How to lower front fork height?

[Chris in BC]

Hi , 1983 R100RT - standard OEM flat plate for top of triple tree

Any easy ideas to lower front end height? I can go a lower profile tire for the rear, but can't see an 80 profile for the 19" front.
I have a CC products top plate on my old RS, but this still doesn't let the tubes slide through as is available on later bikes.
Later models (example the R100GS) all have larger forks tubes,no?

Was there a model with the38mm forks that had clamped top plate that would allow fork tubes to be dropped through?

[dougie]

RYCA Motors use spacers in the right place to lower Suzuki Savage/LS40 forks for a café racer.
Don't know if this is of any use, but perhaps worth a look -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klaPwtm2AX0

[khittner1]

If you have aftermarket fork springs (Progressives, etc.), maybe return to OE?

[Mal S7]

I am sure I have seen am aftermarket top plate that allows the forks to slide through ... Toaster Tan? They make two versions, whoever it is.

You could write and ask

CC Products
http://www.sjbmw.com/parts.asp#s=store& ... p=1&pid=32

Toaster Tan
http://www.pbase.com/toastertan/standard_top_brace

[Bamboo812]

You could also switch to a R65 front end; lower from the factory...

[wookie]

Years ago I saw a photo of a dropped top triple clamp. If memory serves, the drop was about an inch and change. Try running an ad in the IBMWR Flea market for such an animal; maybe one is rattling around someones garage.

[wookie]

Scratch my earlier suggestion. A dropped clamp would raise the front end. Glad I re-read your orig.

[Bamboo812]

Years ago I saw a photo of a dropped top triple clamp. If memory serves, the drop was about an inch and change. Try running an ad in the IBMWR Flea market for such an animal; maybe one is rattling around someones garage.

I have such an animal. It's a Luftmeister item from the 1970s, and the drop was so you could run clip-ons above the clamp on raised tubes, but I suppose it could be used to lower the tubes too. Hadn't thought of that. I'll see if I can find it and post a photo...

[Chris in BC]

Thanks guys,

Some useful info there.
Looking at some of the pics, I might have been wrong that the CC Products top won't allow the tubes to be pushed up.

I should have pulled my RS apart to check, but it wasn't readily available to work on, so I was being lazy.

Will have to look for one.

What prompted this request was it is my wife's bike, and like many of us, age is causing a slight lack of confidence in her abilities for a bike that is marginally tall for her.

[Major Softie]

A possible solution would be trading for a conversion bike: the /2 seat is much lower.

I believe the Progressive springs are stiffer but shorter and designed to be used with longer spacer. The Progressive springs without the spacer should provide a lower front end. But, any lowering of the front should be matched by lowering the back, and it also reduces ground clearance (not a good thing). A thinner seat will help without impacting ground clearance, but is likely to not be as comfortable - also, the frame is still a little wide for a lowered seat to help as much as it otherwise could. The /2 frame avoids these issues, as do other lower seat bikes.