Lowering a DR

[guest7]

Here is Simon Morgan on his DR650:



As you can see, he is tippy-toe on it and he would really like to lower the bike.

Can anyone offer suggestions on how to mod the bike to suit his needs?

Cheers
GC

[OMEGAMAN]

How about a nice pair of retro 70's style stacks (a la SLADE?)

[jules]

LONGER TIE BARS

[002]

Wot Jules says and drop the yokes a little !

Mind the tie bars might be triangular plates or a dog bone type of thing.


Jethro

[steveD]

Yeah they are dog bones, and I recon will need to be about 3 or4mm longer between centres of bolts. Dropping the  forks throufg is more of a challenge as the handlebars are not off set and will only allow for about 12 mm drop, not enough I might suggest. And boy have I thought of this problem so many times.
Anybody tried a 2008 660 Tenere?
For sale DR750 tooooo tall for me, or am I shrinking!

[guest40]

I had the top shock mount raised by 25mm and reset at a slightly different angle on the Traveller. I left the front alone. It still handles as well and is about 50 mm lower at the seat height. If I were to ride it like I was racing, I would drop the front accordingly.

[Steve H]

If your prepared to strip the forks then it should be possible to remove any preload spacer. On it own this would mean insufficient preload, so the fork would have to be stripped and the recoil spring length increased with something like a valve spring or fixed pacer. The result should be a lower ride height with the fork mounted in the same position. I did a similiar thing on a DT175 to stop the oil seal rubbing on a badly correded section of the fork leg.

[guest7]

(snip convoluted techie section) I did a similiar thing on a DT175 to stop the oil seal rubbing on a badly correded section of the fork leg.

I'm guessing this was a budget-led solution to the problem then? (as opposed to just buying a new fork leg).

Cheers 
GC

[Steve H]

I'm guessing this was a budget-led solution to the problem then? (as opposed to just buying a new fork leg).
Cheers 
GC

Yep, long time ago when money was quite tight.
Granted it was done to solve a different problem but would be effective in lowering the front end.
The other option would be to have them shortened.

[guest7]

Interesting replies, cheers.

So... what about the practical side of getting longer tie bars made, etc. ?

Can anyone suggest his next move?

Cheers
GC

[Steffan]

You either get them fabricated..but I wasn't able to find a volunteer here when I wanted shorter ones for my Skorpion or you buy them from the manufacturer..

Steffan

[guest7]

Found this quote on the web:

If you only want to lower the bike an 1" you can do that by drilling the stock dog bone that holds the monoshock to the swingarm, and that won't cost anything.

Sound feasible to you guys? I thought the dog bone had to be longer.

I also found this pitcure of a 98 DR650 link. It looks like the dog bones are a very easy item to fabricate. However, are there any bushes for the bolts to run through or are they simply drilled holes?



GC

[Steve H]

Not sure how this would work, the DR750 dogbones are 'dogbone' shaped with the bolts going through the centre of each circle on the end of the bone. If you drill a hole anywhere else there will not be enough meat to support the bolt.

[guest7]

That's what I thought too.

Are the DG's just drilled mild steel?

GC

[Steffan]

What length are the ones you have GC. I have a set of long ones off my Skorpion that you could borrow to try if that is any help. The ones I have fitted are 125mm so the spare ones kicking about are longer than that. They are just drilled - I cannot confirm what type of steel they are made out of.

Steffan