| Author | Message | ||
     Sugarmcguinnmsncom |
Hi All - Long-time BW Reader, first time poster... I've owned my 2009 XB12X Uly for awhile now. I love it, save one issue I can't seem to suss out. I've searched exhaustively on the subject here, ADVRider, and the XB forum... but to no avail... Thought I would just write a post and see if there was some experienced knowledge that some of you would be willing to impart... I'll preface by stating that the Uly suspension settings are set to the manual specs for my weight. Issue: I've always felt like I'm sitting pointing "down-hill" on my Uly. So much so that after a few hours, my forearms will start to ache. Conversely, riding on slight uphill stretches is the most comfortable thing in the world.... Initially I thought this just a "Uly" characteristic, and I would "learn" to get use to it... but quickly decided that was just silly... Next possibility.. a handle-bar riser fix... or a seat thing... Well, I had a custom seat made at Rich's, and during the fitting portion of the process, found out that my position on the bike is perfect, aside from pointing downhill... Rich suggested that the shock were possibly worn-out... What I noticed, see pics below, is that the forks look like they may have been lowered on the triple-tree by a PO? If so, could this be the cause? Can I just move them back into position? Also, are there any "other" suspension settings that folks here have found that may make my "catawampus" ride more even? Any insight, advice, help is appreciated. Sorry for the long-winded explanation. Thanks  photo by KayeSkyhorse, on Flickr</a>  photo-1 by KayeSkyhorse, on Flickr (Message edited by sugarmcguinn@msn.com on August 13, 2013) (Message edited by sugarmcguinn@msn.com on August 13, 2013) | ||
| Froggy |
That appears to be the case, the top of the triple tree should be flush with that top line.
Yep, loosen all the bolts that hold the fork tube (two on the up tree, 4 on the lower), and slide the wheel/fork assembly back into place. Obviously you will need some way to support the bike while you make the adjustment, a simple bottlejack under the front of the muffler and having the rear supported by a swingarm stand should be sufficient. You could then use the jack to slowly raise/lower the front as needed.
Yes, but that modification was seriously screwing up your ride, leave everything else as is till you sort this, that way you don't unintentionally make it worse. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Yes, it does look like someone has lowered the forks. There looks to even be sharpie marks as to the original position. If I remember correctly there was/is a type of retaining ring that locks the forks into factory position. | ||
| Whisperstealth |
Froggy, Are you sure it's the top line and not the bottom? | ||
| Pos90 |
As stated above it looks like it had been lowered. Which brings up the question of which spring, shock or spring lowering plate was used on the rear. | ||
| Hughlysses |
There is a groove in the outside of the fork tube and a wire "retainer" of round cross-section (called the "stopper ring" in the parts book) that fits in it. There's a recess machined in each hole in the bottom of the top triple clamp so that the tubes can slide up until the stopper ring just enters the triple clamp, and no higher, unless you remove the stopper rings from the tubes, like the PO of this bike has done. The ID of the holes in the bottom triple clamp is JUST large enough to let the stopper ring slide through. (Message edited by Hughlysses on August 12, 2013) | ||
| Motorbike |
I would guess the rear is untouched and the PO tried to lower the bike a little by adjusting only the forks. Maybe? That's why the poster feels like he is riding downhill. | ||
| Sugarmcguinnmsncom |
You guys are Awesome! Thanks for confirming that I'm not crazy! <grin> So, this leaves me a few more questions... Hughlysses, if this retaining ring is missing, do I need to get it replaced before moving the fork tubes? Seems to be functioning fine as-is, that's why I ask... As Whisperstealth pointed out... Which line is the proper position? Lower line (with Sharpie), or the upper line? Thanks all. This is truly a great community of Fellas'... | ||
| Hughlysses |
I think you'd be OK just moving the fork tubes down without reinstalling the rings. Those rings probably don't cost ~$2 each though, might be good to pick up a pair from a dealer while you still can. | ||
| Sugarmcguinnmsncom |
Fair enough. Thanks Hughlysses. Any thoughts on which line that should be at? | ||
| Slowride |
Sugar... I just checked the SM and it said it should be aligned with the top line just barely visible on both sides. Section 2-53 Image 2-77 | ||
| Sugarmcguinnmsncom |
Slowride! You Rawk! (...and I'm a loser for not buying a SM yet...) To add insult to injury... I'm assuming you mean the top line of the 2 deep ones... There are about 15 lines in the fork-top, but 2 very distinct "deep" lines. You mean the top one of those, right? Thanks. | ||
| Slowride |
Yes, apparently the retainer ring sits in the top grooved line and then you slide the fork down until it stops on the upper retainer ring which equals the top line. I just checked my 06 and i can just barely make out the top of the groove on the top line. | ||
| Slowride |
On another note, when I had my 09 XT, I had the bike in the shop for a major engine repair after an ironbutt ride. The bike came back with the forks marked like yours but on the upper line. And one last observation from the SM, it looks as though factory reflector that comes on the Uly sits right up against the bottom triple clamp from underneath it. If you had the stock reflectors on the bike you could use those for a guide as well. | ||
| Sugarmcguinnmsncom |
Thanks Guys! | ||
| Mark_weiss |
In the standard position, the top of the fork should look like this:  (Message edited by Mark_weiss on August 12, 2013) (Message edited by Mark_weiss on August 12, 2013) | ||
| Slowride |
Mark, Is that the top of the two groves showing? Mine doesn't have that line showing and it doesn't look that way in the manual. Curious mines want to know... | ||
| Mark_weiss |
Both grooves show. Of the two grooves, the lower one is just clear of the top of the yoke. The groove with the wire ring is not visible because it is recessed into the underside of the yoke. The forks slide upward through the yoke until the wire ring tops out in the recess. This sets the lower of the two upper grooves, even with the top of the yoke. I would jack the bike up and pull the axle while making the adjustment. That would allow each fork to be easily moved, independently. | ||
| Blake |
Loosen the pinch bolts on the axle, but don't remove or loosen the axle. Need to hold forks even at the bottom when to avoid putting them in a bind. | ||
| Mark_weiss |
When aligning a motorcycle's forks, I find it simpler to remove the axle. Set the forks in position and insert the axle. If the axle binds, fine tune the position of one fork so that the axle inserts easily. | ||
| Uly_man |
Gee Guys that fork position in the trees is WAY to low. That would make for a VERY steep steering angle. The two marks are for the upper and lower normal limits and the base line/ factory setting is the lower line. | ||
| Sugarmcguinnmsncom |
Any of you guys have the part # for those fork retaining rings? | ||
| Uly_man |
There are NO FORK RETAINING RINGS on the triple-trees. Slack off the fork upper and lower pinch bolts, move the upper part of the USB fork to the correct position of the lower ring (see pics here) and then torque up the pinch bolts. You do not even need to jack up the front of the bike. Be aware though that if someone did this you may need to re adjust the rest of your suspension settings or that they may have "SCREWED" with other parts of the bike as it is clear that they had no idea of what they were doing? Fu*k with this sort of thing and you will end up on your ass. | ||
| Yo_barry |
The stopper ring p/n is: J0124.02A8 Barry | ||
| Yo_barry |
Uly_man, Don't know about a 2006, but the 2009 has a wire-form ring in a machined grove around the fork tubes that hits a stop in the upper triple tree to position them. Barry | ||
| Sugarmcguinnmsncom |
Yes. My 2009 Uly has (had) stop rings, and they have been removed (obviously). As Hughlysses mentioned earlier in the thread, its a pretty good idea to put those safety stops back in, and I agree.  I don't know about 2006's. Maybe they didn't have them... | ||
| Uly_man |
It seems they may have had them but I have never see them fitted. You do not need them just adjust the upper part of the fork to the correct position. Job done. | ||
| Rr_eater |
One more hint that fixed a front end shake after I went through the front end. After you reset the forks to the proper height, loosen, NOT REMOVE, the front axle, sit on the bike, hold the front brake locked, and compress the front forks by bouncing on them as much as possible a few times. Then tighten and re-torque to spec as the manual before moving it again. Cheap piece of insurance, especially seeing that your bike is going to feel WORLDS DIFFERENT with the forks where they belong!! Bruce | ||
| Froggy |
Every XB and 1125 has the retaining clips. I assume the Blast and tubers have them too, but I have never confirmed. | ||
| Yo_barry |
Froggy, my tuber (2001 S3T) does not have the wire form stopper ring. Barry |
