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A good way to lower an XJ650?

Discussion in 'XJ Modifications' started by chvbob, May 9, 2010.

  1. chvbob

    chvbob Member

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    Thinking of lowering my 81 XJ650, so my daughter in law will ride it. Anybody done this, and if so, How? Can i lower the forks, and find shorter shocks? Never done this before, so it's new.
     
  2. tank

    tank Member

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    Well there are a few options, the front end can be lowered by buying new fork springs or moving the fork legs up in the triple tree, but bar height will determine how far they will go. The rear can be lowerd by cutting the factory springs, I wouldn't cut more than an inch any lower and they my bottom out or purchase a set of shorter shocks. I hear that you can use sportster and suzuki savage shocks, 10.5 or 11 inches.
     
  3. chvbob

    chvbob Member

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    Thanks Tank. I'll look at the bars. I think getting shorter shocks sounds better than cutting the springs. I wonder if this will throw off the geometry of the bike much.
     
  4. tank

    tank Member

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    Just make sure you lower the front and rear the same amount or as close as you can and you will be fine
     
  5. Toreadorranger

    Toreadorranger Member

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    I used Harley Sportster shocks in the rear of my XJ to lower it like 2".
     
  6. b0bv1la

    b0bv1la Member

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    If you look in the pictures in my gallery. I made a lowering block and bracket and lowered the rear of my bike 3" but because of clearance I couldn't raise the fork tubes in the trees. It may mess with the geometry a little but nothing terrible. I also shaved like 3" out of the seat too. that might be another idea for you for your daughter-in-law to make her more comfortable holding the bike up.
     
  7. chvbob

    chvbob Member

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    The question i have is this, do the shocks work very well at all at that angle. It seems that it would affect it. Mine would not be as steep a angle for a 1-2 inch drop.
     
  8. dawsoner

    dawsoner Member

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    The lower you go the less you can lean it over...
     
  9. b0bv1la

    b0bv1la Member

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    Actually they work just fine and still travel like they should. I had to stiffen them up all the way when I had a rider but after that adjustment no problems. Look at Harley lowering kits they move the placement of the shocks all the time with no problems.

    As for leaning with stock pegs I don't think they will ever drag unless you get extremely aggressive or you lay the bike down. I had highway pegs on mine that were as low as the frame and stuck out a couple inches past the stock pegs and only hit once but I was really aggressive in my lean and only nicked them on the pavement
     
  10. krayzeesmoke

    krayzeesmoke Member

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    What size tire/rim are you using? or will it still accomodate the original with it being that low? :?
     
  11. b0bv1la

    b0bv1la Member

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    Standard tire and rim no changes. Like I said though getting the fender that close to the tire you have to watch for tire rub. I set my shocks as stiff as they would go and was good with no rub riding two up probably around 350-375 lbs.
     
  12. deadohiosky

    deadohiosky Member

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    For the rear, I just cut 1.5 inches out of each coil which gave me a 2 inch drop. For the front forks, I cut 1.5 inches out of the spacer at the top of each fork, then added a 2 inch spacer on the dampener rod. Pretty good write up on how to do the forks here:
    BobberTalk

    This is what mine looks like lowered (but not finished):
    [​IMG]
     

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