Lowering Honda SLR650

[iansoady]

I think I'd like the SLR I'm picking up to be a bit lower so have been looking at how to do it. This lowering block: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/130768979944?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT - pic below - looks like a good start for the rear shock but not yet having the bike I'm not sure how it fits. I'm assuming that it replaces the lower mount on the existing shock unit. This means that the latter must be detachable - anyone confirm this?

I will of course also be raising the forks in the yokes by 30mm and have a prop stand to chop a lump out of if necessary.

[guest1247]

Hello there Ian, Firstly, Whoah there..!! and "hold your horses..! " ..... Don't go spending your money.... I think I can help you out. I have just sold my 51 plate FX650 Vigor ( same as the SLR really ). In order to make it "made to measure" for me, I made a more suitable fork-end for the bottom of the mono-shock. Not only is it about 25 mm shorter, but the bolt hole has about 15 mm offset, so it will not foul the rising rate linkage. I am not quite "vertically challenged", but am 29 inch inside leg. After this mod,  25 mm raising of the forks in the yokes, and the same 25 mm taken off the stand ... the bike ended up perfect for me. I have just spoken with said friend .... and at six foot three, he has obviously put it back to standard. The modified fork-end is yours if you would like it. I will try to post a picture showing it fitted. Send me a PM with your telephone number, and I will call, regards getting it to Birmingham... I get there once a week for a few deliveries around Bilston, Moxley, Darlaston and Cradley Heath.... It's turned out to be your lucky day hasn't it..!! Regards, Tony Calleyne

[iansoady]

Hi Tony,

I've tried to send a pm but not sure if it worked (I think I may be a bit new here.....)

I'd be very happy to take up your offer - if you also had the ready-modified stand it would save my blobby welding - I could swap the spare untouched one if that would help your tall friend.

My email is ian at iansoady dot org dot uk.

Many thanks

[guest1247]

Hi Ian, check your e-mails for news of fork-end.... Tony

[iansoady]

Cheers Tony.

[guest1247]

H Ian, Post-card with attached paperwork arrived today, before noon. Thank you very much..... Tony...

[iansoady]

Prop stand on its way to Graham with appropriate contribution......

[guest1247]

Hi Ian, the carb adjusting screw arrived this morning..... Hope you manage to get sorted with the copy you made.... I am sure a little adjustment will soon have the throttle "cracking open" instantaneously.... Catapulting you out of roundabouts..!! Let us all know how you get on.... That is, if you can keep on..!!  Regards, Tony

[iansoady]

Now I've actually got to the screw I've discovered that a PO has mangled the slot so I think I'll wait till I do the other jobs and pop the carb off then so I can do the job properly. I took the heater off to get better access (and that was a pain) but I don't want to damage the slot any further.

I'm sure I had the same problem on my Domi and had to make a drill bushing to drill the old screw out - but that was 15 years ago. I don't recall the carb heater on that being any use to stop the carb icing up.....

Catapulting will have to wait a little while.

[iansoady]

Chopped prop stand received with thanks and on with the job - the shortened bottom link is now in place (after something of a struggle getting the original one off) and all the back end back together. Front end to do next then I'll attend to the carb.

[iansoady]

I can now get onto the bike without dislocating my hip - many thanks Tony & Graham. It doesn't actually look that different but handles fine and run very well after fixing the slide lifter in the carb and installing a new idle screw. This may need a final bit of tweaking but it would be hard to improve on the running at 2.5 turns out.

The Givi screen means that 70mph is now very comfortable (although next time I should make sure ALL the screws are tight!); the mirror extenders I knocked up in an idle hour or so mean that I can now see what's behind me instead of my elbows and altogether I'm very happy.

Installed link:



Bike stance now lowered:



Mirror extenders and screen:



Forks raised through yokes:

[guest1247]

Hello again Ian, Thanks for the last post, and the PM. I'll pass on your thanks to my mate Graham. He will be pleased to hear that the bike is now sorted, and dare I say ... "made to measure". Like me, he will be pleased to know that our further development of Honda's design, has put a smile on your face..... I'd just like to see you "catapulting" it out of one or two roundabouts...!! Last point.... Did you try my suggestion of discarding that horrible stuff they call fork-oil, away, and replenish with ATF / Power stg oil ....? Try it, you'll love it..... Regards, Tony

[iansoady]

Yes I did. As it happened I had 2 litres of ATF already as I used to use it in the primary chaincase of my Norton Commando.

Oddly enough, the normal 500cc or so came out of the left leg but virtually nothing out of the right one. There's no sign of any leaking although I've only done 20 miles or so since screwing it back together (but that did involve a lot of speed humps....). It does feel very supple and seems to handle well. The steering is quite slow compared to my last V-Strom 650 but I prefer that to being twitchy.