For some, a cruiser is a motorcycle. For others, it's a blank canvas. Often times, the ink of the sales contract barely dries up when this second group goes to the parts counter and orders a bunch of aftermarket accessories to make their new bike look brighter, sounder, and faster. Most of these modifications don't make the bike any easier to ride, and some even make it more difficult. There is, however, an increasingly common custom touch that, in addition to adding style, can make the bike easier to handle. It is the act of shortening a motorcycle fork. In this article, we will find out how you can shorten the fork of your motorcycle.
Motorcycle forks - General information
There are a whole bunch of motorcycle forks on the market that meet specific needs. So, before you get started, we advise you to take a look at our complete guide on the subject.
Why shorten the fork of your motorcycle?
Shortening a motorcycle fork not only gives it a long and low custom look, but also allows short riders to put their feet flat on the pavement at red lights. And if you've ever found yourself on a motorcycle that's too high at a slippery intersection, you know you'd trade all the shiny chrome in the world for a sure footing.
Indeed, whatever the reason you lower the fork on your motorcycle, it is not a task to be taken lightly, and if you are unsure of the dynamics of this type of modification, consult a suspension specialist to avoid any safety problem. Over the years, countless motorcycles have been shortened by low-level mechanics who sawed off the fork springs and bolted a set of inexpensive lowering blocks to the rear shocks. Most of the authors of this work were happy with their work - until they used it for the first time and found that in addition to being cool, the bike had become awkward, uncomfortable and dangerous.
Check Cartridge Forks Before Shortening Your Motorcycle Fork
The methods work for any motorcycle equipped with rod and shock absorber suspension. If it is a cartridge fork, it is a much bigger problem. For example, we don't even make a lowering kit for the Honda Valkyrie, which has a cartridge in one leg and a dummy cartridge in the other. A cartridge is like an internal rear shock absorber. Therefore, there is no easy way to shorten it. If the design allows, you can slide the forks up in the triple trees; make sure, however, that the fender does not hit the triple shaft when compressing the fork.
Cartridge fork available on Amazon
Lower the rear first to shorten the fork of your motorcycle.
If you intend to shorten your motorcycle's fork, the rear end is the best choice. This is all that some riders need, as the lowering of the rear also allows the saddle to be lowered considerably, making it easier to flatten the bike during stops. Backyard bike enthusiasts have a quick fix to this problem: lowering blocks, machined struts that move the rear shock's lower attachment point several inches back. They are inexpensive, easy to install, and their net effect is to lower the rear of the motorcycle. But there is another consequence of using lowering blocks that is not so obvious: they drastically change the lever ratios of the rear shocks.
Motorcycle wrench to shorten the fork of your motorcycle on Amazon
Adjust the setting of the speed and brake levers
This adjustment may seem subtle, but increasing or decreasing the height of the brake lever or shifter can also be a benefit for short riders. The gear levers are either mounted directly on the transmission or remotely connected by a linkage. Consult your owner's manual to find out what it is and how to fix it without damaged. The height of the fork is adjusted either by stop bolts or by a linkage. Your owner's manual will tell you which system and procedure your motorcycle uses.
Mechanical lowering
Indeed, you can mechanically lower the fork of your motorcycle, but this solution should only be considered as a last resort : This will reduce your ground clearance when cornering, affect handling and reduce suspension travel, among other things. The best (and safest) way to lower your motorcycle's fork is to have a mechanic shorten the shock in-house. It'll get expensive, and your bike's handling will take a hit, but you'll at least have some semblance of ride quality.
DIY if you really want to save money, but (again) we don't recommend it; a full understanding of motorcycle dynamics is required. If you are going to make your motorcycle's fork shorter, it is essential that you reduce the ride height at the front and rear equally in order to maintain the correct chassis attitude. Most common rear suspension systems use tie rods, and swapping out tie rods of different lengths, called "dog bones", will shorten your motorcycle's fork. For the front end of the bike, you'll probably want to consider progressive coil fork springs for a more comfortable ride. Most professionals will tell you not to go down more than an inch (front and rear) in order to maintain sufficient travel for a decent ride.
Our recommended products:
To conclude, here are some recommended products to shorten the fork of your motorcycle.
Other recommended parts for your motorcycle's forks available on Amazon
