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Bikes, Hints'n'Tips => FZS600 Fazer => Topic started by: noggythenog on 25 July 2012, 10:20:22 pm

Title: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: noggythenog on 25 July 2012, 10:20:22 pm
Whilst giving the bike an acf 50 shower today I noticed some shiny (ish) arms that seemed to recognise from somewhere as being bike jack up or lowering devices, can anyone tell me what colour the originals are and how to tell if they are jack up or lowering type,I'm about 6 foot and the bike doesn't seem that low to me,the ones on the bike are gold, they just stuck out as not being quite dirty enough to be original.
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: AdieR on 25 July 2012, 11:24:08 pm
Don't know the history of your bike but if its changed hands (ie, maybe been in the hands of a newbie) it may have been lowered - so may be an add-on rather than fitted from new.

Is it a similar shade of gold to this http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/46180 (http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/46180)
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 26 July 2012, 10:15:22 am
I've tried getting info on dog bone lengths before and got stonewalled, but i think i've read elsewhere, as well as this older post, that originals are 144mm from centre hole to centre hole? I could be wrong though so please don't take that as gospel!!
And any lower than that is a jack up, or longer is a reduction in seat height?
I tried finding the info but it's not something that is easy to get hold of for some reason? I'll keep trying to find it though.
They will only be a few millimetres either way to make a difference though.
http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php?topic=3123.0 (http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php?topic=3123.0)
 
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: know your limitations on 26 July 2012, 10:31:47 am
As Darssi said above but note that my bike in the post he's linked, is the 1000.
Don't know about the 600...
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 26 July 2012, 11:19:07 am
I actually rang a couple of bike shops asking for info about sizes and was treated as if i'd rung MI5 asking about national security?  :rolleyes   
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: Motorbreath on 26 July 2012, 11:27:48 am
My jack up kit is about 134mm, centre to centre. The originals were longer but I cannot give you the exact size, they are lost.
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 26 July 2012, 12:16:55 pm
Mine are 138mm, but still can't find a reference to what that means?  :rolleyes
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: Motorbreath on 26 July 2012, 12:55:11 pm
It probably means that they are standard. The shorter the dogbones, the higher the seat.
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 26 July 2012, 01:17:31 pm
My bike leans over quite a bit more than normal on the side stand, so i've always thought it had been raised.
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: noggythenog on 26 July 2012, 04:00:19 pm
Thanks peeps, great info,


I just measured centre to centre and mine are 150mm centre to centre,


They also look the same as the ones on the link from adie r from the sports bike shop,


So it looks like mine is lowered, like I said I'm 6 foot so I could really do with replacing these for standard but reckon I'll go for the jack up, if the jack up Improves  handling then surely the lower down kit degrades it?


It makes sense its lowered as my bike has the hallmarks of city riding,low miles,no fork marks or damage, and the tyres had never been over,


I must be honest I think the bike handles great and I've still not fettled with suspension settings yet but I am an amateur so don't know any different anyway.


If any use to anyone, the arm had a small letter s close to one end, no idea what for but maybe a reference.
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 26 July 2012, 04:38:54 pm
I know that only a few millimetres alters height in multiples, so i'd imagine 150mm is quite a bit lower than normal.
What you really need is some nice person who knows that theirs hasn't been replaced to measure one of their dog bones centre hole to centre hole so you can at least have an idea where to start from!
I can't understand why the measurements aren't listed anywhere per bike? If they are, i certainly can't find them!  :rolleyes
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: know your limitations on 26 July 2012, 05:46:17 pm
Maybe these guys can help http://www.cjaccessories.co.uk/product.php?productid=16372&cat=265&page=1 (http://www.cjaccessories.co.uk/product.php?productid=16372&cat=265&page=1)
It's where I got the jack up kit for my Gen1 1000. The link is for their lowering kit page though.
I would imagine they'd have to know the original spec lengths in order to determine whether they're selling jack up or lowering dogbones.....
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: Fazer Jake on 26 July 2012, 10:35:30 pm
sit on it?  :D
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: AdieR on 26 July 2012, 11:06:34 pm
One point to be aware of is that if its been lowered at the back, it may have been dropped up front too (dropping forks through the yokes) to try and get the balance back.
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 26 July 2012, 11:09:59 pm

Little bit of useful info on this site:

http://www.projection-components.co.uk/single-length-suspension-linkdog-bone---universal---12mm-holes-152-p.asp (http://www.projection-components.co.uk/single-length-suspension-linkdog-bone---universal---12mm-holes-152-p.asp)
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: noggythenog on 27 July 2012, 10:47:55 am
Had a swatch on that link,


I've had quite a dramatic drop then,


Hadn't thought about the front forks but I'm gonna need to check that one out,


There's me thinking it was as simple as changing over dog legs,


For th time being though I've gotta concentrate on my 500 mile journey back to Wales with the bike on the trailer, maybe more than suspension I'll be worrying about if I don't get it tied up right.


Cheers for all the info, great nelp
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 27 July 2012, 11:12:25 am
One other thing to maybe think of as well, if the front and rear have both been dropped there's a possibility that your side stand has been altered to compensate?
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: noggythenog on 27 July 2012, 01:39:07 pm
Cheers darsi,


Few things to keep me busy while I save up for shiny bits,


Got a complex now that I look like I'm riding a fazer monkey bike,


The more I look, the lower it seems....... :rollin
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 27 July 2012, 01:55:41 pm
Ha ha  :lol
As i said earlier, i'm pretty sure mine's been jacked up, but i'm 6ft tall as well and it just feels like a normal riding position to me, it's not over exaggerated at all.
You've gotta remember we're still only dealing in millimetres, but i must admit i wouldn't want it any lower than it is.
Let us know how you get on and what size links you end up fitting when you get round to it?
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: Dead Eye on 27 July 2012, 04:50:49 pm
I checked my links today as a basis as I'm 99% sure they are the originals and they are 140mm centre to centre for those who would like to know :)
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: noggythenog on 27 July 2012, 04:58:54 pm
Cheers dead eye!
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 27 July 2012, 05:16:55 pm
Don't forget the 00-01 bikes have had quite a few mod's done to them compared to the 98-99 bikes!
Just a thought.........
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: misterjayb1 on 29 July 2012, 11:28:10 am
One plus at least you be able to get ya knee down easier..   :lol
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: noggythenog on 31 July 2012, 07:53:57 pm
Well I've just ordered a set from projection components,went with 136mm in the end,


Will update again once fitted
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 31 July 2012, 08:08:12 pm
Did they not say what difference 136mm meant in relation to the originals?


Mine are definitely 138mm centre hole to centre hole but i still don't actually know what the original size is on 00-01 models?  :rolleyes
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: noggythenog on 31 July 2012, 08:22:25 pm
Sorry mate I just totally cuffed it and ordered them online coz I was annoying myself by forgetting to do it every day, so the plan is to try do some basic comparisons of before and after between what I've got on already,gonna take some pics of me sitting on bike and stuff to see how it effects my riding position,not very scientific


Worst comes to worst I can always take them off again, especially if I end up being timmy tippytoes!
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 01 August 2012, 07:02:34 am
Don't expect a huge difference, it'll just be a normal height for you, i think it's the vertically challenged who mainly have the problems.  :lol


There's no way you'll be on your toes.
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: noggythenog on 01 August 2012, 07:34:10 pm
Ok, got some excellent service from projection components (thanks for the link darrsi),


Michaela very helpful and put up with dithering and changing my mind,very quick too,


According to their records the standard size of wishbone for fzs600 is 140mm,


My wishbone of 136 should jack bike up about 15mm from standard,


So after reading on the forum about 25mm being a great jack up Ive changed my mind and ordered a 130mm wishbone so hey ho let's see what happens,if it goes Pete tong at least others will know if it's good or not.
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: noggythenog on 14 August 2012, 06:47:06 pm
Eventually got the bike in the garage to get the sprocket nut changed, also got the suspension wishbones done.


What a difference the wishbones have made, totally different bike, well chuffed.


So I went for 130mm bones in the end,I'm  about 6 foot and can still get both feet on the deck but wouldn't want any higher.


Much more commanding seating position,more perched up on top,I like it anyway.


Well more natural position for my feet, was missing gear changes before coz I was so low but no longer.


Bike handling like a dream, turns in perfectly,more flickable,lots more fun indeed.


A bit far over on side stand, back wheel just about touching floor when on centre stand as oppose to couple inches off deck before.


I also set front shocks to 2 rings showing, set rear shock to hardest setting and 36/42 on the tyres.


Totally recommended.
Title: Re: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered?
Post by: darrsi on 14 August 2012, 06:55:35 pm
Good to hear it was worth it.  :)