Lowering the front end???

[gungadin]

At first I was on my tip toes. I've lowered the back end substantially with shorty shocks and a 16" rear. Also I have this old mustang seat that is easily another 2" shorter than my stock seat.
Now I'm flat footed. (Yes, Octane. I can stil see over the handle bars.)
But I've heard talk here (but can't find the thread) about lowering the front forks. So here are my questions.
Is it just a matter of loosening the clamps and sliding up into the yokes?
What is the maximum amount of lowering the front. (Dare me!)
So what happens with the extra at the top? Cut it off?
I can see this will move the front axle to the rear too. Affect handling/driveability noticeably?
By the way. 4627133535
Here's the Ebay auction number for those Shorty rear shocks.
They are for CB750 but work fine. They say the load maximum is 440 pounds. I put my 275 pound brother in law on the bike and had him bounce up and down. Still looks like plenty of clearance. This before I put on the 16" rear. so another 1/2" clearance. Haven't ridden them yet.
Consider that mine is not vettered or anything and if anything lightend.

[Whiskerfish]

I have dropped the tubes in my front end about an inch. Yes it is just as simple as loosening up the clamps and raising the tubes. And Yes there is a Substantial difference in Handling and slow speed manuvering. If you want to play with the height I would recommend going immediately to a parking lot to check out the handling changes.

[gungadin]

So WF without knowing and just guessing.
Makes it more manueverable slow and touchier faster?
Do you think this is because the wheel base is shortend up?

[Zryder]

You must never lower the front lower than the back as it throws the geometry of the bike handling way off . As WF have said and I also lower the triple trees an inch . I lowered my back end from 12-3/4 " stock shocks to a set of 11 " shocks , so that is a drop of 1-3/4 " . It is safe to drop the forks 1 " . Do not cut the extra fork tube above the triple tree . Later , ( Z )

[Whiskerfish]

Probably the best description I can provide is that the front is very quick to try and jerk itself out of your hands and cock over one way or the other. It is very noticible at slow speeds when doing turns etc. I would be very hesitant to go more than an inch without having spent some serious time playing with it.

[Dougal]

I fitted longer rear shocks (off a GL1200) to my GL1100 Enduro which would have the same effect as lowering the front. I found this quickened the steering a bit and was actually an imrovement.
As for lowering a GL, this will reduce the clearance when leaning over. Thats bad news in the UK with alll the bends in the roads here.

Dougal

[dkwhite]

gungadin, I know you've already bought your shocks but I'll throw this out there for anyone else thinking about a pair. I believe these are the same thing as on ebay. They're $89.95 = $8.00 shipping. A little bit cheaper than ebay. Scroll to the bottom.

http://www.crc2onlinecatalog.com/rear_shocks.htm

[Zryder]

Thanks for that link dkwhite , alot ask about that , do you mind if I share that link to help others out ? ( Z )

[Try]

$53.58 USD

Progressive Suspension (Honda GL1000 75-79)


Progressive Suspension (Honda GL1100 80 -83)


Progressive Suspension (Honda GL1200 84 -87)

[dkwhite]

Zryder, Spread the word. I've been kicking around the idea of ordering a set of them. I don't need to lower (I'm flat footed on the bike with a few inches to spare) but I prefer the lowered look to the stock stance. The only reason I haven't ordered any is because I was waiting to hear a report from someone who already had them. It's looks like gungadin might be able to take care of that for me.
dkwhite

[guiltytoo]

@try - Looks like the links you've posted up are for extra load springs for stock shocks....... Under the "note" part - they mention that the springs are slightly shorter than stock..... However, they don't mention how much! This is definetly the cheapest method for lowering the back of our bikes........

What about dismantling the shocks on a gl1000 and cutting the springs?
Anyone done it? heard of it? recommend it?

THX.
Jason

[RebelRouser]

Heard Of It, Not Recomended At All... Very Dangerious During And After They Can Slip....

[guiltytoo]

Either way == looks like you'd have to dismantle the shock body just to install the Progressive springs that TRY mentions above.......I would think that dismantling the shock would be the harder part of the process....

Is cutting the springs really that unsafe? What if some tabs were welded on the top or bottom to keep the springs seated safely? (whichever end of the spring you cut from)

any thoughts ?

[Try]

@try - Looks like the links you've posted up are for extra load springs for stock shocks....... Under the "note" part - they mention that the springs are slightly shorter than stock..... However, they don't mention how much! This is definetly the cheapest method for lowering the back of our bikes........

I'm not sure how much lower they are.

They have some standard too

$64.43
Progressive Suspension Magnum 12 & 13 Series Standard Springs GL1000

Progressive Suspension Magnum 12 & 13 Series Standard Springs GL1100

Progressive Suspension Magnum 12 & 13 Series Standard Springs GL1200


$48.44
Progressive Suspension Air Shock Rebuild Upgrade Kit A, Springs 105-150 lbs. (Honda GL1100 Gold Wing 1980-1983)

Progressive Suspension Air Shock Rebuild Upgrade Kit A, Springs 120-160 lbs. (Honda GL1200 Gold Wing 1984-1987)


$65.30
Progressive Suspension Fork Springs (Honda GL1100 Gold Wing 1980-1983)

Progressive Suspension Fork Springs (Honda GL1200 Gold Wing 1984-1987)

[Goldtr6c]

I lowered my '76 years ago by sliding the fork tubes up an inch and using air shocks in back. This was mainly for low to the ground side car handling but it handled well solo too. Watch out not to slide the forks up too much as the fender may hit the lower triple tree or worse, the radiator when fully compressed. Another problem is the larger speed bumps. You can easily bust open the bottom of you engine in the lowered state. You will also drag assorted parts and make lotsa sparks when cornering.