Is my bike lowered?

[Bilsdragon]

I was wondering how to tell if my bike has been lowered. When riding two-up with the suspension set to "hard", the bike seems to scrape easily during left and right turns. I also noticed this morning that my boots still skim the road during turns riding alone. I guess if I knew the center line distance between the dog bones on a stock height bike I could find out what is going on with mine. I bought an 06 FJR with 11,500 on it about a week ago. I'm going to change the throttle tube, I can't believe someone rode it that many miles with the abrupt throttle response.

 

[ionbeam]

First, look at how much of the fork tube extends above the top of the triple tree. In a stock configuration the end of the fork tube will be flush with top of the triple tree. If the front has been lowered the end of the fork will be extended above the top of the triple tree.

Now it's hands and knees time. Look under the motorcycle, just behind the shock pivot. If the dog bones look like plain, flat stamped steel they are stock. If the dog bones have a brand name or look like finished pieces they are aftermarket lowering dog bones. I have the center to center dimension of the stock dog bones someplace but I'm having a problem locating it. Lowering links will be longer than stock links. The dog bones are item 17:

Other ways to get a quick indication of lowering is a very vertical motorcycle on the side stand or a motorcycle that is virtually impossible to get on the center stand. The Gen I seat height is 32.2" and the Gen II seat in the lower position is 31.5" and raised is 32.3". I dunno if you can measure the seat accurately enough to tell if it has been lowered.

 

[networkguy]

I would try what ion suggested first, and see if you can get it on the centerstand. Unless the previous owner chopped it, you wont be able to get it up on it.

 

[Bilsdragon]

Yes, the fork tubes are flush and not sticking out of the triple clamps. The dog bones do look like steel, almost the color of a blued gun barrel. It is a bear to get on the center stand and the bike doesn't seem to tilt over as much of the many others I have owned. I will look at the dog bones closer at lunch to see if they are aftermarket. Thanks for the help.

 

[Harald]

I just took a stroll out to my 07 (which should be identical to your 06) with tape measure in hand. My stock dog bones measure 7 & 7/16th from centers of bolt holes or 8 & 11/16 overall length. Hope that helps.

 

[ionbeam]

... my 07...stock dog bones measure 7 & 7/16th from centers of bolt holes...Hope that helps.

That is the critical measurement which will positively show if the bike has been lowered or not.

 

[Bilsdragon]

... my 07...stock dog bones measure 7 & 7/16th from centers of bolt holes...Hope that helps.

That is the critical measurement which will positively show if the bike has been lowered or not.

Sweet!! Thanks, Laying on the ground next to the bike at work I'm getting 7-13/16" from center to center. I'll put it up on the center stand at home and get out my digital calipers to verify that. Thanks for all the help. It looks like in stock form it might not drag riding two up. I was searching during lunch and thought Soupy's adjustable bones looked like a great way to go. I'm tall, so raising her up might just do the trick. Swap the bones and the throttle tube and I'll be very happy.

 

[ionbeam]

...Laying on the ground next to the bike at work I'm getting 7-13/16" from center to center...

Dog bones of fixed length seem to generally come in 1/2" increments so what you measured would be correct for a lowering link. Don't sweat possible measurement errors of 1/16" or 1/8" increments because the aftermarket links will have notably longer (or shorter) graduations than the stock bones.

 

[carlson_mn]

These bikes are commonly lowered by those suffering from gravity. I'm 6'2 and tried raising the bike 1.25" from stock and it was WAY too much. Bouncy on highway and turn in was 'off'. Front wheel felt goofy, stressed, and heavy on low speed maneuvers.

I now have an adjustable Wilbers shock, and like it about 1/3-1/2" higher than stock or so. I haven't done an exact measurement but I only have a few threads of lengthening showing on the Wilbers adjustment.

 

[Bilsdragon]

These bikes are commonly lowered by those suffering from gravity. I'm 6'2 and tried raising the bike 1.25" from stock and it was WAY too much. Bouncy on highway and turn in was 'off'. Front wheel felt goofy, stressed, and heavy on low speed maneuvers.

I now have an adjustable Wilbers shock, and like it about 1/3-1/2" higher than stock or so. I haven't done an exact measurement but I only have a few threads of lengthening showing on the Wilbers adjustment.

Yeah, I'm not looking to jack it way up. I would like the adjustable dog bones like the ones at Soupy's. (if they would ever return emails)I would like to start at stock height and just sqeak it up a little at a time to get rid of the two-up drag.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

...I have the center to center dimension of the stock dog bones someplace but I'm having a problem locating it.

... my 07...stock dog bones measure 7 & 7/16th from centers of bolt holes...Hope that helps.

That is the critical measurement which will positively show if the bike has been lowered or not.

As an added data point:

The stock 'dog-bones' on my '03 (and maybe all Gen 1s...?) measures 6 1/4" on centers (16 cm, if you live in a metric world).

 

[Bilsdragon]

...I have the center to center dimension of the stock dog bones someplace but I'm having a problem locating it.

... my 07...stock dog bones measure 7 & 7/16th from centers of bolt holes...Hope that helps.

That is the critical measurement which will positively show if the bike has been lowered or not.

As an added data point:

The stock 'dog-bones' on my '03 (and maybe all Gen 1s...?) measures 6 1/4" on centers (16 cm, if you live in a metric world).

Wow, thanks for the info. There is quite a bit of difference between the Gens, at least in the bones.