Topic: Lowering Front Ride Height?

[DrMark]

I received my new BOGE shocks, they are definitely a bit shorter than the OEM models I had on my 1978 CB550K. I really like the new feel.

My question is should I lower the front ride height to keep the bike balanced and level? I remember someone stating that I can raise the fork tubes via the triple tree. The search function did not help in finding an answer.

What will this do to the steering characteristics? And by how much? Thanks, DrMark

[theunrulychef]

Second the question.  Got mine last week but haven't put them on my frame yet.  They're a full 1" shorter than my old shocks ('77 750 F2).

[n9viw]

If you only want to shorten it an inch or so, you can cut that amount off the top of the fork springs. Recall, the shorter a spring of a given coil is, the stiffer it gets. If you ever need that height back, you can cut a spacer out of 3/4" PVC to put at the top of the spring. You can only take so much out before you run the risk of bottoming out the upper tubes. Technically, you CAN shorten the upper tubes, but there's not a whole lot of space to play with between the front wheel and the lower tree.
If you plan to raise the fork tubes in the trees, you will need to get a set of dogbone risers to keep the handlebars away from the forks that are now poking up through the top tree. The other option, of course, is to run clipons, but not everybody likes those.

[bill440cars]

If you will look, in the Tech Forum, you will find a post on lowering the forks on the CB550.
Greg, from Ohio Cafe Racers, told how he dropped his CB500 about 3" front and rear. The rear used 11' shocks w/ lowering blocks. The front end was dropped by comressing the springs by about 3" using the damping rod and cutting off the excess rod so that your caps can be reinstalled. I don't remember if the rod has to have more threads cut or not. The person who can elaborate on this particular procedure is Greg. Others may have good ideas and all but, go to the Tech Forum, find the post, check it out, contact Greg and make your decision. We all (me included) really need to check previous posts before starting a repeat post. Later on,  Bill

[bill440cars]

  In fact, if you will look at the 1st post on page 12 of the Tech Forum, you will find what I was talking about and you will see Greg's CB500 that has been lowered. Check it out, Bill

[Gordon]

You probably won't even notice the handling difference with only a 1" drop in the back.  Technically it will slow the steering down a little bit and the bike will hold a straight line more easily, but with that small of a drop it's negligible.  You can, however, raise the forks in the triple tree by about an inch before they will hit the handlebars if you want to even things out. 

[DrMark]

Thanks for the info so far. What I meant by "liking the new feel", was having a set of shocks that actually work so much better than the old original shocks....I'm not feeling the back end bouncing over the bumps as much. I could not tell/feel that the back end was lower than the front when compared to original shock set-up.

I figured (from reading other posts) that raising the fork tubes up into the triple tree might make the front end slightly more responsive, but I was also wanting to keep everything balanced. I love the ride of my 550. Recently, tried a friend's new HD Sportster....much harsher ride.

[supersport_CB400F]

If you can find some good shock's they're   so much better than the originnal Honda crap 

[ProTeal55]

I lowered my front-end about 1 1'2 from stock height.
I would of gone more, but the top of the tubes "bottomed out" on my bars....
I went to a thicker fork oil when I did this , and it helped alittle....

[Gibson]

I have a 73 350-F and i could slide my fork tubes up atleast inch and a quater maybe inch and a half before they'd hit the stock bar's