I've been contemplating the same thing, can you put up a link to the info you've found?
Is this safe to do?
I've read about lowering the speedy in the archives of several forums with success. I am short (29" inseam). Will lowering affect handling? I realize it will change handling, but will it be dangerous?
Thanks, John
Thanks, John
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As my ex-girlfriend the motocross rider likes to tell me:
"Seat height only matters when you are stopped. Don't stop."
Geof
"Seat height only matters when you are stopped. Don't stop."
Geof
that depends on how you do it... suspension? or shaving the seat? suspension of course will reduce clearance, shaving the seat wont, but I am not sure how much there is to shave or shape...tripleniple said:I've read about lowering the speedy in the archives of several forums with success. I am short (29" inseam). Will lowering affect handling? I realize it will change handling, but will it be dangerous?
Thanks, John
The only person I know who did this ended up only dropping about 1/2 inch on the suspension once he set the sag correctly hes not a "hard" rider so it was a good move for him.
If you go to Triumphrat.net (uh oh....wil this get me banned? ;D) and do a search on the speed triple forum, there were a couple of extensive threads there about this very subject. There was a short guy named Gnome that put a shorter shock in his 05 S3 and he felt that it produced a good result. Definately worth having a look, especially if you think you can get in and out of the place without getting yourself in trouble with the censors/moderators.
G
I'm a shorty myself,
I shaved the seat almost down to the plastic, Butchered it so bad I had to get a Corbin.
Corbin claims a full inch lower... BS! a half inch at best.
On that other site, a guy named trackeroldguy put a 35mm shorter rear Hagon shock.
I've used dog bones on other bikes and it does change the geometry, Unless you are a serious sport rider, You probably won't notice, it sure makes it easier to do parking lot stuff.
Around town I don't mind a lowered bike, On the track its a different story, I will bring it back up to normal position and reset the suspension.
I have not changed anything on the S3 other than the seat, Just learned to deal with it.
I shaved the seat almost down to the plastic, Butchered it so bad I had to get a Corbin.
Corbin claims a full inch lower... BS! a half inch at best.
On that other site, a guy named trackeroldguy put a 35mm shorter rear Hagon shock.
I've used dog bones on other bikes and it does change the geometry, Unless you are a serious sport rider, You probably won't notice, it sure makes it easier to do parking lot stuff.
Around town I don't mind a lowered bike, On the track its a different story, I will bring it back up to normal position and reset the suspension.
I have not changed anything on the S3 other than the seat, Just learned to deal with it.
G
No they do not make one. I did however find one custom made on the other site that was on ebay. I got it for 200.00 shipped. It has approx. 75.00 in new bearings and seals.
Now for the bad news :beer: The maker of this link made it too long and it made the spring hit inside the swing arm :finger:Too bad he did not disclose this!!!
What I did was drill another hole in the correct places and weld up the other holes. :drink: ;DThis worked GREAT and lowered the bike 1 1/8" After riding it 300 miles I can not tell much of a difference. The only thing is it does not dive right into the corners as well as it did, but I have not lowered the front yet and this should fix that. Or at least it did on other bikes I have had.
Now for the bad news :beer: The maker of this link made it too long and it made the spring hit inside the swing arm :finger:Too bad he did not disclose this!!!
What I did was drill another hole in the correct places and weld up the other holes. :drink: ;DThis worked GREAT and lowered the bike 1 1/8" After riding it 300 miles I can not tell much of a difference. The only thing is it does not dive right into the corners as well as it did, but I have not lowered the front yet and this should fix that. Or at least it did on other bikes I have had.
When I get my new Hyperpro shock I'm going to drop the bike as much as it'll let me and still keep decent handling. I've already dropped the front almost an inch through the triples.
If you REALLY want to drop the rear without affecting handling, lower the rear subframe. It'll require some cutting and welding, but you'll get a much better result and keep travel.
If you REALLY want to drop the rear without affecting handling, lower the rear subframe. It'll require some cutting and welding, but you'll get a much better result and keep travel.
I shaved my seat (ooer) this weekend to reduce height and to give it more of a flat profile. I am pretty impatient and shit at all things technical so it turned out pretty dubious. It is about an inch lower, much more interesting to sit on, and the bike is much more managable when moving it backwards. I will now pay someone competent to remake this seat, to the profile I have but with more dense foam.
Only problem with this mod (if done properly) is the position of the footpegs, they need to be much further back, mmm Rizoma reasets next!!
Only problem with this mod (if done properly) is the position of the footpegs, they need to be much further back, mmm Rizoma reasets next!!
The therad on TRat that other refer to has to do with the installation of the Hagon short shock - do a search for Hagon, and it'll come up.
I've done this conversion to my bike, and I couldn't be happier. I'm short at ~5'4". I can't compare handling, cause I had mine delivered from the shop with the short shock installed.
I've done this conversion to my bike, and I couldn't be happier. I'm short at ~5'4". I can't compare handling, cause I had mine delivered from the shop with the short shock installed.
I wouldn't drop the supension (do both front and back equally or you'll screw with steering dynamics) more than 1/2" or so. The problem with compressing your spring (preload) to lower the rear shock, is that it essentially removes that much of the 'soft' part of the compression permanently if you're using a progressive spring. If you're up on your toes, you should probably consider a good performance short shock or lower your tail section an inch through some fabrication (cut'n'reweld). I did this for my dad's bike instead of messing with the shock, and he's still got plenty of travel and doesn't hit the undertail.
If you've got a good fabrication shop nearby who could do the work for you, it would probably be a lot cheaper than buying a whole new shock. Just make sure the person is an exceptionally good aluminum welder(GTAW/TIG). If you know how to weld aluminum, all you need to do is leave the subframe on the bike, cut equal lengths (approx. 1/2") of tube from the lower tubes of the subframe near the frame mounts. Next clean off any powdercoat or paint at least 1/2" away from the area to be welded. Last, weld it up. Just make sure your battery is disconnected and your ground clamp is very close to the area to be welded.
If you've got a good fabrication shop nearby who could do the work for you, it would probably be a lot cheaper than buying a whole new shock. Just make sure the person is an exceptionally good aluminum welder(GTAW/TIG). If you know how to weld aluminum, all you need to do is leave the subframe on the bike, cut equal lengths (approx. 1/2") of tube from the lower tubes of the subframe near the frame mounts. Next clean off any powdercoat or paint at least 1/2" away from the area to be welded. Last, weld it up. Just make sure your battery is disconnected and your ground clamp is very close to the area to be welded.
legman said:If you go to Triumphrat.net (uh oh....wil this get me banned? ;D) and do a search on the speed triple forum, there were a couple of extensive threads there about this very subject. There was a short guy named Gnome that put a shorter shock in his 05 S3 and he felt that it produced a good result. Definately worth having a look, especially if you think you can get in and out of the place without getting yourself in trouble with the censors/moderators.
Oh there will be a banning alright.... and a thread deletion...... but its gonna be for calling a short guy a "gnome" man thats just not right... ;D
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