Short butt needs HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

General Biker Banter
Post Reply
twocozz
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:43 am

Short butt needs HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!

Post by twocozz »

Hello All


I am a proud owner of a new (well for me!) firestorm. I am also a bit of a short butt, so I have decided that I would lower the bike myself (the solutions I have seen to do this on the internet have been either very expensive or just mechanically flimsy). The problem is I work in Germany at the mo and my new bike is in the garage at home. I really need a couple of dimensions (well three!) off of one of the brackets so I can draw up a modified bracket and have it made ready for when I’m back home in blighty next weekend.

The bracket will be adjustable and I will post the drawing on this forum so anybody else (of diminished stature) or (lanky git) can have their own made too (at a fraction of the cost)

Can anybody help!



Cheers
John


Image
User avatar
Fireman on a Storm
Posts: 1225
Joined: Mon Apr 28, 2003 5:59 pm
Location: Romford

Post by Fireman on a Storm »

Viper has a cut/lowered seat for sale
User avatar
Stormin Ben
Posts: 1234
Joined: Sun Dec 01, 2002 12:23 am
Location: Birmingham

Post by Stormin Ben »

Twocozz,

I'd have thought you'd be better off making up the part to the right of the one you want measuring
Basically its just 2 triangular pieces of metal, whereas the bit you're looking at getting made is cast with 4 bearing houses in it

Also, if you make measurement A longer (as I'm assuming is your intention to lower the rear of the bike) then the shock is gonna contact that part as the suspension compresses
To my mind if you make the piece I've suggested and move the hole centres you should be able to lower the rear without anything touching.
Downside is you're into the realms of altering the rising rate of the entire linkage which requires a fair bit of recalculation :?

However
If I was doing it myself I'd DEFINITELY turn my attention to the top shock mount instead
There's more than enough clearance there to make a new one up but a bit shorter.
It's a LOT simpler, achieves the same results and if you have it made too short (ie the shortest possible) you can EASILY lift it back up again by inserting spacer plates to fine tune it


Hope this helps

Ben

PS (and its a big one)
Don't forget to lower the forks by a similar amount too otherwise it'll steer like a chopper
And as the standard cans go down almost in a straight line you're into the realms of fiddling to improve the ground clearance. I've had the same issues albeit on track/ fast road use.
List of mods includes:
High level cans
Seriously shortened footpegs
Heaving on the exhaust header to move it slightly so it doesn't touch down
User avatar
Stormtrooper
Posts: 389
Joined: Sun Jul 28, 2002 9:17 pm

Post by Stormtrooper »

Or a cheaper mod could be
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-SWEAR-AIR-SHI ... dZViewItem
well someone had to do it :roll:
twocozz
Posts: 2
Joined: Wed Apr 19, 2006 8:43 am

Post by twocozz »

I'd have thought you'd be better off making up the part to the right of the one you want measuring
Basically its just 2 triangular pieces of metal, whereas the bit you're looking at getting made is cast with 4 bearing houses in it
Thanks for the advice… I never thought about the shocker bottoming out on the bracket, I did think about replacing the two triangular brackets but It looks like they have a central bearing mount spacer/thingy pressed (or welded) between them. This could be a problem to make in our workshop – because nobody welds!

If I was doing it myself I'd DEFINITELY turn my attention to the top shock mount instead
Good Idea - Never thought of that!

And the shoes - wrong size, wrong colour (wont match my pink leathers) LOL
User avatar
Pete.L
Forum Health And Safety Officer
Posts: 7301
Joined: Fri Sep 26, 2003 5:09 pm
Location: Bristol

Post by Pete.L »

Twocozz Said
And the shoes - wrong size, wrong colour (wont match my pink leathers) LOL
:lol: :lol: :lol:
Welcome on board matey!
I think you'll fit in nicely :wink:

Pete.l
User avatar
Stratman
Posts: 2656
Joined: Mon Dec 01, 2003 10:55 pm
Location: Norwich
Contact:

Post by Stratman »

Hagon do shorter shocks to order and they aren't too expensive and much better than the standard unit, so that might save a lot of messing about maybe?
User avatar
yellafella
Posts: 1276
Joined: Tue Sep 21, 2004 9:58 am
Location: Middlesbrough

Post by yellafella »

[quote="
And the shoes - wrong size, wrong colour (wont match my pink leathers) LOL[/quote]

So it was you that bought those Kushitani leathers !!!????
I was bidding too !!!
Small world innit ? :lol: :lol: :lol:
Image
User avatar
SILVER ZIPPER
Posts: 740
Joined: Sat Jun 25, 2005 10:37 pm
Location: DERBYSHIRE

Post by SILVER ZIPPER »

yellafella wrote:[quote="
And the shoes - wrong size, wrong colour (wont match my pink leathers) LOL
So it was you that bought those Kushitani leathers !!!????
I was bidding too !!!
Small world innit ? :lol: :lol: :lol:[/quote]
That's no suprize to anyone :lol: :lol: :lol:
I HATE IT WHEN I HAVE TO PUT IT AWAY........
User avatar
sirch345
Site Admin
Posts: 22372
Joined: Mon Aug 25, 2003 10:35 pm
Location: The West Country.

Post by sirch345 »

Welcome aboard twocozz.
Post Reply