Roaring Toyz Lowering Link Install


fzbrooke

New Member
Thanks!

Thank you for this post, and the kickstand post. The link actually came with black and white copies of your photos and instuctions from Roaring Toyz!
Here is the after photo:
 

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FZ1inNH

Super Moderator
Thank you for this post, and the kickstand post. The link actually came with black and white copies of your photos and instuctions from Roaring Toyz!
Here is the after photo:
Nice! Glad to see they are using them! Thanks for the post. So... did they give me any credit for the instructions? ;)

It's a great product!
 

fzbrooke

New Member
Nice! Glad to see they are using them! Thanks for the post. So... did they give me any credit for the instructions? ;)

It's a great product!
I will dig them out and check. I did rave about you post/pics to the guy at Roaring Toyz when I ordered the parts. The bike has done great since I installed the parts. I lowered the front 1 1/2 inches.
 

FZ1inNH

Super Moderator

ajkewler

New Member
I just ordered the roaring toyz lowering links today and hoping they'll arrive some time this week. After reading through your sticky I wanted to ask if it would be okay if I only lifted the rear of the bike on the swing arm or would I have to support the weight of the bike in the front too? I have one of those stands that lift the bike from the swing arm which I use to adjust the chain, would this be enough for me to install the lowering link?

I would really like to install this myself at my own free time rather than work around the hours of operation of a dealer again. I've added a image of how I have it lifted right now, at least I think its attached on this reply.
 

MikeN02

New Member
I just ordered the roaring toyz lowering links today and hoping they'll arrive some time this week. After reading through your sticky I wanted to ask if it would be okay if I only lifted the rear of the bike on the swing arm or would I have to support the weight of the bike in the front too? I have one of those stands that lift the bike from the swing arm which I use to adjust the chain, would this be enough for me to install the lowering link?

I would really like to install this myself at my own free time rather than work around the hours of operation of a dealer again. I've added a image of how I have it lifted right now, at least I think its attached on this reply.
When you lower it you would have to adjust the front to be lowered with the rear. Keep this in mind when you do lower it. Therefore I would imagine you need the front to be stable as well.
 

ajkewler

New Member
When you lower it you would have to adjust the front to be lowered with the rear. Keep this in mind when you do lower it. Therefore I would imagine you need the front to be stable as well.
I was thinking of only lowering the front between 3/4 of a inch to a inch and the rear 1 and 3/4 inches, would this be okay or is it recommended to lower the front the same distance as the rear? I read on this forum that some peopole do that but didn't really say anything negative about either.
 

MikeN02

New Member
I was thinking of only lowering the front between 3/4 of a inch to a inch and the rear 1 and 3/4 inches, would this be okay or is it recommended to lower the front the same distance as the rear? I read on this forum that some peopole do that but didn't really say anything negative about either.
I'm not sure on the specifics but if I recall the front and rear has different lowering measurements.

Maybe someone could shed light on this even further.
 

NoDoze

New Member
Here's mine! Got it lowered today with the RT link (plus RT kickstand) and it made a huge difference for my confidence, can you say night and day? Being of short stature (5'2") and short inseam, I can now put both balls of my feet down with thick-soled boots :p



The forks were lowered by 3/4" as suggested and the ride has been great, if anything a little bit more responsive.

Thanks for the instructions and guidance everyone!

Joe (NoDoze)
 
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FZ1inNH

Super Moderator
Awesome Joe! Thanks for posting up. Glad my instructions were helpful. :D

My wife has traded up to the FZ1 which I've lowered with an adjustable link. The guy who took the FZ6R also has a short inseam and is loving the low profile of the bike. He almost bought an FZ6 which is very high and is almost impossible to lower. The RT kit is simple and well designed yet does a very effective job.

I like the blue bike the best. Looks GREAT!!!
 

SAFE-T

New Member
I was wondering why they chose 1.75" as the target when they designed the linkage block ?

Is there not enough room under the seat for a 2" drop or is it something else ? Perhaps there is only enough clearance with the bars/fork tubes to drop the front end 1.75" so that is the amount they chose... just wondering.
 

NoDoze

New Member
I read an article from Sport Rider saying that...

The ground clearance factor means there's also a limit to how much you can lower a sportbike. Nearly all of the suspension technicians we spoke with said for riders who don't intend to drag race, 1.5 inches is the limit they would be comfortable with for shortening suspension. Anymore than that severely restricts the amount of lean angle the bike can achieve without running into ground clearance problems.
The article can be found here:
Lowering Your Bike Safely - Sport Rider magazine
 

SAFE-T

New Member
Before the FZ6R, we had a GS500 we dropped 1.5"

It would touch the centrestand occassionally with rider and passenger, but never did touch the footpegs. If you were only going to ride it solo, it probably could have been lowered another 1/2". We saw different suspension linkages that would lower it up to 3"

I think the limiting factor may be suspension travel before ground clearance in some cases. I don't think the aftermarket link makers really put that much thought into it ~ they certainly don't seem to be able to give much of a definitive answer as to how much a specific bike can be lowered safely.

Sport Rider's article suggests you can only SAFELY lower the front end 0.59" (15mm) but at the same time it is important to retain the stock chassis attitude. Which means you can only PROPERLY lower your bike less than 2/3 of an inch.

What I don't understand is why manufacturers don't make sportbikes with lower rear subframes, which would allow them to retain the original ground clearance.
 
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Marthy

World Most Bad A$$ 6R
Elite Member

NoDoze

New Member
Does anybody who use this bracket fell any difference in spring rate? (My educated guess is the bike should feel softer???) Do you need to use 1 clic stiffer?
At street speed, no I have not felt anything different from the suspension. From the looks of it mechanically, the rear shock was kept at the same angle, the spring wasn't modified and the link basically allowed the shock to be mounted higher thus lowering the rear end. The front forks were moved up 3/4" on the triple clamp to compensate.

To be honest, I think what changed most for me is my confidence to ride the bike without worrying of not being able to plant my foot down quick and far enough to support the bike at stops (or emergency stops). For the first few days, I was worried that the bike would bottom out on speed bumps, but there's really a lot of clearance not to. If anything, the bike responds faster.

Now, I know the lean angle is compromised so I'm thinking of getting MFW Wolf aftermarket foot pegs to at least move it up an inch from the standard mount.

As shown on bigguybbr's bike:





I hope I don't scrape on the twisties, then again I am not aggressive when I ride there.
 
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ChUcK

New Member
FWIW, this install is possible without removing the gas tank from the pivot joint. At least, I was able to remove the link without gas tank removal.
 

Marthy

World Most Bad A$$ 6R
Elite Member

nismos14

I'm movin on
Elite Member


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