Raising the rear....safe? - SV650.org

06-05-05, 05:33 PM

Can I take 1" off my dogbones and raise the rear about 3" safely or will this make the bike to "flighty" as some people put it? Any help is greatly apprecieted. And should I drop the tubes 15mm through the triples to enhance handling or is that a bad idea if I raise the rear?

06-05-05, 07:50 PM

I can't offer much help but ive been thinkin of doin the same raising the rear and dropping the front. I did read somewhere on here than it does make the bike a bit more flighty but only over the bumpy stuff. Only problem is i havent found anywhere that does the shorter dogbones (for a k4) anyone know where i can get any?. When i had the nc35 a lot of people used to raise the rear and fit a stiffer spring as its much cheaper than buying a rear shock, is this a good idea?

cheers Aj

06-05-05, 08:05 PM

I see no problem with raising the rear but lifting the forks through the yokes is something best left for a track bike.
I've raised mine withg the JHS dog bones and it tracks really tight on a bend, the bars will flap on the exit of a bumpy hair pin already. At 100MPH it's a bit flightier in a straight line even. Far as I can feel I've made the geometrey as extreme as a road bike should be, without the use of a steering damper. Dampers can ruin slow speed steering so that's not an option.
Raise the tail and ride it for yourself, you'll feel there's no reason to alter the front end.

northwind · 06-05-05, 08:10 PM

3 inches seems a lot though... That'll probably affect the linkage rate quite a lot.

I've got mine raised as high as I can and still paddle the bike around- around 40mm usually I think, though I've changed it so much I'm not sure-and dropped the front 10mm... Turns in and tightens a line like a guided missile, but it does take a little more thought to hold a line once you're on it- not because the bike can't, but because it's so easy to change course. A small input can put you way off. It's not unstable on the power, does give a wee shake sometimes as it goes light at the front but it's never threatened to develop- but I wouldn't want to try it with otherwise stock suspension, that seems like asking for trouble.

The absolute safety limit for dropping the yokes is around 15mm, after that you can actually drive the fork lowers into the bottom yoke on braking.

07-05-05, 06:00 AM

Mine forks are through 13 mm, and even with a taller front tire (70 instead of 60) it feels a bit twitchy on corner exit. I would do as Northy says and try the rear first.

06-05-05, 05:33 PM	#1
Kev650r Guest Posts: n/a	Raising the rear....safe? Can I take 1" off my dogbones and raise the rear about 3" safely or will this make the bike to "flighty" as some people put it? Any help is greatly apprecieted. And should I drop the tubes 15mm through the triples to enhance handling or is that a bad idea if I raise the rear?

06-05-05, 08:10 PM	#4
northwind Moderator Mega Poster Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: In the garage where I belong Posts: 17,083	3 inches seems a lot though... That'll probably affect the linkage rate quite a lot. I've got mine raised as high as I can and still paddle the bike around- around 40mm usually I think, though I've changed it so much I'm not sure-and dropped the front 10mm... Turns in and tightens a line like a guided missile, but it does take a little more thought to hold a line once you're on it- not because the bike can't, but because it's so easy to change course. A small input can put you way off. It's not unstable on the power, does give a wee shake sometimes as it goes light at the front but it's never threatened to develop- but I wouldn't want to try it with otherwise stock suspension, that seems like asking for trouble. The absolute safety limit for dropping the yokes is around 15mm, after that you can actually drive the fork lowers into the bottom yoke on braking. __________________ "We are the angry mob, we read the papers every day We like what we like, we hate what we hate But we're oh so easily swayed"

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06-05-05, 07:50 PM	#2
A-jay Guest Posts: n/a	I can't offer much help but ive been thinkin of doin the same raising the rear and dropping the front. I did read somewhere on here than it does make the bike a bit more flighty but only over the bumpy stuff. Only problem is i havent found anywhere that does the shorter dogbones (for a k4) anyone know where i can get any?. When i had the nc35 a lot of people used to raise the rear and fit a stiffer spring as its much cheaper than buying a rear shock, is this a good idea? cheers Aj

06-05-05, 08:05 PM	#3
BURNER Guest Posts: n/a	I see no problem with raising the rear but lifting the forks through the yokes is something best left for a track bike. I've raised mine withg the JHS dog bones and it tracks really tight on a bend, the bars will flap on the exit of a bumpy hair pin already. At 100MPH it's a bit flightier in a straight line even. Far as I can feel I've made the geometrey as extreme as a road bike should be, without the use of a steering damper. Dampers can ruin slow speed steering so that's not an option. Raise the tail and ride it for yourself, you'll feel there's no reason to alter the front end.

07-05-05, 06:00 AM	#5
Junior Guest Posts: n/a	Mine forks are through 13 mm, and even with a taller front tire (70 instead of 60) it feels a bit twitchy on corner exit. I would do as Northy says and try the rear first.