Raising forks in triple tree?

Or lowering the frame onto the forks? I guess it depends on your perspective. Regardless...

I was curious if anyone has done this to improve the handling. Earlier, I lowered it about a half-inch. I noticed a nominal improvement on low-speed turn in and handling feel in faster sweepers, and plan to lower it a bit more to increase that feeling.

I know what some people will say about this, and yes I am aware of the side effects of doing this. What I am asking basically, is how far can I lower it without it becoming twitchy on the highway?

Otherwise stock '79 LTD KZ1000. The only non-stock item I am aware of is the rear suspension from Progressive Suspension.

id say lower the rear at least the same amount,tank slappers at 100 mph suck!

I'm not exactly sure how to go about lowering the ride height in the rear of the bike... I have the Progressive Suspension brand fitted right now.

I haven't gotten around to finding a Clymer manual yet, although it is first on my list of things to get.

I attached some zip ties at the very bottom of the fork, and then hit the front brakes almost to the point of locking up the tire. This tells me how far I *can* lower it. I have quite a ways to go for lowering before it comes close to bottoming out. I could probably lower another 3 inches, but I know for sure that I don't want to lower that far. I'll try half inch increments with a good 80 mph run between each adjustment.

Hopefully no tank slappers. If I'm still alive tomorrow morning, I'll let you know how it went.

On my 78 KZ1000 I have my front struts raised in the trees and shorter shocks {650s I think} on the back, handles fine, no tank slappers so far, knock on wood. Dont go road racing though

Don't go road racing?

How do you define road racing?

Watch out or you'll be dragging hard parts if you are going to be cornering very fast :woohoo: I've had to raise the rear of mine about an inch to keep the Kerker and the alt. off the tarmac (track days). Front is still stock height and it doesn't do anything funny at 130.

I definitely don't plan on doing any track days, so I think it'll be just fine.

So for future reference if anyone else runs across this thread 2 years from now...

Ok... I have adjusted it again, and I think I'll leave it where it is. Turn-in and fast sweeper feel are improved even more. It feels much lighter on it's feet now, like the old Honda CB360 I had! The only side effect that has presented itself thus far is a small dose of shake in the handlebars during shifting under WOT, but only sometimes. Nothing bad or unmanageable... I just don't want to push it much further. It sort of goes without saying, but don't corner hard over bumps. It doesn't like it quite as much as it used to.

I'm 5'9", 135 lbs. I can now flat foot both feet at stop signs... hooray for long monkey arms and stubby little legs!

Otherwise stock KZ1000 LTD with Progressive Suspension rear shock/spring combo. You can lower the bike around 25mm before side effects start.

What I mean by this is that there is exactly 25mm of fork sticking up out of the triple tree. I'm very nearly hitting the stock handlebars with the forks with this setup, but not quite.

I meant its a drag racing/ street setup and lower, parts will drag as mentioned if cornering at max. We have mountain switch backs here so I take a different bike to ride there