Dogbones

[1tinindian]

With this topic being active and me in the middle of my 17" rear wheel swap, I have a question.
Is the bike unrideable without adjusting the rear height?

I fully intend to make all the necessary modifications, but I wanted to hear from someone first hand that has been through this mod and maybe tried to ride with the stock rear  height and 17" wheel, and what the affects were.

Leon

[carsick]

My swap to a 17" on my '91 did not involve any change to the rear ride height. Works for me since I have a short inseam. Any loss in handling precision due to the slightly lower rear ride height from a shorter tire seems more than offset by the better tires. I was fine with the shorter gearing too, but an 18T front sprocket would bring the RPM back in line easily for long hauls.

[craigo]

With this topic being active and me in the middle of my 17" rear wheel swap, I have a question.
Is the bike unrideable without adjusting the rear height?

I fully intend to make all the necessary modifications, but I wanted to hear from someone first hand that has been through this mod and maybe tried to ride with the stock rear  height and 17" wheel, and what the affects were.

Leon

Yes, I too am wondering about this.  I am using a 90 GSXR wheel (still waiting for parts to come) and am going to be using a 170/60-17 tire.  From what I have read, this will lower the ride height .4 inches.  I am thinking I can live with that as the only (untested) side affect I can think of is it'll be a little harder to get on the center stand. 

Is this an accurate assumption?

CraigO
90FJ1200

[Mark Olson]

Raising the rear will get you faster turn in for corners, if you don't do it the front end will feel heavy . however if you didn't  notice it before you won't notice after the wheel mod. depends on your riding style.

[andyb]

It's about a half inch drop from the wheel change.

If you're scraping pipes and body bits in the corners now, it'll be noticably worse.  If you never scrape anything, then you may find yourself being surprised a bit at times, but rarely.

I'd suggest, once you've got the wheel on and are comfortable with how the tire feels, make your own dogbones.  There's really nothing to them, just be careful to make both the same eye-eye length.  Start with a half inch shorter, see how it feels, and go from there.  There isn't a right or wrong for your own bike, it's just what you like best and are most comfortable with using.

[RichBaker]

Clamp the 2 pieces together and drill the holes at the same time.... impossible for them to be different eye-to-eye.

[billwest]

I found that I was scraping things - even took the center stand off for a while.
I installed Soupy's Lift kit (ie replaced the dogbones with adjustable ones) and set it up so that, when on the center stand, there is about half inch clearance between rear wheel and ground.  Handles very well, no more scraping, leaving the center stand on.

Bill.

[Marsh White]

and set it up so that, when on the center stand, there is about half inch clearance between rear wheel and ground. 

Absolutely perfect!  That is ideal.

[Harvy]

+1 for Soupy's adjustable bones.
I have mine raised just a little further than your Bill - probably 3 or 4 mm clearance when on the centre stand, with the FZ1 swingarm/wheel etc.

Harvy

[rktmanfj]

Clamp the 2 pieces together and drill the holes at the same time.... impossible for them to be different eye-to-eye.

With the relay arm I have on there  right now, that's the ONLY way they'll fit!

Thanks to Bob W, I should be back in business soon... got the replacement today.   

Randy T
Indy

[Harvy]

Ahha....... good to hear Randy.

Cheers
Harvy

[Arnie]

Yes.  You can ride your bike without modifying the rear ride height after changing to a 17" rear wheel with a smaller OD than stock.
It is harder to get up on the center stand.
The steering will be slightly slower than if the ride height were higher.
You may want to compensate for this by raising the fork tubes a bit through the triple clamps.  Just be careful that by lowering the f & r ride heights you don't scrape when cornering.
The handling is better with more than OEM rear ride height if you're using new design radial tires.

Arnie

[rktmanfj]

Clamp the 2 pieces together and drill the holes at the same time.... impossible for them to be different eye-to-eye.

With the relay arm I have on there  right now, that's the ONLY way they'll fit!

Thanks to Bob W, I should be back in business soon... got the replacement today.   

Randy T
Indy

Ahha....... good to hear Randy.

Cheers
Harvy

Thanks a million. Harvy, for offering it up, I really do appreciate it!     

Randy T
Indy