difference?

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

Suzuki garage .... although only over the phone ....

They told me that it wouldn't alter the distance between the rear wheel, and the numberplate .... which I found a little odd !!

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

Rollox.

Whats your height?

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

I'm not massive ..... but would really rather have is back to standard if I can get away with it ....

I'm 5'8 and about 12 stone ......

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

I'd say you'll be fine with standard dogbones mate.

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

AT 5' 8" you will feel happier with the standard dog-bones. Put them on and this should raise that back by 40mm or so, making the chance of the number plate clouting the tyre much less. I would also recommend bending the bracket to a better angle.

One thing that has not been mentioned yet, check the rear pre-load. Many short folks put this on minimum to lower the rear even more, by making the suspension sag more under their weight. At 12st you should look at getting it on position 5 of 7 (7 is highest setting) for solo riding. This will be even more effective at keeping the plate off the tyre.

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

well if your selling that small tail tidy gimmie a shout ;-)

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

lol.

Well, I'll see how I get on for now ...... but I will have some lowering dog bones for sale soon if anyone is interested !! ;-)

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

You'll be fine - mine are standard and I'm 5' 7.5 " and I'm about 10.5 stone :D

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

Great ......... any pics !! ;-) :-)

Actually .... I've never felt so heavy .... all these light people around !! :-)

Thanks all ....... got my plan ...
1. Have a look to see if I can gently adjust the tail tidy.
2. Get the garage to re-fit the original dog-bones and check the fork height, and damper settings ...(booked in for Thursday am)
3. Post the old dog-bones for sale ....

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

Does it look like this?
http://www.sounddistribution.co.uk/images/Rrsend.jpg
I broke a plastic number plate and bent a metal one using one of these, I just replaced it with a proper one.
If it is this though, it should bent out of the way easy enough, they have to be bent to fit in the first place

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

Urm, rougly I suppose !! Need have a close look this evening, but the bracket seems pretty much integrated in to the whole of the underside of the bike ??

When you say 'replace it with a proper one' ......... what are you thinking ??

Not actually using the bike at the moment, because when the numberplate hits the wheel, it flicks the NP and indicators backwards out of view .... and it seems to be damaging the bike where its attached :-(

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

It might not be the same thing, the one i had wasn't really integrated, just stuck on with a couple of bolts through the rear end.
By proper one I just meant a specific sv tidy, that other one is a universal one

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

why dont you just bend the bracket, so the plate is at an angle

SIMPLES

HTH

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

From the shiny underside I would guess that you have an aftermarket undertray fitted.
Where are you located so somebody local can tell you for definate if what you have will be fine or not. I am Heathrow area if you fancy meeting up.

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

Feel, better, I weigh 17 stone :notworthy:

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

You wouldn't see pics believe me :( ;) :lol:

Plan sounds good :thumbsup:

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre.
 

You appear to have a tail tidy fitted by a useless spastic who couldn't grasp the concept that suspension moves. Lucky he didn't drill through the ECU while doing it (long story...)

Increase ride height. Improve handling, improve ground clearance, change the linkage geometry back to how it should be.

Well they're useless spastics as well then. BUT those tail tidys can work, just bend the plate bracket, looks better bent back a bit too, especially if you can get the angle to be equal to the angle of the seat unit.

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre.
 

If the bike was lowered correctly and the linkages were changed, the front fork stanchions should have been heightened through the top yoke by approximately 1/3rd of the lowered dimension, IF it was the case remember to change back to the original fork height if you change the linkages, to retain the correct steering geometry.
Have fun ride safe? well at least think about it?

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre ..
 

They're talking bollox, shorter dogbones will raise the rear, increasing the distance between subframe and wheel. Longer dogbones (which is what has been fitted) will do the opposite.

It is a bit of a faf to replace the dogbones as you either need a special stand or to support the bike so that it's off the suspension[1] but not that big a job.

Druid

[1] Axle stands under the pegs works a treat.

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre.
 

Ok - should have taken more pics I suppose, but here we go!!

Yep, looks like an after maket undertray .... It seems to have a flat (horizontal) section to it just under the rear light, to which a tail tidy (like those shown on here) has been attached!!

Getting the original dog-bones fitted on Thursday (and will ask them to check the front forks too I thanks) ...in the meantime Ikve bent the bracket (a lttle - bloody tough those things) and screwed it back on using some sticky 'blobs??' To create an angle !!

I'm looking in to getting a new tail tidy (but £50 for a small bracket!!wtf?) And at the moment I'm thinking re-fitting the original indicators - like them for some reason!!

With a bit of luck (and money) I'll have confidence we're good to go soon!!

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre.
 

Good idea re the indicators - standard ones are more visible :D

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre.
 

Thought I'd give you guys my first thoughts ... first bike bike remember ..

First day riding to work on the new bike this morning ..... journey seemed to take no time at all compared to my old 125cc (about 12 miles) !! I was riding no faster, but its just so much easier, smoother, and relaxed way to travel ....

Gave it the beans up to 30mph once in 1st gear ..... jee's - not the fastest thing in the World (for a bike) ........ but jee's - still fast - very fast for me!!

The ride is a bit jiggly, but I'm taking it in to the garage tomorrow to have the original dog bones put back on, and then I'm going to ask them to set all the suspension, etc, to its original settings ...

Riding position ?? Good and bad ...... nice leaning forward, does keep the wind off you, getting used to the slow speed riding (in fact you can literally crawl along on this in a way you can't on a 125) ........ but, I did find my hands (and wrists a little) getting a little tired by the time I got to work .....

Took the bike out last night ..... I found the headlight amazing .....

Out on the open road, finding it a little difficult to put through the bends, and setting off from junctions (and slow speed corners) find that it really wants to go straight on !! Getting used to leaning more, and its getting easier ..... plus I'm not judging too much until the dog bones are changed .... leaning it through the bends too, it just feels like its slipping a little bit - this might be normal I suppose -but going to check the tyre pressures when I get home (if anything they look a tiny bit high) (Any advice on tyre pressures ?? - I used to have a series 2 Lotus Elise, and you get to know exactly what pressure for what time of year ...... as far as cars go, its the only thing thats come close to the tactility of a bike)

Overall though, its amazing compared to anything else I've ridden (not a lot) .... fast, smooth, refined, very easy to use and response (clutch and brakes are so easy) .......

Re: Numberplate bouncing off rear tyre.
 

The bad geometry caused by the lowering kit is probably to blame for the feeling of going straight on.

However, make sure you are not gripping the bars too tight, your arms should be relaxed. Try adjusting the lever angles so you have a straight line down your arm to the lever. From the factory they point far too high usually. These factors make the bike feel to handle loads better and alleviate the pressure on your wrists.