Lower the front and raise the rear (16" shocks)?

[marla_do]

Hi guys,

Im looking for some before/after pics/inspiration for lowering the front and raising the rear of a cafe racer style bike

i've got a kz650 with 13" shocks and looking at 16" shocks

If 16" is too much, the next option is 14 3/8ths. I'm not going for a OMG dramatic "dumb" look, I just want a slightly more aggressive look

whats the normal amount to raise/lower?

Thanks in advance

 

[YogiBear]

on the front, it depends. How stiff your springs are, clearances on the fender/tire etc. You do still have to have the front slightly higher than the rear for handling purposes but I understand the look you are going for and I am a fan of that look. I've seen on average 1"-2" lowered in the front. It depends on the bike too.

 

[Rocker]

Hi Marla_do

It's a good question, but the truth is that there is no real rule to go by when decidig these things. The questions and parameters you want to work with are more a matter of perspective.. lines, personal taste, and last, but definitely not least.. aesthetics.

My personal taste in a build is to find balance. My preferred mode aesthetic is to go for a nice, simplified, symmetrical build with subtle mods that have to be really be lloked for. I'm not going for shock factor.. the bike must look good, it must ride good.. i.e. Geometry must be correct, and the bike must be able to be ridden hard and turn in well.
One thing you must be aware of... any time you either raise or lower the front or rear, you immediately change the handling characteristics. If you lower front too much, with too much rear height you will decrease the trail/rake so much that the front becomes very twitchy.. Alternatively.. if you add height to front, and decrease rear height, you increase trail/rake to the point that taking a corner is like steering a land barge.. or a Harley ;D *jokes.

So, due to my OCD and penchant for symmetry, I like to go for a near perfect level look. so that the tank and seat are in perfect level with the ground. I think it looks best.. well, it does to me. Plus learning forward with the rear jacked up too much can really fatigue your wrists on long day rides. Here are some photos from my current build as the ride height changed.

Standard XS750 with stock suspension as it was when purchased:

Here it is with standard rear height (300mm shocks) and the new RGV/R6 front end..

it sits 60mm lower in front now.. and although it's mostly level and nice and low looking.. it's still not quite right in height... still not the perfect symmetry..

then I put 330mm piggy back shocks in the rear and it's looking good:

As you can see in the image, it's on a wheel stand.. so it's sitting about 20mm off the ground.. but you can see how much better it looks with the 60mm drop in front height and a 30mm rear height increase...

But like I said, these decisions of what "looks good" are dictated by many factors..

• the look of each individual bike...
• the individual strengths and weaknesses of the aesthetics
• The desired overall finished look you're chasing
• and your personal OCD needs ;D

If you're building a cafe racer to be ridden daily or long weekend rides.. IMO, the level, symmetrical look not only has a nice balance to it, but it's ergonomic to ride.. It's great to have a day on the bike without having to pay the price with f*cked wrists at the of it LOL.. after years of riding rice-rockets with the bum up, the wrists hate me.. but I digress, the look of a classic cafe racer perfectly parallel with the ground just works nicely...

 

[marla_do]

Thanks oily. That's exactly what I needed.

Shows to me that 16" shocks while lowering the front would be way too much.

I like the way your bike sits and might copy your OCD and penchant for symmetry.

 

[AlphaDogChoppers]

I suspect that if you raise the rear that much and lower the front that you will have an unstable death trap under you. That would considerably reduce front end rake and possibly reduce trail enough to make the bike subject to tank slappers.

 

[jimmer]

How long is a piece of string?,...............etc.Post a good clear big side image of your bike and then we are talking.How long is a piece of string?,............... Reminds me of one of my favorite responses to people that ask" how long will it take to fix it? I always ask back,"How long does it take to catch a fish?"

 

[Rocker]

Thanks oily. That's exactly what I needed.

Shows to me that 16" shocks while lowering the front would be way too much.

I like the way your bike sits and might copy your OCD and penchant for symmetry.

Aww thanks mate... you flatter me Glad I was able to lend some perspective that was helpful for you. The important thing to always remember is the bikes geometry.. like I said, and others after have noted, if you jack the rear up too much, and lower the front, you end up decreasing rake/trail.. that is not good... Always remember that the handling geometry in designed into a bike when it's originally designed and built.. it's okay to make some changes, as they can help make it better.. but there's a point you can go past when it makes it worse.. so always find that middle ground.. that balance, and you will always be rewarded with something not only special, but also rideable

Keep us posted.. hope it goes well mate. If you feel so inclined, shoot me an email with a side photo of your bike.. and I might be able to make a couple sketches in my spare time for you... if you need the help that is... But I'm confident you will work it out in time anyway See it in your mind, commit it to paper.. edit, then attack it with everything you've got until you've succeeded! You'll get there mate.