Dropping the front end.

So I've been looking at my CSR 650 sitting dormant in the shop and I realize its frame looks like it is in a very tilted back stance(possibly something to do with the CSR/LTD specific "chopper styling" for the American KZs) and I'm wondering what I could do to change that.

My friends father (who is a fairly competent mechanic/electrician/welder/rider) said I could loosen the triple clamps and drop them down about 1" which is about how much clearance there is between the top of the forks and the speedo/tach housing.

He remarked that it might make it handle a little better as well and I'm wondering if this is true. Obviously I should try it first and keep it if it feels better but is lowering the bike in this way a bad idea for some reason I don't know of? I'm sure alot of you out there have done similar modifications... raking/stretching etc.

Any advice or pointers for a rookie?

Go to schnitzracing.com. They have lowering kits for the front forks. All they are is aluminum tubes cut to length. You will have to take your forks apart to put them in. I did it and I like it a lot better because I don't like the looks of the forks moved up in the clamps.

Dropping front end in triple clamps is a cheap option. Is done regularily for drag racing. It might make handling worse. Front end could get too responsive (read twitchy). Careful.

Ah, yea I figured they would have some kind of non-stock tubes to lower the front end with but I'm looking for a cheap way that doesn't involve changing it from stock so...

And I will keep that in mind Rom it could make it a bit tamer to handle if I ever just tear away off the line but I'll have to experiment with the twitchiness factor to get the best of both worlds (responsive and stable).

My forks have been portruding through the triples by about an 1" for years. I think it handles better than stock, but i am runnig a 2" over swingarm as well. The kz is a pretty slow turning bike to begin with so sliding the forks up does improve its turning characteristics. I would try this 1/4" at a time if you have never done this and see how it feels to you.

if you lower the rear of the bike to matchyou shouldnt have any problems sliding the forks up in the trees,it lowers the center of gravity and makes them a lot more stable at hi speeds!the shnitz racing parts are called slugs they are used on dragbikes where you dont need a lot of suspension travel ive never tried them on a streetbike though!goodluck,happy wrenching!

Ah, thanks for the advice guys, once I have the old beast back on the road I'll start experiments with the forks in little increments to see how things go.

Cheers.

The parts are only around $15 with shipping. I put new seals, fluid and dust boots on cuz it needed them.

hows the ride ,is it pretty stiff?

i have lowering blocks on my kz1000 and i lowered the front end by sliding the tubes thru the clamps more. handles fine.