Front fork lowering.

[BillyO]

Hi, new guy here, love this site by the way. Anyway, I've seen a number of references to sliding front forks up the tree's various distances to lower the front end. I've got Diamond links on the back of my B12 (2000) and would like to lower the front also (I'm 5'6"). Whats the procedure? Can I just put it on the center stand, loosen the clamps and push? Any help in this would be awesome. Thanks.

[wheeliekev]

you will lose ground clearance, i tried dropping my forks and didn't like how it felt, i just put ohlins springs and oil in them and they were loads better  

[2005B12S]

Hi, new guy here, love this site by the way. Anyway, I've seen a number of references to sliding front forks up the tree's various distances to lower the front end. I've got Diamond links on the back of my B12 (2000) and would like to lower the front also (I'm 5'6"). Whats the procedure? Can I just put it on the center stand, loosen the clamps and push? Any help in this would be awesome. Thanks.

Its that simple, only you won't have to push. Leave one clamp bolt semi-tight and use it to regulate the amount of drop. Gently tap on the top triple to get it to drop nice and slow.

Its gonna want to fall thru the triple clamps if you loosen everything at once. If that happens, you are gonna need a front stand that lifts under the steering head or a few strong friends to lift the bike back up to the proper height.

Around 10mm of drop works well. I run that much and do not have any ground clearance issues.

Good Luck, Ed.

[RUSS M8]

You can do it on the side or centre stand.  Just do 1 fork leg at a time.  Loosen the Tripple clamp bolts, so they are just still holding tension, and slide 1 fork leg up.  If it doesn't want to slide, loosen the bolts a little more.  Once it is moving through, find something to measure it with, when you are happy (5 or 10mm is all you need) lock up those bolts again.  They don't have to be super tight, but you don't want them falling out!  Now do the same for the other side.  Simple!

[wheeliekev]

Hi, new guy here, love this site by the way. Anyway, I've seen a number of references to sliding front forks up the tree's various distances to lower the front end. I've got Diamond links on the back of my B12 (2000) and would like to lower the front also (I'm 5'6"). Whats the procedure? Can I just put it on the center stand, loosen the clamps and push? Any help in this would be awesome. Thanks.

Its that simple, only you won't have to push. Leave one clamp bolt semi-tight and use it to regulate the amount of drop. Gently tap on the top triple to get it to drop nice and slow.

Its gonna want to fall thru the triple clamps if you loosen everything at once. If that happens, you are gonna need a front stand that lifts under the steering head or a few strong friends to lift the bike back up to the proper height.

Around 10mm of drop works well. I run that much and do not have any ground clearance issues.

Good Luck, Ed.

ground clearance is not good on bandits in stock settings, both pegs get worn out on a regular basis if you ride like a twat   its horses for courses though we all like our bikes set up differant, if if it feels right and suits you then its probably not far off  

[2005B12S]

You can do it on the side or centre stand.  Just do 1 fork leg at a time.  Loosen the Tripple clamp bolts, so they are just still holding tension, and slide 1 fork leg up.  If it doesn't want to slide, loosen the bolts a little more.  Once it is moving through, find something to measure it with, when you are happy (5 or 10mm is all you need) lock up those bolts again.  They don't have to be super tight, but you don't want them falling out!  Now do the same for the other side.  Simple!

How do you do one leg at a time with the wheel/axle mounted?

[2005B12S]

ground clearance is not good on bandits in stock settings, both pegs get worn out on a regular basis if you ride like a twat   its horses for courses though we all like our bikes set up differant, if if it feels right and suits you then its probably not far off  

You are right, although I have never heard the expression "horses for courses" before

I am assuming that anyone wanting to drop the front is also gonna have beefed up the lame stock suspension.

[BillyO]

Done deal, actually did it during lunch at work while a buddy of mine was sectioning my side stand. (if you use them you know how upright rear lowering links make the bike) Took it out for 260 miles last Saturday and I'm a happy camper. Thanks for all the help.

[karl]

i lowered mine this weekend, about 15mm. made the cornering loads sharper now

suppose because in effect, its making the wheel base shorter.

[solman]

suppose because in effect, its making the wheel base shorter.

Actually what you are doing is changing your rake and trail when you move your forks.  I dropped mine 5 or 7 mm and noticed a nice difference.

[Red01]

I am assuming that anyone wanting to drop the front is also gonna have beefed up the lame stock suspension.

Some want to drop the bike for other purposes, like lower seat height or drag racing.

I'm not familiar with Diamond's links, so I don't know if they lift or lower or offer choices. If they lift, dropping the forks might be a little too much and may make tank slappers happen too easily.