|
|
Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Ok now I'm perplexed. What do you mean the swing arm bottomed out? Bottomed against what? What air pressure were you running?
WH the reason I'm asking is you should still have 3.7" or rear suspension travel and nothing to bottom against. Curious... Did you measure the new link against the stock to determine the exact reduction? Thanks in advance...... T |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | The swing arm came up and hit the bottom of the bags - the bags are notched for the swing arm and pulley.
The air pressure was about 20 lbs when it was bumpy. bottom out at 6 lbs. There is no trunk on the bike and is only a single rider... less then 190...
As for the 3.7" of tavel - I am wondering if it upward swing is a lot less then the downward and the total travel is 4.7... Just thinking.
Yes, we measured the link and compaired it with the old one. Once we got it in it only lowered the bike 1/2 and inch... The dealer in PA told me that the link would be adjusted to 1/2 of the total distance that I wanted to lower it. Well that was not the case. It ended up needing to be measured and adjusted to 1". Since I had purchased two links - We had one of the bench to play with and determine the correct adjustment to bring the bike down 1"
All measurements were at the axle bolt from the floor to the bottom of the pipes.
I will PM you my number and we can talk...
I call the dealer back in PA and the normal parts guy was out. The kid that answered the phone had no clue what I was talking about.
I ended up calling Arizona Victory and talking with them... They said they always install the Ness bag insert kit even if it is only a 1" lowering link that they are putting in. They said it will bottom out... My kit should arrive this week...
At this point I am planning on completeing it this weekend... My wife wants it all down for the SE Meet in Helen, GA in a week and a half...
Edited by Webhair 2010-05-24 8:14 AM
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Thanks for the reply Webhair. I'm having mine done on Thursday and I'll let you know what I discover. I plan to have them measure the stock link and set it exactly 1" below that stock link measurement. I'll keep you posted on my experience. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 311
Atlanta Area | Teach - 2010-05-25 5:03 PM Thanks for the reply Webhair. I'm having mine done on Thursday and I'll let you know what I discover. I plan to have them measure the stock link and set it exactly 1" below that stock link measurement. I'll keep you posted on my experience. Teach, DO NOT set the lowering link 1 inch lower than the stock link. You won't even make it out of the parking lot. The guys who make the links say 2:1 ratio. So a 1/2 inch shorter than stock should equal a 1 inch drop. Webhair and I did not find this to be the case. We had to actually lower the link a total of 3/4 of an inch to get the bike to drop one inch. Maybe your wrench will get lucky the first time, but we had to play with it to get an exact 1 inch drop. Again, the saddlebag interior damage was caused with a 1 inch drop...
|
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 62
ESCALON CA. | how come 8-balls don't hit the bags? |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 311
Atlanta Area | The 8 Ball shock is a different part number than all the other Vision models. It either has a shorter stroke, an internal stop or the dampening is significantly different... |
|
| |
|
Puddle Jumper
Posts: 24
Eagle Mountain, Utah | I just had my dealer installed the adjustable link, charge me for 1/2 labor and lower the seat by 1 1/2". have not expereince any botteming out yet. i like it much better, handling was great and does not seem to make any difference when cornering. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 143
Birmingham, AL 08 MC Tour Premium 2012 Bronze Mist | Ok, I've been following this thread and finally decided I'd order one of the adjustable links from Off Road Express that Teach mentioned. I gave them a call and asked about it. They told me it was $150 and they were out of stock and having more made with an ETA of late week. Just an FYI for the rest of the lurkers out there.
Are there other sources for such a piece? I've googled till I'm blue in the face.
Even thought about buying a factory link and having it "altered" only to find out the list price on the stock part is $250.
|
|
| |
|
Puddle Jumper
Posts: 24
Eagle Mountain, Utah | My suggestion is to wait for Off Road Express to get more in, you will not be dissapointed. I got one from them and had it installed last week, it was great to be able to have my foot almost flat on the ground, since i'm only 5' 2" tall. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 60
Vancouver, B.C. & La Quinta, CA | Lowering as done by Arlen Ness apparently requires a saddlebag change to the inner wall of the bags which allows for full motion. Worth the money, that's up to you, but no hassles with even a two inch drop. |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1436
| For anyone shopping, Brian at OffRoad has the links in question made up to be sold. They had several shorter customers that needed shortened links and decided that rather than cutting and welding the stock ones it would be better to get some made. Very nice quality and reasonably priced.
1atom, thanks for the heads up. The guys in the shop have done several so they probably know what you mentioned but I'll make sure. Thank you. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | Here is a helpful tip - let the air out of the shock before you start...
Then readjust once the install is complete...
Arizona Victory also sells lowering links - however they are fixed lenght. They also carry the Ness bag inserts that may be needed if you really want to get it down in the weeds.
Edited by Webhair 2010-05-27 8:52 AM
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Ok link is installed and I did a short 200 mile putt to put the bike through any conditions on the road I might experience. So here is my run down.
Chris at OffRoad adjusted the link 3/4" below the factory link and had me come sit on the bike. It is noticeably lower. I'm 6' tall with a 34" inseam so I didn't need low but I wanted the rear down as usual to perform a little experiment. With the 2010 Ness seat on the bike and the tall Vision shield I look 1" below the top of the ws, so if you had the stocker you'd be looking just over the top edge. Upon returning home I swapped the stock seat back on and it places my line of vision right at the top edge of the ws (Mrs wants the stock seat on for the trip west because it's broken in).
First thing I noticed was handling. Not a big change but you do notice the handling seems a little heavier, almost like if you had a steering damperon the bike. I'm really sensative to bike changes so this was very noticeable to me, but others might not feel it or as much. Took it on a thruway and noticed the that the usual busy feel the vision can have is all but gone. Handling was still very smooth and responsive just not that overly busy feel you can get particularly when behind another vehicle.
I had the air pressure set at 60 psi but just lowered it to 45 which is my normal setting. Didn't have any bottoming on any type of hit but with it pumped up to 60 you rattle just about everything. Purposely took some big hits and nothing touched so I believe I'm safe to lower the psi level, but I'll let you know if I experience any issues as I lower the pressure. I plan to bump it down to 35 psi if 45 feels alright just so I know when too low is too low.
Unfortunately it did not resolve the tar snake issue as they still move the bike and make your cheeks clinch, lol... Overall I'd give the lowering a great review rating. While it did no do anything for the tar snakes it did take away a great deal of that busy feel in the steering without compromising performance. I'd go so far as to say handling improved as I like a tighter feel.
I'd be happy to answer any questions folks might have just don't ask me exactly how much it lowered the rear of the bike, I don't know. I'd say it is a good inch lower if I had to guess based on the line of sight height increase. |
|
| |
|
Cruiser
Posts: 143
Birmingham, AL 08 MC Tour Premium 2012 Bronze Mist | Teach, I take it you didn't have the Ness bag liners installed??? |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Nope stock bag liners and nothing hit tonight with the lower air setting. I've hit some good sized pot-holes, some of those speed bump type risers you get in the roads when the asphalt heaves up in a straight line across the road, and just about any other routine type of hazard one could expect to hit while riding. Roads are still in rough shape here as they are after winter, but no bottoming or hitting on anything. I'll lower to 35 tomorrow and give it some more testing but I'm thinking above 25 is going to be enough for solo riding and whatever one would normally run with a passenger on board. Since I normally run 45 it should be fine.
One note for those that lower. I just got in from a night ride so don't forget you'll need to adjust the headlite after lowering. |
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Ok little hiccup and something folks should know if they plan to lower. DON'T forget the belt will need adjusted. I noticed today that when I bounced the rear suspension riding that the bike felt a little like it was being lugged down. Pulled off and had a look at the belt because I suspected the tension was too tight. Sure enough the belt was way too tight. Dealer made a quick adjustment and all is right in the world again. |
|
| |
|
Tourer
Posts: 311
Atlanta Area | Here are some pics of today's adventures with Webhair installing the Ness saddlebag inserts: The first pic is of the cracked saddlebags that were required to be removed.
(saddlebag cracks.JPG)
(saddlebag cutout.JPG)
(insert prepped.JPG)
(insert complete.JPG)
Attachments
----------------
 saddlebag cracks.JPG (42KB - 6 downloads)
saddlebag cutout.JPG (79KB - 7 downloads)
insert prepped.JPG (46KB - 5 downloads)
insert complete.JPG (65KB - 3 downloads)
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Looks like a pretty simple mod and you guys did a clean job of it. Congrats! I've bounced mine pretty hard so as to make it bottom but nothing hit. Now my newest problem is the bike sounds like I have a chicken stuck in the belt drive again.... Guess I'll get it back to the dealer in the morning for further belt adjustment. |
|
| |
|
Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | Thanks Teach. It was a fun little project. Easier then 1atom12 and I thought it was going to be. I took it out for a quick short ride and there were not further issues with the "bumpy ride" my wife was referring to.
It is now lowered "1" front and back (compared to my Vision) and has the 8-ball seat on it... It rides really sweet and look great.
We adjusted the belt after we first put the link in... Man was it tight!
Should have cleaned the wheel while a section of the bag was out...
Edited by Webhair 2010-05-29 6:41 AM
|
|
| |
|
Visionary
Posts: 1436
| Well I'll be taking mine back to stock so anyone interested in the lower link send me a pm and I'll make arrangements to sell/ship it to you at a discount of course, lol... Since It really didn't have the intended outcome I'll just put it back the way it was. I'll likely have the link swapped sometime next week so I'll post when it is available if anyone wants it.
Gotta love these experiments. So I believe that is just about all of the mods that folks have come up with tried, lowering, different seat, DS tire.... The Ness seat is a keeper, the DS I can take or leave it, but the lowing didn't do anything for tar snakes which was the goal. If one has a shorter inseam (mines 34) or if they were just looking to get that lower sleeker look, the link is an easy mod that will get the results. So far I've figured out that 50 is ideal for air pressure with the link adjusted to 3/4" below factory. Soft ride and no bottoming. Thats about 5 psi above what I normally run but right at what I set it at with the trailer in tow. So I guess thats about all I have on the lowering, hope this info is helpful to somebody.... T |
|
| |
Nose down
