-2 under fork tubes
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-2 under fork tubes
If i use -2 under tubes to lower the front end of my '07 night train, will i have to lower the rear 2" also to make it level? i dont think the fork tubes will give a 2" drop as the front is raked out a bit. Just wondering how much the -2 under tubes is going to drop the bike. I dont want to drop too much as i am already hitting the pegs in the corners.
The -2 tubes will most likely drop the bike 1" to 1 1/2" depending on the rake angle (pythagorean theorem). Dropping the front will also decrease the absolute trail measurement which will increase front wheel flop when cornering at lower speeds. Dropping the rear will correct this by bringing the trail back to within spec. The greater the absolute trail measurement, the more stable the front end will feel, to an extent.
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Joined: Aug 2010
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From: New Hampshire
The -2 tubes will most likely drop the bike 1" to 1 1/2" depending on the rake angle (pythagorean theorem). Dropping the front will also decrease the absolute trail measurement which will increase front wheel flop when cornering at lower speeds. Dropping the rear will correct this by bringing the trail back to within spec. The greater the absolute trail measurement, the more stable the front end will feel, to an extent.
As yes you should lower the rear end the same amount.
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Thanks for the help guys! So with dropping the front end that 1 to 1-1/2, is that enough to really effect the handling. I tried some of the online rake/trail calculators and it is only going to change the trail by 1/2" or so. I am just wondering if i should wait until i get the rear shocks to install the shorter tubes.
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Joined: Jun 2008
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From: Connecticut
The best is to lower both ends at the same time. The effects of a lower rear or front that messes up the rake and trail does mess with the handleing over a stock bike, but you get used to it. I wouldn't lower the ft though without doing the rear too. JMO
Yup, best to lower both. When I switched from the 21" front to the 16" front, the slightly smaller diameter of the front wheel only dropped the front about 5/8". After the initial test ride, my next stop was finding lowering bolts for the rear. The difference in handling was absolutely noticeable, to me anyway.
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Tourer
Joined: Jun 2010
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From: illinois
granted i wouldnt lower the front w/out doing the rear, but how bad is it to drop the rear w/out dropping the front?
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Dropping the rear and leaving the front stock should be fine. Doing so increases the trail measurement. It may actually make the bike slightly more difficult to turn at slow speeds, but will be more stable and want to track a straight line better. The only thing I would be concerned about is reducing trail by dropping the front by itself.
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From: Toronto, Ontario
Lowering front more than rear will put more weight on the front, I had the rear only 1" and the front 2" and that made the rear wheel wander a bit on high speed pumpy corners, I would also suggest improving your front braking somehow (I have the FabKevin sport bike kit, or you can go 6 pistons, or at least some performance pads).
When I lowered the rear a bit more that disappeared, although sometimes I question if this was because of the geometry alone or the fact that I added the Progressive 422's.
Tires will also make a HUGE difference, I do not foresee myself riding with anything else other than the Night Dragon's, they give me more fun per miles than any other tires, and I just tested them in the rain this week end and they performed remarkably..
When I lowered the rear a bit more that disappeared, although sometimes I question if this was because of the geometry alone or the fact that I added the Progressive 422's.
Tires will also make a HUGE difference, I do not foresee myself riding with anything else other than the Night Dragon's, they give me more fun per miles than any other tires, and I just tested them in the rain this week end and they performed remarkably..
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