Change of bike height...

**InDeSkyz** · 13th October 2005, 10:55

Hey all,

I got my bike height adjusted yesterday to increase by a couple of notces.
Now it seems after the adjustment that the seat isn't as comfortable (sore butt!) and there seems to be more of my weight against the handle bars.

Is this common? Adjust the bike height and the seat position changes?

**Big Dave** · 13th October 2005, 11:08

Originally Posted by InDeSkyz

Hey all,

I got my bike height adjusted yesterday to increase by a couple of notces.
Now it seems after the adjustment that the seat isn't as comfortable (sore butt!) and there seems to be more of my weight against the handle bars.

Is this common? Adjust the bike height and the seat position changes?

How do you adjust a bikes height?

**speights_bud** · 13th October 2005, 11:14

well i would think that the higher the rear of the bike in relation to the bars that yes more weight would be distributed forward. i don't know if you can but what about lifting the front end aswell? ie bar height or something?

**Back Fire** · 13th October 2005, 11:28

Originally Posted by InDeSkyz

Hey all,

I got my bike height adjusted yesterday to increase by a couple of notces.
Now it seems after the adjustment that the seat isn't as comfortable (sore butt!) and there seems to be more of my weight against the handle bars.

Is this common? Adjust the bike height and the seat position changes?

they might have stuck rubber bungs under your seat to rise it... have heard of that happening

**erik** · 13th October 2005, 11:35

I'm guessing they increased the preload on the rear shocks?

If the forks are as far down in the triple clamps as they'll go, you could check the front suspension sag, you might need to add spacers to the front forks to raise them. The fork springs in the zeal (well, in my one anyway) are pretty soft, so it might be that the front is sitting lower than it should.

Why did you raise the rear of the bike?

It might be a case of just getting used to it, if you can't adjust the forks.

**avgas** · 13th October 2005, 12:13

Originally Posted by Big Dave

How do you adjust a bikes height?

Tell it to grow up, and stop messing round with those mopeds. LOL

**The Stranger:Me** · 13th October 2005, 12:19

Change the dogbone or shims under the top of the rear shock.
Obviously wont work on all bikes.

**InDeSkyz** · 13th October 2005, 12:19

Yes, when I purchased the bike - I got them to put the back suspension on the lowest possible so that I could reach the ground with as much foot to road surface.
Now that I am more confident with the bike and my arse has hardened from the hard bumps going straight throw me (kinda like a suppository), I asked them to take it back up.

**laRIKin** · 13th October 2005, 18:43

Hi InDeSkyz
Did they use a tape measure to measure the rear wheel to the frame.
With you on and off the bike?

Rik

**Big Dave** · 13th October 2005, 18:52

OK - so what they did was jack up the pre load on the back shocks.

To do this purely for the ergonomic value is not a good thing.

The static sag of the suspension is a key element in the handling of the bike.
You should set your 'height' so that the bike drops approx 20mm when you get on it.

Then further adjust for how it feels best to you and the load you are carrying.

**Big Dave** · 13th October 2005, 18:55

Originally Posted by CaN

Change the dogbone or shims under the top of the rear shock.
Obviously wont work on all bikes.

I've got these on the Trophy

http://www.bikerschoice.co.uk/rha

Outstanding.

**InDeSkyz** · 13th October 2005, 19:07

So the height needs to be adjusted while you are there. Can't just do it without yuh huh.

**slob** · 13th October 2005, 20:16

By changing the preload you are actually changing the amount of travel available for the shock to move. Since you've increased the preload, your shock now has less room to move so the shock will seem a bit "stiffer".

To raise the height without affecting shock travel, you'd have to change the position of the entire shock unit (some shocks come with a height adjuster) or the geometry of the linkages (e.g. different dogbones).

I've adjusted the seat height on my old FZR by bolting on some rubber doorstops on the subframe under the seats. Made it a bit more uncomfortable, but it increased front end grip and braking performance, so I liked it.