Raising the suspension on an '09

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  #1  
Old 06-02-2010 | 03:34 AM
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Default Raising the suspension on an '09

What do I need? Do I need to buy springs for the raised suspension or do '09 length springs work?

I have the motor running like I want, gearing like I want, and tires like I want. Now I just need to raise and stiffen the suspension.
 
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Old 06-02-2010 | 04:11 AM
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I am curious about this as well. What are the pro's and cons? I have long legs and get a little cramp right where my leg attaches to the torso sometimes.
 
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Old 06-02-2010 | 04:54 AM
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Mod the seat to have more leg room. Or lower the footpegs but that might mess with the controls.
 
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Old 06-02-2010 | 06:11 AM
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This could be interesting. Unless Kawasaki used pretty much the same components in the '06/'07 and the '09/'10 models, such as the damper rods and stanchions it might be a tough mod. If it's just an internal spacer mod, then perhaps it's doable. Redpillar said his fork looked like it was just a spacer deal. Has anyone actually done this?
 
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Old 06-02-2010 | 06:34 AM
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There is a small difference between the 07 and 09 forks. 07 has longer travel, with longer springs and no spacer inside the cartridge. 09 has shorter travel, ie shorter springs and a spacer inside the cartridge, to make up the difference. Other than that they are identical. I think it is a bit of a job to remove the spacers, but I am not sure. Give your friendly forks guy a call to find out if it is worth it.
 
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Old 06-02-2010 | 10:08 AM
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Will do that. Thanks for the info. Now how about the rear suspension? Do I just go with shorter links?
 
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Old 06-02-2010 | 01:23 PM
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This is what I read on a previous post. You can get back your pre 09 suspension travel by installing 117 mm dogbones off an earlier model at the rear shock linkage and remove the spacers in the fork cartridges. Use the 460 mm fork springs. Stock fork spring length for the 09 is supposed to be 416mm. But I haven't done it myself yet so I don't know for sure if this info is accurate.
 
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Old 06-02-2010 | 02:13 PM
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Shorter links will raise the rear, increase the wheel rate (stiffer suspension), and reduce the wheel travel.
 
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Old 06-02-2010 | 02:32 PM
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Originally Posted by zomby woof
Shorter links will raise the rear, increase the wheel rate (stiffer suspension), and reduce the wheel travel.
Anyone have a bike they want to shorten? We can swap links.
 
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Old 06-02-2010 | 02:48 PM
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Anyone know what the hole diameters are for those links?
 



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