How to shorten forks

[TOOLS1]

Start by removing the Allen head bolt from the bottom of the slider, and pull the slider off. Now grab a rag, and mop up all the fork oil that ran out all over your work bench, and floor because you forgot to drain it first. Then remove the top cap from the tube. Now pull the spring out, and turn the tube upside down, and bump it on the work bench until the dampener comes out. This is the order of the components.




Now you need to cut the spring off. I wanted to lower my bike 2 inches, so that's how much I cut off. When installing the spring, be sure to put the cut end up. This way it will not wear into the soft aluminum that the damper is made of.


Then cut a spacer the same length that you cut off the spring. Mine were 2 inches. You can use 3/4 pipe like I did, or PVC pipe. It is plenty strong. Remove the little spring from the damper, and slide the spacer over the damper then install the little spring back onto the damper.


Reassemble the fork, and your done.

TOOLS

[shinyribs]

Wulp...that was easy enough. I didn't know about the adding that sleeve to the dampener. Very cool!

[rich]

Looks a lot better than just pushing them up the triple tree too.

[TOOLS1]

And the tire will not hit the triple tree when you hit a bump.
TOOLS

[Hoosier Daddy]

I had heard to move the cut piece of spring down to the slider where you used the 3/4" pipe. Any thoughts on this?

[TOOLS1]

I thought about that, but I like how the solid bushing does not have the sharp edge of the cut spring that could damage the damper, or the little spring that is already on the damper. Also you loose at least 1/8 inch of length when the spring is cut.
TOOLS  

[Hoosier Daddy]

Makes sense to me Tools... This might very well be my next mod on "Rock-It".

[seaofsin22]

Hi, I have the rear shocks disassembled, can the same process be done to those shocks to shorten them?  I was thinking of cutting off about 1-2 inches.
I would love to lower the bike at least an inch and save some money.  Thanks!

[TOOLS1]

No. Shocks are a totally different ball game. However there are other options for lowering the rear of your bike. The cheapest would be bolt on lowering blocks.
TOOLS

[seaofsin22]

Thanks, I'm going to make my own this weekend and do a post when its all said and done.

[Perry]

Thanks, Tools! What a great idea.

Will this work with the DOHC forks (1980 750C)?

[SThomas]

Wont doing this affect handling in a negative way?

[TOOLS1]

Just about anything you do to a bike could affect handling, however it could be good, bad, or neutral. Depends on what kind of riding you do, how you ride, and even how the rest of the bike is set up. Hell even a trunk, or tank bag can change the handling of a bike.
TOOLS

[TOOLS1]

Perry wrote

Thanks, Tools! What a great idea.

Will this work with the DOHC forks (1980 750C)?

I don't know how I missed your post, but yes this can be done on the DOHC forks.
TOOLS

[seaofsin22]

Hi tools,  
what i physically did was move the lower "eye" on the swing arm 2 inches back and had it welded on.  I know it may be crazy but i thought i would give that a shot instead of buying a link as you had suggested in your post.
My question is if i moved the lower section 2 inches back should i cut the front fork springs exactly 2 inches or is 1 1/2" good?  Thanks for any input, Jimmy

[TOOLS1]

I would put the rear back together, and then sit the bike up and lower the forks in the trees until it gets to where you like it. Then cut out the amount that is sticking above the trees.
TOOLS

[seaofsin22]

right on, thanks!

[CBGirl]

Hey Tools, I was wondering where you got the 3\4 inch tube from. I can't find anything with a small enough outside diameter that still fits over the dampener.

[TOOLS1]

That was tubing from a metal supply store here in KC. I think it was 1" .065 wall mechanical tubing. However PVC pipe from Lowes, Home Depot, the hardware store all works.
TOOLS

[chris72]

Great write up.