Author Topic: Easiest way to tell if bike has been jacked up/lowered? (Read 7752 times)

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.

AdieR · « **Reply #1 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

darrsi · « **Reply #2 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

know your limitations · « **Reply #3 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...

darrsi · « **Reply #4 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?

Motorbreath · « **Reply #5 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.

darrsi · « **Reply #6 on:** 26 July 2012, 12:16:55 pm »

Mine are 138mm, but still can't find a reference to what that means?

Motorbreath · « **Reply #7 on:** 26 July 2012, 12:55:11 pm »

It probably means that they are standard. The shorter the dogbones, the higher the seat.

darrsi · « **Reply #8 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.

noggythenog · « **Reply #9 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.

darrsi · « **Reply #10 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!

know your limitations · « **Reply #11 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
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.....

Fazer Jake · « **Reply #12 on:** 26 July 2012, 10:35:30 pm »

sit on it?

AdieR · « **Reply #13 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.

darrsi · « **Reply #14 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

noggythenog · « **Reply #15 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

darrsi · « **Reply #16 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?

noggythenog · « **Reply #17 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.......

darrsi · « **Reply #18 on:** 27 July 2012, 01:55:41 pm »

Ha ha

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?

Dead Eye · « **Reply #19 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

noggythenog · « **Reply #20 on:** 27 July 2012, 04:58:54 pm »

Cheers dead eye!

darrsi · « **Reply #21 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.........

misterjayb1 · « **Reply #22 on:** 29 July 2012, 11:28:10 am »

One plus at least you be able to get ya knee down easier..

noggythenog · « **Reply #23 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

darrsi · « **Reply #24 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?