Posted by Hal on March 14, 2002 at 05:58:09:
In Reply to: Dropped my bike 4 inches!!! posted by Bryan on March 14, 2002 at 03:40:19:
Bryan:
I'd like to see pictures of your "hardtail" conversion! I did mine with 1/4" x 1-1/2" steel links which I had cut off from a length of bar stock at a steel yard. They charged me $3.45 for the steel, the 2 cuts, and tax. My links are 10" long, with mounting hole centers 8-3/4" apart. I drilled and reamed the mounting holes to 0.548", which is a precise fit on the bike's shock mounting studs. I did a lot of grinding to shape the links with matching radiused ends, and I also drilled extra holes in the links for looks and for a possible adjustment in lowering drop. I also turned and bored 4 aluminum spacers to compensate for the difference between the steel links and the original shock mounting thickness.
After deciding how much to drop it by choosing my hole spacing in the links, then I'll polish them up and take them to the electroplaters for a nickel/chrome plating job for $20. The only thing I'll worry about is the shock transmitted to the mounting lugs by the links when I hit a sharp bump in the road. I'm hoping this won't crack the welds where the shock mounts join the frame rails! I'll also remember to keep the rear tire pressure a bit on the low side!
Stroke On...
HAL