fork tube spacer

[jdtx2]

I have a 2003 shadow spirit 750. I am getting ready to lower the rear end about 2.5 inches. I also want to raise the front end a little bit. Does anyone know how long of a spacer I would need to put in the fork tubes to get a decent amount of lift and would give me a little more rake? thanks a lot.

[olpanrider]

1st of all - WELCOME and FUCK OFF !.....now, now, don't your panties in your crack. It's all in good fun :-)
Next - lengthening the spacer in fork tube will not change the rake. Ya gotta do that in the neck or with raked trees.
Now allegedly, you can increase the spacer length 1 1/2 inches, but 1 inch was the most I could ever do. Even that was a double barreled motherfucker trying to gey those caps back on. I eventually went back to stock. The front was a little too stiff and I need all the cushion I could get with the rigid rear...My .02 anyway.

[AirportFF]

Do your lowering in the rear first. Then get the bike back on the ground and see if you like the look. By lowering the rear you are giving the illusion of raising the front.
Like Olpan said, by increasing the length of the spacers in the fork you are gonna be in for a hell of a bumpy ride up front. Not to mention the effects on the handling. When I lowered Susan's bike I did it evenly. That effectively left the stock type handling and gave a more balanced look. I lowered the back of hers by cutting 3 coils out of the shocks and shortening the fork spacers.
If increased rake is what your after, get new trees and fork extensions.

[Free Spirit]

Do your lowering in the rear first. Then get the bike back on the ground and see if you like the look. By lowering the rear you are giving the illusion of raising the front.
Like Olpan said, by increasing the length of the spacers in the fork you are gonna be in for a hell of a bumpy ride up front. Not to mention the effects on the handling. When I lowered Susan's bike I did it evenly. That effectively left the stock type handling and gave a more balanced look. I lowered the back of hers by cutting 3 coils out of the shocks and shortening the fork spacers.
If increased rake is what your after, get new trees and fork extensions.

What's up with the kind response Airport... not gonna require that he use the SEARCH button first... You're slippin man!

So about cutting the coils... how much drop did you get by removing 3? How (with what) did you cut them. I'm thinking of doing this with mine.

Also, it seems like if you add a 6-7* tree (ala Billski) will that lower the front and lengthen the bike. Any forseeable problems with that?

[AirportFF]

What's up with the kind response Airport... not gonna require that he use the SEARCH button first... You're slippin man!

So about cutting the coils... how much drop did you get by removing 3? How (with what) did you cut them. I'm thinking of doing this with mine.

Also, it seems like if you add a 6-7* tree (ala Billski) will that lower the front and lengthen the bike. Any forseeable problems with that?


I got tired of getting my balls busted about the search button. So I figured why bother.

Anyhow, on the coils, I can't really remember how much it lowered it off the top of my head. Check Susan's pics in her garage (FFsLady) those were taken with the springs cut but on the highest preload setting. I was test driving it that day and had to stiffen it up for my weight. When she's on it I have them set on the lightest setting.

If you rake the front with the stock fork length it will lower the front end. That's why I suggested the extensions. At least that way you could either have the font higher or keep it even with the rear.

[cowboy]

You get what ever length fork extensions you want with the billski trees.With 7* rake, 9.5 in struts and 3 in extensions it will be about level.

[Wild Coyote]

I had 2.5 coils cut on mine and it dropped a bit, maybe an inch and a half, but when sitting on it, it feels lower. I have the load at the lightest because the raods suck so bad here. Also, in the future I want to get a 200 rear, so allowed for some extra clearance. Front, get Billski's trees and extensions! They are awesome.

[jdtx2]

What is the lowest that you can lower the rear end and still accomodate a 200 mm rear tire without modification?

[Wild Coyote]

I'm not sure. The best thing to do is get the tire mounted and then jack it up and measure the distance you need. If you have shock travel limiters you can figure it out too. I personally don't want a really hard ride so need the extra clearance. The roads are really bad around here. One pot hole and I'd be eating my heart!

[Free Spirit]

I got tired of getting my balls busted about the search button. So I figured why bother.

Anyhow, on the coils, I can't really remember how much it lowered it off the top of my head. Check Susan's pics in her garage (FFsLady) those were taken with the springs cut but on the highest preload setting. I was test driving it that day and had to stiffen it up for my weight. When she's on it I have them set on the lightest setting.

If you rake the front with the stock fork length it will lower the front end. That's why I suggested the extensions. At least that way you could either have the font higher or keep it even with the rear.

Thanks for help. Overall, I am looking for a "long-low-level" appearance. I've got the Billski taillight and want to keep it... I'm not big on side mounts. I also need to keep the sprung suspension for the sake of my back. Add my size to all of that and I'm limited on how low I can go.

I was thinking I try cutting the coils to achieve a 1.5 inch and adjust the ride to full stiff (may still need travel limiters). Figured that would beat the high price of buying Progressive 412's (or the new AirTails).

The part I haven't figured out (I'm no engineer) is what combination of of rake/fork length gets me close to a 1.5 drop in the front.

ANY ENGINEERS OUT THERE????

BTW ... I personally find the search button useful. It saves a lot of time. In fact using it and finding some much needed info is why I ended up joining the nuthouse. I liked the information and the "atmosphere".

[newly]

Free Spirit, if I'm not wrong, and I haven't been all day, you can also lower the front, somewhat by replacing the spacer in the top of the fork with a shorter piece of pvc tubing in place of the stock spacer. right guys?

[Free Spirit]

Free Spirit, if I'm not wrong, and I haven't been all day, you can also lower the front, somewhat by replacing the spacer in the top of the fork with a shorter piece of pvc tubing in place of the stock spacer. right guys?

I've read something about that. Not really sure how that works. It sound like it just "shortens" the forks by letting them be be more compressed in their natural state? If that's true, it would lower the height, but it would move the front wheel in also. It also seems like it would soften the front end a lot.

Anybody have more on this?

[AirportFF]

Free Spirit, if I'm not wrong, and I haven't been all day, you can also lower the front, somewhat by replacing the spacer in the top of the fork with a shorter piece of pvc tubing in place of the stock spacer. right guys?

Yes you are right again......how dooooo you do it??:laugh4: