Topic: Bronco Bike Bucked me Off today! (Testimonial to helmet and engine guards!)

[Brookesy]

Don't let that little set-back stop you enjoying years of fun.
Just learn from the lesson...

I can remember a friend rolling his bike backwards to make a turn.
He rolled back and stopped - over a v-drain (ditch?)

If you can picture it (i still can)
He found himself with nowhere to put his feet
balanced for a couple of seconds
ended up - upside down in the drain
fuel pi... er pouring out of the tank

We sat back and asked if he needed help...
and let him find his own way out anyway

Stuff like like is funny when you're 18

[smithrelo]

Yes, stuff like that is funny but I'm 40 years past 18!!!

And Terry- Cindy is HAPPILY married! - (DOWN tiger!)

Thanks for checking out my blog-I hope to post more each day - The Animals in the flood in New Orleans are innocent victims-they didn't choose to live in a city that is built 8-25 feet UNDER sea level- so I feel obligated to help them all I can.  The People are...another thing- and I have family that needs help rebuilding their lives.  So I will help my family members to the best of my ability. 

I am proud to announce that my Dear Hubby's company announced shortly after the flooding of New Orleans and the Hurricane that they would match ALL contributions from employees to Red Cross or Salvation Army....

10 to 1 - which means for $100 they would put in $1,000 for a total of $1,100 - AMAZING!!!

Bye for now-watch my blog for further info - it may be the only place I have time to post on for next 2-3 weeks.

Linda (from Colorado) going to help the furbabies in Louisiana!!

[n9viw]

I realize this thread is quite old, but I felt I had to contribute a few things:
1) The JCW lowering blocks are 'okay', but they do NOT anchor the new lower shock mount to the swingarm! The result of this is a bit of clatter and "shock float" on rough roads. I had a set of lowering blocks from the 80s that affixed at both the original shock mount and with a longer bolt through the swingarm adjuster stop plates. If you can find a way to use both of these to hold the blocks down, so much the better. (BTW- those lowering blocks I had came with my bike, and when I sold them on ebay, they fetched $158!! Some people will buy anything with the word "chopper" on it... )
2) There are several places that sell lowering SHOCKS as well. Two come to mind: http://www.lowridersbysummers.com , and http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com (enter the site, then click on "Chopper Stuff" at the bottom of the left frame, then go to the third page, all the way at the bottom. You could go directly to http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/chopper3.htm , but you can't get back to the main site then.) These will give you 2" of lowering without changing the angle of your shocks, which some say has contributed to bent shocks as they are now taking a slight side load instead of a purely linear load.
3) At the cost of authenticity, you could modify the frame to fit a curved pan seat like are found on the Harley FXST and others. The downside to this is having to find a new mounting place for the battery, and switching to pod filters, as the factory airbox will no longer fit. Not as hard as it sounds, but traumatic to someone who doesn't want to 'chop' their bike.

I suppose you could combine the lowering blocks and the lowering shocks, but then your front end would be 4" higher than the back, which will definitely impart some weird handling. You could slip the forks up 4", or even just 2", but then they would hit your handlebars. The only way around THAT would be to switch to clipons, or get some 'dogbone risers' as seen here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/4-Dog-Bone-Risers-7-8-Kawasaki-Chopper-Motorcycle_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ34284QQitemZ4607109852QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW
The only issue THEN is making sure your fork legs don't hit the lower triple clamp!
Anyway, don't know if this is still a concern, but thought I'd put up my thoughts anyway.

[smithrelo]

Nick, thank you for all that info.  I've been traveling for 2-3 weeks and didn't have e-mail for almost 2 weeks!  Mississippi area looks like hurricane hit yesterday!  AND it's been 6 months!!

Anyway, the shorter shocks sound interesting.  I too was concerned about the front end "angle" changing, cause I could tell even with just the lowering blocks, the weight on the front end had changed significantly.  I've got LOTS of traveling to do the next 2 months, but I'll investigate your links and see which looks the best. 

Again, thanks for all the info!

Linda

[Terry in Australia]

G'Day Linda, regardless of whether you use lowering blocks or shorter shocks, your "front end angle" will change, the only difference is that with shorter shocks you lose rear suspension travel, and with lowering blocks, you don't. Cheers, Terry.

[smithrelo]

Terry, thanks, I hadn't actually thought it through...but your right!  I'm going to try just with the lowering blocks at least until July.  I don't ride that much, so it will take me several (warm) months to get some time on the bike and see how it does with the lowering blocks!

How are you?  We're considering a trip to "down under" in July/August!  I'll keep you posted!

Linda

[mrbreeze]

Hey Linda,I have lowered shocks on my bike and although its a 750, I don't notice a real big difference other than ground clearance. If you added lowering blocks to the lower shocks however, I think it would be too extreme. If the whole idea is to put your feet squarly on the ground,other things like custom seat or 16'" rear wheel are options.

[smithrelo]

mrbreeze,

I've got a custom seat already, and the lowering blocks helped a LOT....I too was concerned that changing the shocks out might be too drastic.  I'm MUCH closer to flat footed now, and the bike handles like a dream with the lowering blocks...I think I just have to get some miles under the tires and get comfortable with her.

 I had wondered about the tire...I think (?) I've got 17" now, and the one inch less...seems like a lot of work for just a bit of less height. 

I'm going to get 2-300 miles on her with these blocks.  I think it's just phychological now.  I'm wondering if I'm "too old, too slow...too dumb blahblahblah"?  Even considered training wheels (hahaha) right after I fell!

So I need it to warm up, quit snowing, and let me take her out for a few rides before doing to much more.  I've only ridden BB once with the lowering blocks, and it felt REAL good..so maybe, after some miles, I'll relax and ENJOY riding again!

Linda
PS-see photo of seat!

[Quail "Owner of the comfortable k8"]

Linda
did you lower the front at all.  I swear the bike feels loose in the corners now that I have the blocks on.  It feels like the rear wheel is driving out from under me.  I am going to change the rear bushings when I put on my powder coated swingarm. Did you get my last info on that ride.  sent 3-4 weeks ago.

[smithrelo]

Quail, was that the info on a charity ride?  If so, yes I got it, I'm just traveling a bunch and haven't had a lot of time to think about organizing one.  Thanks for the info-it is in the e-mail (about 25,000) saved e-mails, but I can get to it when I sit down to think about organizing charity run.

Thanks so much- I was in Mississippi aka-3rd world country...when you sent it and did not have good internet connection.

Linda