troll Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 These links lower the rear of the bike 5/8" and do not require any grinding or modification of the swing arm. I installed these links and then slide the fork tubes 5/8" up in the triple clamps. I went for a short ride and the bike feels and handles the same as before lowering. http://i.imgur.com/eAdgys8.jpg http://i.imgur.com/EJaA09x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/23OyuYK.jpg Coming to you from the frozen wastelands of the barren north Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rumbooblivion Posted April 26, 2015 Share Posted April 26, 2015 These links lower the rear of the bike 5/8" and do not require and grinding or modification of the swing arm. I installed these links and then slide the fork tubes 5/8" up in the triple clamps. I went for a short ride and the bike feels and handles the same as before lowering. This is some of the best news I've heard YET on this subject. Nothing like an OEM part to truly solve the problem without the need to Micky Mouse mods to make it "fit". KUDOS for putting this info up. I'd heard mention of the Yamaha links and was going to ask about them ... so you saved me posting. Question: How Much? 5/8" should just about be PERFECT for me, at 5'7" with 29" inseam, based on my brief sit on the bike. Cheers, Patrick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troll Posted April 26, 2015 Author Share Posted April 26, 2015 Canadian retail - $80. I got a pretty good discount Coming to you from the frozen wastelands of the barren north Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlomb436 Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 This is really cool, thanks for the post. I'm not sure if 5/8" would be enough for me... but OEM is really the way to go. Can't imagine grinding away stuff on my bike. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troll Posted April 27, 2015 Author Share Posted April 27, 2015 When your legs are short every little bit helps... Coming to you from the frozen wastelands of the barren north Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couter Posted April 27, 2015 Share Posted April 27, 2015 I really need to get my bike lower since I gently let the hand guard kiss the pavement.(The bike and I are okay, no damage done, parking lot maneuvering gone wrong) Being able to put my foot down would have made that a non-issue for sure. With this kit I was curious how it affects suspension performance. Naturally less swing in the swing arm, but I want to make sure that there aren't any adverse effects with doing this. I'm a complete suspension nooob when it comes to that department. My guess would be there isn't a noticeable change unless a person were racing the bike? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troll Posted April 27, 2015 Author Share Posted April 27, 2015 I really need to get my bike lower since I gently let the hand guard kiss the pavement.(The bike and I are okay, no damage done, parking lot maneuvering gone wrong) Being able to put my foot down would have made that a non-issue for sure. With this kit I was curious how it affects suspension performance. Naturally less swing in the swing arm, but I want to make sure that there aren't any adverse effects with doing this. I'm a complete suspension nooob when it comes to that department. My guess would be there isn't a noticeable change unless a person were racing the bike? The interWeb is your link to group mind... search, research.... read and become enlightened. Everything you change or adjust on the suspension changes the handling. Even hard braking changes the rake and trail which in turn affects how the bike steers/handles. It is very important to be a well informed consumer when modifying your scoot. Coming to you from the frozen wastelands of the barren north Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couter Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 So then Troll, with dropping it down 5/8ths of an inch front and rear, what foreseeable changes could I expect? Or would it be a matter of try and find out? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troll Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 couter, I am not an expert or a professional and I only ride 5 months of the year. My FJ has TKC80s for tires... so YMMV. I dropped mine 5/8" front and rear and have noticed no ill affects with the exception of 5/8" of ground clearance lost. I do a lot of reading, I would encourage you to review rake and trail and the impact on handling when these values change and then contemplate that in relationship to any suspension changes that you are contemplating. Coming to you from the frozen wastelands of the barren north Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couter Posted April 29, 2015 Share Posted April 29, 2015 couter, I am not an expert or a professional and I only ride 5 months of the year. My FJ has TKC80s for tires... so YMMV. I dropped mine 5/8" front and rear and have noticed no ill affects with the exception of 5/8" of ground clearance lost. I do a lot of reading, I would encourage you to review rake and trail and the impact on handling when these values change and then contemplate that in relationship to any suspension changes that you are contemplating. well at least I have a direction to go now, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troll Posted April 29, 2015 Author Share Posted April 29, 2015 couter, sorry if I sound obtuse. There are sooooo many opinions that float around the interweb and soooo many experts of which I am not one. I am an ex heavy equipment mechanic/welder and did a bit of chopping back in my youth. There are a lot of professionals out there writing about suspension and I am sure some of them are here on this forum. I am often reluctant to state an opinion when it is probably only relevant to my particular circumstance. Every silly millimeter of change in ride height up or down on either end of the bike changes the steering geometry. Even pre-load adjustments will have an affect. As I have said... I believe in being a highly informed consumer. I am a high need to know individual. a couple of example... http://bikearama.com/theory/motorcycle-rake-trail-explained/ http://www.custom-choppers-guide.com/rake-and-trail.html http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bicycle_and_motorcycle_geometry Coming to you from the frozen wastelands of the barren north Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
couter Posted June 17, 2015 Share Posted June 17, 2015 These links lower the rear of the bike 5/8" and do not require any grinding or modification of the swing arm. I installed these links and then slide the fork tubes 5/8" up in the triple clamps. I went for a short ride and the bike feels and handles the same as before lowering. http://i.imgur.com/eAdgys8.jpg http://i.imgur.com/EJaA09x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/23OyuYK.jpg Troll, I wish I had re-read this thread a week ago. I compared the links, and the lowering ones for mine are crazy short compared to the ones you've photographed. I called my dealership, and they can't get those links... I'm half tempted to say I'd pay you to ship me some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlomb436 Posted June 18, 2015 Share Posted June 18, 2015 These links lower the rear of the bike 5/8" and do not require any grinding or modification of the swing arm. I installed these links and then slide the fork tubes 5/8" up in the triple clamps. I went for a short ride and the bike feels and handles the same as before lowering. http://i.imgur.com/eAdgys8.jpg http://i.imgur.com/EJaA09x.jpg http://i.imgur.com/23OyuYK.jpg Troll, I wish I had re-read this thread a week ago. I compared the links, and the lowering ones for mine are crazy short compared to the ones you've photographed. I called my dealership, and they can't get those links... I'm half tempted to say I'd pay you to ship me some.Couter, I called a dealer in Vancouver BC and they shipped them down to me. Think I paid about $90 USD total with shipping. Wasn't terrible at all if you're in the states. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Member paladin Posted January 1, 2016 Premium Member Share Posted January 1, 2016 You can get the Yamaha links from the US dealer now. $66 US. I installed them on my bike a couple of weeks ago. City and highway driving feel the same. It is in the twisties that I feel the difference. Here the steering feels a bit dull, not bad but different. The ride is no harsher as some have claimed would happen. I did remove the added kick stand plate as it was sitting too up right. You can see a photo in the premium gallery. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.