leveling a 1981 Honda 650 custom

[fgfh]

Hi everyone,
I'm new here. I just bought an '81 650 custom and want to convert it to a cafe racer but the online research I've done leads me to believe it may be dangerous to level the thing. By levelling I mean raising the ass end and lowering the forks so that the bike doesn't rise up in the front. I've seen photos of it being done but I'm worried about it looking good and then killing me (I already have a wife for that). I've seen people swap to shorter forks and longer rear shocks. I've seen the longer shocks used but the triple tree dropped two inches. Has anyone done this that can offer some advice? I'm not in a rush, I want to ride it a couple of months before I invest any time or money into it.

Thanks in advance for any help

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

I lowered the front of one about 1 1/8" because the owner has short legs. (I also sculpted the front of the seat differently.)

I lowered the forks by making a PVC spacer for the underside of the damping rod. That lets you lower it while still having appropriate pre-load on the springs. It still has stock length rear shocks, although the owner intends to get 12" shocks at some point when he can afford it. The bike handles fine.

Just don't get carried away. What you are talking about doing is too much. When you lower the front, and/or raise the rear, you reduce rake and trail. This changes the handling of the bike. Some bikes are better, more nimble, and corner better. Other bikes will be unstable and prone to tank slappers. I suggest you not lower the front more than an inch to inch and a half, and don't raise the rear more than an inch. Honestly, bikes that have been jacked up in the rear, and lowered in the front look goofy to me. It's OK for a girlfriend, but not so good for a motorcycle.

 

[DV2000NJ]

I have an '80 650C, and I have raised the rear an inch, and dropped the forks in the trees about 1/2". I haven't done any calculations on rake and trail yet, but there have been no major changes in handling (negative, or positive). Yes, this is very anecdotal evidence, but I believe as long as you aren't jacking the rear sky high and slamming the front, you should be ok.

I'm curious now though, I think I'm gonna go calculate what my new rake and trail are.

Here's a picture of the stance of my bike just for reference.

 

[fgfh]

Thanks guys, I appreciate the advice.