Raising the rear
#1
07-23-2006, 11:39 PM
Raising the rear
hey everyone,
just bought a used 2002 ex500, but the previous own who was really short lowered the back quite a bit to make it fit her. how do i raise it back up? she told me that she had it lowered via the spring in the back. any help would be appreciated, thanks!
just bought a used 2002 ex500, but the previous own who was really short lowered the back quite a bit to make it fit her. how do i raise it back up? she told me that she had it lowered via the spring in the back. any help would be appreciated, thanks!
#2
08-19-2006, 09:04 AM
RE: Raising the rear
if she did what i think she did, she would have cut the spring down that is surrounding the shock, in front of your swingarm, basically all you have to do is replace that spring with another oem spring and it should be just dandy. good luck
#3
09-03-2006, 10:16 AM
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: La Costa, CA
Posts: 807
RE: Raising the rear
I respectfully disagree with Five-O.
Whoever lowered her bike for her may very well have simply loosened the preload on the spring, which would certainly lower the rear end.
Before you buy a new OEM $pring, loosen the lockring on the shock and tighten the adjuster ring. Once you've got the rear end raised to your likeing, simply retighten the lockring against the adjuster ring and go for a ride.
The shock is kind of a pain to access while it's in the bike, so you may need to prop the bike up on the center stand and remove the shock.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
-Chris in Carlsbad, CA
http://www.calamarichris.com/
Whoever lowered her bike for her may very well have simply loosened the preload on the spring, which would certainly lower the rear end.
Before you buy a new OEM $pring, loosen the lockring on the shock and tighten the adjuster ring. Once you've got the rear end raised to your likeing, simply retighten the lockring against the adjuster ring and go for a ride.
The shock is kind of a pain to access while it's in the bike, so you may need to prop the bike up on the center stand and remove the shock.
Good luck and let us know how it goes!
-Chris in Carlsbad, CA
http://www.calamarichris.com/
#4
09-04-2006, 06:17 AM
RE: Raising the rear
thanks for the info chris. i emailed the previous owner and she said she only loosened the preload spring like you said. is the stock setting all the way up, or only part way? also, do i need a spanner wrench, or would it be just as easy with a long screw driver and a mallet?
#5
09-04-2006, 11:17 AM
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: La Costa, CA
Posts: 807
RE: Raising the rear
Despite having several punches, drifts, and a C-spanner, I've never been able to adjust the 500's shock without removing that sumbitch.
And rather than rely on the "stock" setting, (which is "compressed 17mm shorter than the free length of the spring.") I would experiment. You can compress the spring up to 27mm, according to the manual and experimenting will teach you some things about frame geometry and handling.
Ordinarily the more you compress the spring, the quicker the bike will handle, but the less stable it will be on high-speed straights. But the 500 already has pretty conservative geometry, so you can get away with some fun experiementation without causing any problems.
Have fun!
-CCinC
http://www.calamarichris.com/
And rather than rely on the "stock" setting, (which is "compressed 17mm shorter than the free length of the spring.") I would experiment. You can compress the spring up to 27mm, according to the manual and experimenting will teach you some things about frame geometry and handling.
Ordinarily the more you compress the spring, the quicker the bike will handle, but the less stable it will be on high-speed straights. But the 500 already has pretty conservative geometry, so you can get away with some fun experiementation without causing any problems.
Have fun!
-CCinC
http://www.calamarichris.com/
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