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How to lower front fork height?
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 4:32 pm
by 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?
Re: How to lower front fork height?
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 4:54 pm
by 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
Re: How to lower front fork height?
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 6:19 pm
by khittner1
If you have aftermarket fork springs (Progressives, etc.), maybe return to OE?
Re: How to lower front fork height?
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 6:44 pm
by 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
Re: How to lower front fork height?
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 6:45 pm
by Bamboo812
You could also switch to a R65 front end; lower from the factory...
Re: How to lower front fork height?
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 9:31 pm
by 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.
Re: How to lower front fork height?
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 9:34 pm
by wookie
Scratch my earlier suggestion. A dropped clamp would raise the front end. Glad I re-read your orig.
Re: How to lower front fork height?
Posted: Fri Jun 27, 2014 10:12 pm
by Bamboo812
wookie wrote: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...
Re: How to lower front fork height?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 1:33 am
by 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.
Re: How to lower front fork height?
Posted: Sat Jun 28, 2014 4:08 am
by 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.