Questions on lowering the bike

[JMB]

Hey guys, I'm fairly new here but have been lurking around for a while before registering. I did try to search but failed to get an informative answer.

I would like to know what are all the options to lowering a bike, both front and back. Also need to know what works best or what are the differences between the different ways to lower it. How low can you go with those parts. Also, brands/links to the more popular stuff would be great.

The ones that I do know of are the adjustable "dog bones" for the rear, straps for the front, or air ride.

And pics of your lowered bikes + info of the stretch (if any) would be really appreciated!

lease:

[CaBusaGirl]

How about a pic of your bike?

You have come to the right place for answers. I guarantee by morning you will probably have the info you are looking for. The people around here are pretty good about prompt and thorough answers.

Oh and to the board!

[JMB]

How about a pic of your bike?

You have come to the right place for answers. I guarantee by morning you will probably have the info you are looking for. The people around here are pretty good about prompt and thorough answers.

Oh and to the board!

Sorry, I have not yet purchased a Busa. I am in the middle of looking for a SUV to purchase as my daily driver. I currently own a 2001 Acura TL that I put together for show but unfortunately is my daily driver as well. When I buy a SUV, I will sell the car to purchase the Busa .

I'm just trying to collect as much info as I can before I make the purchase. I know once I have it I will blow a lot of money into it so I would like to make the right decisions the first time.

I could always post pics of the car?

[CaBusaGirl]

I could always post pics of the car?

Hey, a pic is a pic. We just love photo's around here.

So you know for sure a Busa is what you want?
Have you owned a bike before?
If you are looking to stretch and lower your bike I hope you don't plan on hitting many twisties.

[B@DA$$08BUS@]

Welcome. To lower rear Is easy, just get you some soupys or. Brocks adjustable lowering links. For front, get you a new top lowering triple tree or just strap it down, depends on what your going for.
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[JMB]

Hey, a pic is a pic. We just love photo's around here.

So you know for sure a Busa is what you want?
Have you owned a bike before?
If you are looking to stretch and lower your bike I hope you don't plan on hitting many twisties.

I know for a fact I want a Busa
I haven't owned a bike but I do ride my friends and one of them owns a ZX14. I feel comfortable riding it and got used to its weight. I know all the negatives of lowering and stretching but I really want to go for show, maybe some 1/4 mile runs. We don't have any twisties where I live and either way I DO NOT want to be doing crazy speeds around corners here anyway. Too many stupid riders around here and I have witnessed a few friends crash and burn doing **** like that in traffic. I honestly want just a nice toy to have for show/drives to the beach/rides with some friends. No stunting or zipping around corners.

BTW this is the TL
ImageShack Links Do Not Work
ImageShack Links Do Not Work

Few things on it have changed since then but basically same car still. And as you can see, I like the LOW LIFE haha.

Welcome. To lower rear Is easy, just get you some soupys or. Brocks adjustable lowering links. For front, get you a new top lowering triple tree or just strap it down, depends on what your going for.
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What exactly are the differences between the straps and the triple tree? I heard from someone that the straps help prevent bottoming out... is this true?

[B@DA$$08BUS@]

Car looks good. Straps basically hold front forks compressed down. Triple trEe actually allows the fork tubes to come up through it therefore lowering bike, some actually to both, once again depending on application.
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[B@DA$$08BUS@]

Haven't heard anything about bottoming out.
Posted via Mobile Device

[JMB]

Car looks good. Straps basically hold front forks compressed down. Triple trEe actually allows the fork tubes to come up through it therefore lowering bike, some actually to both, once again depending on application.
Posted via Mobile Device

Well basically I want to go as low as possible without bottoming out every other second. I am also concerned about the radiator. Does it clear good enough? Just asking because my friend that has a GSXR600 cracked his radiator pulling into the gas station too fast (it has a big incline).

What would you recommend for very low riding?

[B@DA$$08BUS@]

Would depend on application, and your weight, stretch.... Don't think you gotta worry about front bottoming out as much as back, and that really only becomes an issue if you stretch it. What year do you think you will buy? The road conditions would be the concern, if you go SLAMMED, you could drag and or high center the bike.
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[JMB]

I will be looking for a GenI Busa, I prefer to keep it a bit recent like 05-07. I weigh about 250lbs. From the different setups I've seen, I am looking to stretch it 8-9" with a 300 kit. I know I will need a stiffer spring for the rear, but don't know where to get that or if there are different ones to get. I also plan on purchasing an extended tail (maybe 4"-6") with a undertail. Pretty much from Catalyst Racing Composites, they make those undertails to make room for lowered bikes. I am going for this look with the drop and tail but maybe a bit shorter tail than in this pic:

ImageShack Links Do Not Work

I have driven my car (daily driver!) slammed for over 5 years now and I have scraped/scratched/bottomed out plenty of times and it is ok to me as long as it's all cosmetic damage under the vehicle and doesn't affect anything important.

[B@DA$$08BUS@]

You can get a rear shock resprung with a heavier one, and a revalve while you are at it from traxxiondynamics, Dan is awesome. I think trac dynamics here on the site does it also, as well as a couple others that slip my mind. At 250 you are a pretty heavy fella as myself. You will need the extended tail to keep it from rubbing as much, but with anything larger than 240, its gonna rub the sides regardless if lowered too much when extended 8-9 inches. I have mine extended 8.5 and when it was lowered 2" EVERY bump I went over it rubbed(I didnt have extended tail yet) so was rubbing under tail light.

[JMB]

You can get a rear shock resprung with a heavier one, and a revalve while you are at it from traxxiondynamics, Dan is awesome. I think trac dynamics here on the site does it also, as well as a couple others that slip my mind. At 250 you are a pretty heavy fella as myself. You will need the extended tail to keep it from rubbing as much, but with anything larger than 240, its gonna rub the sides regardless if lowered too much when extended 8-9 inches. I have mine extended 8.5 and when it was lowered 2" EVERY bump I went over it rubbed(I didnt have extended tail yet) so was rubbing under tail light.

Did you have a heavier spring when it rubbed that bad? I'm sure the stock undertail had a lot to do with it as well. I really wouldn't mind it rubbing the sides of the undertail. Maybe place some thin sheets of metal in the rubbing spots so it doesn't dig a hole through or something?

[ibified]

putting metal on something your tire is going to be rubbing against MIGHT not be the best idea....

As for why you need a heavier spring on an extended swingarm....look at the swingarm as a lever, and it makes more sense. put 100 lbs of force on a lever that's 2 ft long, and you'll get a given (depending on fulcrum location, of course) amount of force lifting the opposite side of the lever. make that lever 3ft long, and apply the same 100 lbs of force, and the amount of force will increase.

Not the greatest explanation, but gimme a break...its 5:05 am and I havent slept yet.

[B@DA$$08BUS@]

Yep had the 1000 lb spring and revalved.

[ResidentEvil]

welcome

[Liltroy]

putting metal on something your tire is going to be rubbing against MIGHT not be the best idea....

As for why you need a heavier spring on an extended swingarm....look at the swingarm as a lever, and it makes more sense. put 100 lbs of force on a lever that's 2 ft long, and you'll get a given (depending on fulcrum location, of course) amount of force lifting the opposite side of the lever. make that lever 3ft long, and apply the same 100 lbs of force, and the amount of force will increase.

Not the greatest explanation, but gimme a break...its 5:05 am and I havent slept yet.

made since to me

and to the new guy.

[Zoinks!]

First of all,

I would strongly discourage strapping the front end for daily riding and show applications. You'll put way more stress on the forks than necessary. Go with the lowering triple tree for the front. As for the rear, I have adjustable dog bones (3 hole), which are fine if you're going to leave it where you set it. If you want to be able to play around with it, or put it in between what the dog bones allow I'd recommend the screw type links. I have mine lowered 2" in the rear, only. I don't have any issues with rubbing anywhere, but then again, it's a stock swing arm and I'm only about 170 lb. If you decide to go with dog bones or the screw type links for the rear, ebay has some good stuff for great prices. That's where I got mine.

Now, if you want to ride on the street AND do shows, and want the most versatile setup, then you might want to go with air bags. That way you can easily raise it up some if you know you're going someplace that you'll need to be higher, but then if you're just cruising main or hittin the strip at the beach, or sitting at show, etc. you can drop it super low.

Sorry, I haven't done much research on re-springing, so I can't give you any advise on that, but it looks like you're doing fine with that, as it is.

[SANDFLEA85]

Welcome. To lower rear Is easy, just get you some soupys or. Brocks adjustable lowering links. For front, get you a new top lowering triple tree or just strap it down, depends on what your going for.
Posted via Mobile Device

If you strap it down,I hope you dont intend on dohg anything but going straight

[JMB]

Thanks to everyone for welcoming me I know I have a lot of questions but I have nobody to ask in person about this. You guys are my best source.

putting metal on something your tire is going to be rubbing against MIGHT not be the best idea....

As for why you need a heavier spring on an extended swingarm....look at the swingarm as a lever, and it makes more sense. put 100 lbs of force on a lever that's 2 ft long, and you'll get a given (depending on fulcrum location, of course) amount of force lifting the opposite side of the lever. make that lever 3ft long, and apply the same 100 lbs of force, and the amount of force will increase.

Not the greatest explanation, but gimme a break...its 5:05 am and I havent slept yet.

Why would it be a bad idea? I meant like a smooth, thin sheet of metal or anything that would keep the tire from either burning a hole through the tail or something that wouldn't hurt the tire.

I also understand the idea of needing a stronger spring when creating such leverage. But what exactly is it to revalve?

First of all,

I would strongly discourage strapping the front end for daily riding and show applications. You'll put way more stress on the forks than necessary. Go with the lowering triple tree for the front. As for the rear, I have adjustable dog bones (3 hole), which are fine if you're going to leave it where you set it. If you want to be able to play around with it, or put it in between what the dog bones allow I'd recommend the screw type links. I have mine lowered 2" in the rear, only. I don't have any issues with rubbing anywhere, but then again, it's a stock swing arm and I'm only about 170 lb. If you decide to go with dog bones or the screw type links for the rear, ebay has some good stuff for great prices. That's where I got mine.

Now, if you want to ride on the street AND do shows, and want the most versatile setup, then you might want to go with air bags. That way you can easily raise it up some if you know you're going someplace that you'll need to be higher, but then if you're just cruising main or hittin the strip at the beach, or sitting at show, etc. you can drop it super low.

Sorry, I haven't done much research on re-springing, so I can't give you any advise on that, but it looks like you're doing fine with that, as it is.

I pretty much considered the straps because they are affordable, some people I know have them, and I know you can drop the front end pretty good with those. As far as the negative effects go, I really have no idea and I'm glad you can point some out for me. How low exactly can the triple trees go?

From what I have read on these forums, the adjustable turning dog bones are the preferred kind. I'm not sure why but yeah, that's what I was going for. I will look for them on ebay, thanks.

If you strap it down,I hope you dont intend on dohg anything but going straight

I won't be speeding through twisties or anything. Just casual driving to where I'm going or maybe some 1/4 mile runs.

Thanks to everyone that has helped and welcomed me.