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Question on Lowering a RSV!

Joined Nov 2008
628 Posts | 0+
Not far from you!
Hi all.

Id like to know the possible ways of lowering my bike to suit my height and weight. Im certain the bike is set up for a much heavier person and not for a short arse like myself :dowhat

Ive used the bike a few times since getting it back in October and not been 100% confident with my reach. Im just under 5.7" weighing 10 stone and can only get my toes on the ground. This is fine when just stopping at lights etc but when trying to maneuver the bike with my feet its tricky, especially on slopes.

I reacon i need to gain another 20mm-25mm.

Any good advice on adjusting the rear suspension or buying a lowering kit for it? Im worried the handling may go to pot! :dunno

Its a 04 model RSV btw.

Any other suggestions?

Thanks in advance for any help :thumbup
 
One question!

Are you sure your rear suspension is operating correctly?

Mine was stuck in the extended position, most likely due to sitting on an Abba stand all winter.

Check this link out - View Me.

Check this out before you go spending money on links and dropping the forks through the yokes.

PS. I'm a short arse too and I was worried that I was too small for my bike till I found this problem.
 
Thanks for your quick reply Alan. :thumbup

Just read that link, this is something i will check over the next few days, guessing ill need one of them abba stands to do this :dunno
I only own a rear paddock stand.

All i can say at the moment is the bikes rear suspension feels hard yes but its not bumpy and its rides/handles fine.

Perhaps if all is well adjusting the rear suspension will be enough and no other mods will be nessesary? Think them kits dont come cheap :eek:
 
Thanks for your quick reply Alan. :thumbup

Just read that link, this is something i will check over the next few days, guessing ill need one of them abba stands to do this :dunno
I only own a rear paddock stand.

All i can say at the moment is the bikes rear suspension feels hard yes but its not bumpy and its rides/handles fine.

Perhaps if all is well adjusting the rear suspension will be enough and no other mods will be nessesary? Think them kits dont come cheap :eek:

The lowering plates can be as much as £40 plus P+P.

My suspension only moved about 10mm and kind of hopped across bumps in the road.

At first I thought my front forks were fooked until I started delving in.

Rides like a dream now and I can reach the floor. LOL
 
Get the sag set up first and you might well find you can touch the floor without the need for ride height adjustment, and it'll handle better to boot :thumbup

How much does the bike squat down at the rear at the moment when you first sit on it Mr ukcustombike sir?
 
The lowering plates can be as much as £40 plus P+P

If i do have to buy some thats not going to break the bank. Do you know Alan is this something that can easily be fitted or would they need to be done by a pro?

Do you have a link for the parts that cost £40 please, ive not seen them that cheap, M+P do a kit for £79.99

Cheers :thumbup
 
Get the sag set up first and you might well find you can touch the floor without the need for ride height adjustment, and it'll handle better to boot :thumbup

How much does the bike squat down at the rear at the moment when you first sit on it Mr ukcustombike sir?

thanks for your help caterpillar

when you say sag set up do you mean rear suspension set up? (height adjustment)

I cant say ive noticed the rear end squat very much at all, i thought this was because the suspention is set for a much heavier person. Id say it squats no more than 10mm but will double check this this afternoon.

Thanks again
 
If i do have to buy some thats not going to break the bank. Do you know Alan is this something that can easily be fitted or would they need to be done by a pro?

Do you have a link for the parts that cost £40 please, ive not seen them that cheap, M+P do a kit for £79.99

Cheers :thumbup

Yeah, easy to fit mate but I can't find that damn link for them at the moment.

You have to take all the weight off the rear suspension so you'll need an Abba stand or similar. Then it's just a case of removing three bolts and hey presto!

Tim (Areesmill) sent it to me when I was having rear suspension issues.

Tim have you still got that link for those lowering suspension links, I think it was a German site you found them on?

As Cheesy said I think you'll find you can shorten you existing shock. Remember whatever you do to the rear you need to do to the front.

Personally I would recommend you get it set up by Fusebox or the like, if you **** up this setting you can end up making the bike handle like a pig.
 
Yeah, easy to fit mate but I can't find that damn link for them at the moment.

Tim (Areesmill) sent it to me when I was having rear suspension issues.

Tim have you still got that link for those lowering suspension links, I think it was a German site you found them on?

Alan when i was looking for these kits i came across this

http://www.bikefarmmv.de/ (click English flag)

This is their direct website address although they do sell parts on uk ebay under the user name bikefarmmv, the postage would be so much less if purchased from here.

:thumbup
 
Alan when i was looking for these kits i came across this

http://www.bikefarmmv.de/ (click English flag)

This is their direct website address although they do sell parts on uk ebay under the user name bikefarmmv, the postage would be so much less if purchased from here.

:thumbup

I'm sure that's the site Tim found for me when I had my rear shock link failure. I never ordered from them in the end as I managed to get bits from elsewhere.

Not a bad price either, about £40.00 ish as I said earlier.

It's a good job you didn't get the older shape RSV as they are slightly taller than the 04 models. You would have needed platform shoes like mine. LOL
 
It's a good job you didn't get the older shape RSV as they are slightly taller than the 04 models. You would have needed platform shoes like mine. LOL

I had a sit on my mates 99 mille before getting mine and that was roughly 1/2" taller than my 03 zx636r, i thought that would be fine. What i have discovered with mine though is the seat seems a little wider which in turn makes my feet slightly further away from the ground.

On that site/link i sent you Alan do you know what is meant by kit/MOT as its so much more expensive. I wondered if this was a kit that would pass a MOT where the other one wouldnt?


cheers
 
I had a sit on my mates 99 mille before getting mine and that was roughly 1/2" taller than my 03 zx636r, i thought that would be fine. What i have discovered with mine though is the seat seems a little wider which in turn makes my feet slightly further away from the ground.

On that site/link i sent you Alan do you know what is meant by kit/MOT as its so much more expensive. I wondered if this was a kit that would pass a MOT where the other one wouldnt?


cheers


Modified car and bike parts in Germany are looked at as a big no no unless controlled by the state.

What they have is a system in as such they make a part and then submit it for TUV testing, this obviously costs money and hence the part is more expensive. Also these parts are allowed to be fitted to bikes and cars and will not invalidate the insurance in Germany as they come with a certificate of conformity.
 
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