Hello & advice please?

stuw00d · Post by **stuw00d** » Tue Mar 13, 2007 10:28 pm

Hi All

Just got my ZXR400H, H reg, 1991.
Love the look & handling of the bike (my first big bike!), can anyone tell me whether it is possible to lower the seat height a little? I'm a short ass & would like to get my feet flat! Currently the shock is right at the top.
Also, I will be replacing the speedo cable this weekend, how easy/hard? Any advice?
Thanks & sorry for all the questions.

Stuart

Post by **masterofinsanity** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 9:09 am

hi mate, welcome to zxrworld, in the past people have shaved some of the seat foam off to gain the odd inch, it makes all the difference, ask any women!

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Wed Mar 14, 2007 12:26 pm

welcome to the forum matey, speedo cable is well easy. Just unscrew at the bottom of the fork leg, and up at the speedo, the speedo end is a bit tricky as stuff is in the way if i remember correctly. Also locating the cable itself is a bit tricky, just keep trying it will go

stuw00d · Post by **stuw00d** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:09 pm

Hi

Not to keen on the idea of this unless it is necessary, what I mean is, is the ride height adjustable?
My rear shock appears to be set at it's highest point, I was wondering if it is possible to drop it a bit with a C spanner?
Cheers.

masterofinsanity wrote:hi mate, welcome to zxrworld, in the past people have shaved some of the seat foam off to gain the odd inch, it makes all the difference, ask any women!

Post by **deviant** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:13 pm

I would have thought you could.

might alter the handling a bit by making it sit butt end down. but you'll never know until you try.

hehe not really something i've ever had to worry about being 6'4"...more concerned about bashing my knees on the fairings.

welcome btw

dave

stuw00d · Post by **stuw00d** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 12:34 pm

Excelent, thanks for that, just need to get a C spanner now.....
Here are some pics of my ZXR400, my first big bike

http://www.mediamax.com/wood17/Hosted/Front%20left.bmp http://www.mediamax.com/wood17/Hosted/Left%20side.bmp
http://www.mediamax.com/wood17/Hosted/Right%20side.bmp
Sorry if the links don't work but this is my first time posting links.
Let me know what you think.
Cheers.

Post by **deviant** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:22 pm

looks pretty smart

BigNinjaDave · Post by **BigNinjaDave** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:50 pm

Hey mate welcome to the site

If your planning on dropping the ride hight at the rear I would consider doing the same to the front otherwise you will slow the stearing down making it harder to get the bike to change direction.

stuw00d · Post by **stuw00d** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 1:57 pm

BigNinjaDave wrote:Hey mate welcome to the site

If your planning on dropping the ride hight at the rear I would consider doing the same to the front otherwise you will slow the stearing down making it harder to get the bike to change direction.

Any advice on dropping the front?
I am a bit of a numpty when it comes to all this, but am willing to my hands dirty if it means saving a few quid!
Cheers.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Thu Mar 15, 2007 5:38 pm

I wouldnt advise altering the rear ride height by changing the preload on the shock.
If you must have it lower, then consider getting a different dogbone made up and dropping it through the yokes to keep the suspension geometry the same.

GIYF http://www.sportrider.com/tech/146_0210_lower/

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 8:02 am

you can actually adjust the ride heing of the shock, theres two large nuts at the top of the shock when it mounts to the frame, very akward to get to but you can adjust it via these nuts. Altering the preload doesnt necessarily change the ride hide, it changes the amount of pressure needed to overcome the spring, dont mix that up with stiffening the spring cos it doesnt.

Post by **deviant** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:29 am

you've contradicted yourself there rob.

it will change the ride height of the bike when you are sat on it, so you will be operating over a different proportion of the shock's travel (and if you do it to far you might run out of travel at one end or the other)

it wont change the stiffness of the spring.

Caz · Post by **Caz** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 12:14 pm

deviant wrote: it will change the ride height of the bike when you are sat on it, so you will be operating over a different proportion of the shock's travel (and if you do it to far you might run out of travel at one end or the other)

you beat me to it

The only way of satisfactorily lowering the ride height is by means of a different linkage, and even then you will be altering the suspension geometry. lowering the rear will lead to changing the rake and slower turn in so to compensate for this you ideally need to shorten the forks which can be done by dropping it through the yokes. By lowering the bike you will also loose ground clearance which may become an issue on track or very enthusiastic road riding.

I cant get my feet flat on the floor on my ZXR (and Ive got the rear jacked up 5mm), and I'm right on my tip toes on the gixxer - I'm 5'7" I've got short legs for my height! I get on just fine with it - you just need to take some time getting used to it

RedexRobB · Post by **RedexRobB** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 1:33 pm

im confused where have i contradicted myself exactly?

caz suggested not using preload to alter ride height, i was backing that up.

stuw00d · Post by **stuw00d** » Fri Mar 16, 2007 9:50 pm

Ok, so the preload is the large nuts around the middle of the shock right?
Sorry, I am still a bit of a numpty when it comes to bike supension!
Mine is set with the nut, right at the bottom of the thread on the shock, what I want to know is, is this right?
The rear end does feel a touch hard & the bike seems higher than other ZXR's I have sat on.
Cheers.

Stuart