Author Topic: has anyone lowered the front forks  (Read 1024 times)

Kymco500

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has anyone lowered the front forks
« on: December 07, 2010, 10:27:17 PM »
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« Last Edit: December 20, 2010, 06:59:48 AM by Kymco500 »

Hoolander2

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Re: has anyone lowered the front forks
« Reply #1 on: December 08, 2010, 03:31:02 AM »
Not me, but there was a discussion here once in which RAISING the front end by lowering the forks was mentioned as a means of achieving more high speed stability.  Since there are those who think their 500 needs more of that.  One even reported "tank slapping" instability at speed.  Think he wound up selling that scoot.   

I went and looked at mine and found one was about 1/16" higher than the other.  In adjusting them I found one bolt fairly loose.  I left em at the lowest (front end highest) position. 

I reckon you could adjust your seating height doing what you say.  Just have to watch out for handling issues, eh?

Everyone ought to have a look at this on their scoot.  Are the forks sometimes put on at the dealer when they assemble it from the crate?   

Rianna

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Re: has anyone lowered the front forks
« Reply #2 on: December 08, 2010, 03:38:59 AM »
I agree about checking that. I found some loose bolts on mine. I measured mine and they were the same. It could have been a bad situation. Prevention is often easier than a cure.

Hoolander2

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Re: has anyone lowered the front forks
« Reply #3 on: December 08, 2010, 05:02:19 AM »
Not so. More rake angle generally makes high speed more stable -- but more difficult turning at slow speed.  Less rake gives easier slow speed handling but can be unstable at high speeds.  Lengthening the forks, ie, raising the front end increases rake.  That's why they do it on choppers.

Now if you're talking about raising and lowering the center of gravity, then yes, lower is easier to balance when stopped or going real slow.  But you must consider what you've done to the rake angle for handling at any speed above that. 

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