| Author | Message | ||
     Krabykarl |
After almost a year of riding my '08 X model I have come to the conclusion I have to lower it at least an inch. From the research I've done the easiest and most cost effective way is to have some padding taken out of the seat and get it recovered. Anyone had this done? Can someone recommend a vendor? There are many online but would prefer a referral. | ||
| Uly_man |
There are many online but would prefer a referral. Try MyBottomex.com. | ||
| Pontlee77 |
do you have the low version seat? If you do the lowest I know of is the Corbin but it's not at all cheap. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I've had good luck with seats on 2 other motorcycles with Sargent Cycle Products in Jacksonville, FL. They have an extensive list of available modifications with pricing: http://www.sargentcycle.com/Custom-Seat-Services/ | ||
| Teeps |
Lowering the suspension would be cheaper and easily reverseable. There is a spring retainer sold (sorry don't know where) that will drop the rear about an inch. The front forks can be raised in the triple clamps to get about an inch in the front. | ||
| Buewulf |
Jasonb on this forum used to make the collar for the rear shock to drop it. He may still have a few on hand. There is another company that does sell such an item, but I don't remember the name. As an alternative, the shock can also be shortened by a suspension outfit like Traxxion Dynamics or RaceTech which can also make the rear shock much better in addition to making it shorter. I doubt this would cost much more than a custom seat. The fork internals can also be shortened by a good shop, but I would probably just drop the forks in the clamps as Teeps suggested for the front. | ||
| Hughlysses |
On the suspension lowering discussion, do a search. Somewhere here, there's a list of all the XB shocks and their lengths. Length is different for S, S "low"/Cg, Ss, X, XT, etc. That'll give you an idea of how much drop you can expect. You could probably find a cheap shock on ebay to try. The only downside is you'll lose your hydraulic preload adjuster with anything other than an X or XT shock. Of course there's the even cheaper and easier alternative- thicker soled boots. I saw some advertised at motorcyclegear.com in the last couple of weeks that said they were worth an inch. | ||
| Arry |
There were optional seats available thru Buell, one taller than stock and one lower than stock. You may already be aware of this, and I don't know if you can still order them (the low one in your case). | ||
| Krabykarl |
Thanks for the suggestions guys. I called Sargent and they said they could lower it half to and inch at best. If they could guarantee an inch I'd go for it but a half would not be worth it. It's my understanding the '08 bike has the "low" seat. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Called Racetech last year and they wanted $650 to lower both forks and shock. I still may go this route. Pulling the forks up in the triple clamp scares me. Some smart guy designed the steering geometry and I hate to mess with it. Don't get me wrong I'm not afraid of modifying anything just steering is voodoo science to me. I've seen that shock spacer some Euro outfit is selling. Might go that route unless someone has a XT shock they would want to swap for my X shock. I hate to lose easy preload adjustment for I load this bike quite frequently. | ||
| Kaikoura |
Check this out http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-In-Box-Ulysses-Low-Sea t-N0025-2AKYW-/390776428190 | ||
| Krabykarl |
That's the one I have the 2AKYW. | ||
| Krabykarl |
Anybody do business with EPM? What about install a Hyperpro lowering kit? http://www.epmperf.com/lowering-links.htm | ||
| Hughlysses |
It's my understanding the '08 bike has the "low" seat. Please correct me if I'm wrong. Karl- There have been 3 basic factory seats for the Uly. You should have the 2007-up standard seat, which is approximately the same height as the accessory "low" seat referenced above. This post by Froggy (using pics taken by M2nc) shows the three different seats: http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/messages/142 838/386432.html | ||
| Uly_man |
Unless it was given to you I find it hard to understand why anyone would have a bike that was taller than they could deal with. Anyway back to subject. Before you start lets get some numbers. What it your leg inseam IE In your boots from ground level to crotch. What is your weight and build. How have you set the suspension up IE Are the per-loads at minimum. One inch is not much and you should be able to deal with that. Tip toe to flat foot could be as much as four inches so you will need to know what you need. What position are your feet while sitting on the bike. | ||
| Krabykarl |
As with most things in life this bike is a compromise. In the past I've had sport tourers. This time around I wanted less weight yet wanted to keep big bore torque and long distance and commuting capabilities. Got a good deal on it and love just about everything. What I love the most is it's uniqueness. Downside is it's just a bit too tall. Bought bigger soled boots they helped. I know of the cheap real tall boots but I don't want to give up the protection of a real pair of motorcycle boots. Inseam is a little over 29" with my m/c boots on. I'm 5'8 1/2" 170lbs. With the bike empty I tried as little preload as possible and did not like the rear wallow. I can't remember where I have it now but like the way it handles. I tend to change it depending upon how much I have loaded in the bags. No two up, my wife refuses to ride. My issue is coming to a stop at lights. Sooner or later I'm not going to have the option of putting a foot down at a high spot. Don't want that to happen I just want to be more comfortable. Trying to erase a compromise so to speak. | ||
| Uly_man |
Hi. Ok I see what you are saying. 170Ibs is a bit light, for this bike, but pre load is just that. Rear wallow will come from not enough compression or a faulty shock IE It is just bouncing on the spring. How much do you know about bike suspension set up and how it works? | ||
| Krabykarl |
Went off the charts in the owners manual then deviated some. | ||
| Arcticktm |
I don't get how you would lower the front end anymore, unless the '08 is different than the '06 I have. I thought my '06 had the forks up in the clamps until they hit the rings that keep the forks from traveling higher up in the clamps. No more room to go lower from this point. Maybe other years were set up differently? Mine are as low as they can go and I certainly have no height issue (6' 4" with 36" inseam). My tall '06 is awesome for me. | ||
| Hughlysses |
I don't get how you would lower the front end anymore, unless the '08 is different than the '06 I have. I thought my '06 had the forks up in the clamps until they hit the rings that keep the forks from traveling higher up in the clamps. You remove and leave off the rings. Apparently the rings aren't really necessary; they're like wearing suspenders and a belt. You can't raise the forks much at all without installing bar risers to provide clearance between the handlebars and the tops of the fork tubes. | ||
| Krabykarl |
What brand bar risers are people using? Is there enough slack in the cables/wiring for 1"? Around town it does not seem to bother me. Took a long trip last summer and a higher bar would have been real nice after my 2nd 400 mile day. | ||
| Hughlysses |
Precision Engineering (a Badweb sponsor) makes some nice 1 inch ones. You can install them with the stock cables with no problems. Link: http://www.preeng.com/xcart/1-Bar-Riser.html (Message edited by Hughlysses on February 26, 2014) | ||
| Krabykarl |
Thanks Hugh. Just spoke with Andy at Precision and ordered up their 1" risers with top clamp. 3" of snow this morning yet my wallet is saying spring.... | ||
| Jstav2012 |
oh, sorry I didn't see this until now. the 2" rox risers are a better because they allow you to slip the forks up a little more than I think the 1" risers will. No big deal, you can sell those risers for almost as much as you buy them for! | ||
| Arry |
To raise the fork (higher in the triple clamps), you would need to remove the rings and remove the reflectors from the sides of the forks. I don't think this will lower your seat much because the seat is toward the rear of the bike (over the rear axle). Also, it would change your steering geometry. | ||
| Rayycc1 |
just snapped that seat up off ebay ...Thanks for the link! | ||
| Kaikoura |
Sweet! |
