Fork height measurement?

[redkiwi]

I know it's fairly common to lower the triple clamps on the forks to get the TRX turning a bit better. After a recent track day I realised I've been using the rear tyre to within 1mm of the edge whereas the front tyre still has about 5mm left from the wear to the edge, and the handling is still very stable.

Unfortunately the normal measurement won't work for me as I have an aftermarket top clamp (mikuni!) and Over Racing clipons. I'm about 115kg fully loaded including gear, could someone who has lowered their clamps give me a measurement from the bottom clamp so I can look at lowering mine a bit to see if it helps make the bike more flickable and maybe help me get my knee down with my racing rearsets on so I can get some more confidence in the corners!

[M.V.]

Yeah, mines in bits at the moment, I can measure it tonight for you.

Mikuni top clamp? Strange.

[HansJ]

I know it's fairly common to lower the triple clamps on the forks to get the TRX turning a bit better. After a recent track day I realised I've been using the rear tyre to within 1mm of the edge whereas the front tyre still has about 5mm left from the wear to the edge, and the handling is still very stable.

Unfortunately the normal measurement won't work for me as I have an aftermarket top clamp (mikuni!) and Over Racing clipons. I'm about 115kg fully loaded including gear, could someone who has lowered their clamps give me a measurement from the bottom clamp so I can look at lowering mine a bit to see if it helps make the bike more flickable and maybe help me get my knee down with my racing rearsets on so I can get some more confidence in the corners!

Even if you wear down the rear over the edge, you'll, depending on tyre brand, profile and model, still have plenty more "head-room" on the front. With 70 profile on the front, I've never been close to the edge, probably more like 1 cm, even though i am going to (and over) the edge on the rear.

Sorry, I don't have access to the bike atm. But why not just try it out, until you feel it's right for you? Lower the front in say 3 or 5 mm increments until it's not feeling good and then back off? What's right for others might not be right for you. I, for an example, didn't like raising the rear with dog-bones, i just have lowered the front ca 12 mms. I prefer working a bit harder and have more stability, point is, this is a very individual feeling

[phuk72]

Not sure I understand why you think you have a problem here? Aftermarket or different top yoke or not, the steering stem will still be the same and the yop of the yokes broadly level with those as standard? Hence, you should be able to drop the yokes down the forks to stock heights and start from there? or have I got this completely wrong?

reghardless of this, as hans has said, try changing in increments and see what works for you. What works for others may not feel right for you.

FWIW, if you really are working the rear tyre to within 1mm of the edge and you weigh 115kgs you should not be having any problems getting your knee down

[Tarwetijger]

Lowering the front will not give you more ground clearance. Otherwise, it will give you less! If you use the tires all up to the edge and can't get your knee down, there's only one advise: hang off! It will give you more ground clearance too and because of that, more confidence in the corners.

[redkiwi]

Not sure I understand why you think you have a problem here? Aftermarket or different top yoke or not, the steering stem will still be the same and the yop of the yokes broadly level with those as standard? Hence, you should be able to drop the yokes down the forks to stock heights and start from there? or have I got this completely wrong?

reghardless of this, as hans has said, try changing in increments and see what works for you. What works for others may not feel right for you.

FWIW, if you really are working the rear tyre to within 1mm of the edge and you weigh 115kgs you should not be having any problems getting your knee down

Didn't think the top clamp would be the same thickness for some reason. I'll start lowering in 3mm increments and see how I go from there.

My rearsets are quite high, and as my mate who test rode it for me said "if you're getting these pegs down you've lowsided". I've previously had no trouble at all on my old 99 R6 and 2004 GSXR1000 but they both had stock rearsets. I've been working on my body position to try as per the California Superbike School way and felt much better but I was only taking it easy on the open road.

Either way I'll take some pics of both the rearsets and the topclamp/clipons so you can see what I mean.

[M.V.]

Hey Redkiwi, I've got 333mm from the bottom of the bottom clamp, to the top of the fork leg, & my fork is 18mm above the top of the clip on.

Not sure if it's usually measured from the top of the top clamp or the top of the clipon...

Hope that helps!

[cobbadiggabuddyblooo]

YES I JUST CHANGED THE DOGBONES ALSO AND TOOK IT FOR A SQUIRT THE OTHER DAY AND i FOUND IT MADE IT A LITTLE MORE FLICKABLE AS SUCH BUT I FOUND IT A LITTLE MORE UNSTABLE AT 130KM UNDER POWER THROUGH CORNERS WITH THE TAIL WANTING TO WAGGLE SO A BIT MORE SCIENCE AND TIME TO PULL OUT THE PROTRACTOR AND HAVE A BIT MORE OF A THINK ABOUT WHATS HAPPENING AND GET THE BALANCE RIGHT..MUST ADMIT I HAVE ANOTHER WHEEL ON THE BACK AT PRESENT THAT HAS A AVON TYRE WITH A 170/60 PROFILE BUT i REALLY COULD NOT SEE ME GETTING THAT MUCH MOVEMENT FROM THE WALL OF THE TYRE AS I WASNT WORKING IT THAT HARD(38PSI COLD) OR JUST BOLT THE STD ONES BACK ON AND SEE IF I HAVE THE SAME RESULT

[slow codger]

Noisy sod isn't he!!

Why are you trying to get your knee down on the road, save it for the track!!

Dave E

[cobbadiggabuddyblooo]

Noisy sod isn't he!!

Why are you trying to get your knee down on the road, save it for the track!!

Dave E

suffering a little frustration

[cobbadiggabuddyblooo]

well here comes the Brian in me again... I thought I was being cwooserfided in a non discrimintory area dont grumble just give a whistle and all will turn out for the best aaaaahhhnnnn

[cobbadiggabuddyblooo]

but dont expect me to get down on my knees for you slow codger but I'll forgive you I know how frustration can build

[cobbadiggabuddyblooo]

did I say I was on the road?????