Tail Lifters?

[Retom7]

I was just browsing the web, looking at some aftermarket stuff available for my bike, dreaming of things I'd love to do, realizing I don't have the money to do it, etc. The usual.

Anyway, I came across tail lifters. The desciption reads as follow...

+ better handling
+ better feedback from rear suspension
+ more grip on the rear wheel
+ more weight on the front wheel
+ less kickback
+ much better look with raised tail
+ tested and recommended by international motorcycle journalists
+ race proven

Now, the asthetics I could care less about, I like the way my bike looks stock. However, I was wondering if anyone is using tail lifters or has an opinion one way or another on them, or if it's something that people just don't know or care about?

At $85, if it's something that's actually going to give me positive results, I'm very interested in it.

[Kennedy]

I wouldn't mess with the geometery of your bike if you don't know what your doing. I don't know so I can't tell you.

[Retom7]

It seems like most things I read say it puts more weight on the front, making the rear a little lighter. Cornering is increased, but so are chances of having the rear slip out from under you. I was just wondering if anyone has ridden with them.

25-30mm seems like a huge difference IMO though.

[CBRBob]

Some bikes respond to this very well, some handle horribly. It depends on the bike. The better way to do it is to have an adjustable legnth shock and make small adjustments, measure the new height and see the difference. If you have a bike that you can put a shim(washer) between the shock and the upper mount, that is one way to get the same effect. If you really want to know if raising the back a cerian amount will be beneficial, talk to some accomplished racers to see if what they did on the same model bike. Like I said, not all bikes respond well to this.

[mullerjd]

Depending on your bike, they can be very easy to make yourself.. I do for my SVs. It lets me get the feel I'm looking for and to compensate for different suspension.

[southjersey636]

On the 03-04 636 they have a little .25in spacer between the shock and the frame that acts like this to raise the rear up a little. When guys lower the bike some remove it to drop the bike another .25-50 inch.

[RCM78]

Like Bob said it depends on the bike.
The first generation R1 needed the ass end way up. Increasing rear ride height on that bike was a huge improvement.

My new '05 R1 is the total opposite. I raised the rear 12mm and the bike wants to tuck the front unless I'm on the gas. Graves even makes a new shock mount to lower the bike 3mm if your using race tires(Which typically raise ride height).

Either way the amount that link raises the bike is pretty extreme. I wouldnt go that far.

[Retom7]

Thanks for all the imput. I think I'll have my suspension dialed in first and see how I like everything.

My first mod is going to be the slip-on I think.

[Cakes206]

Originally Posted by Retom7

My first mod is going to be the slip-on I think.

Don't remember if you said it or not, but what kind of brakes you have on there? Stock or SS lines?

[Retom7]

Originally Posted by Cakes982

Don't remember if you said it or not, but what kind of brakes you have on there? Stock or SS lines?

Good call, I do plan on replacing them come spring when I change out all fluids on my bike... running stock currently though. SS is one thing I think everyone should have though, cars and bikes alike. It should legally be the standard.

[njracer]

Raising the shock and changing out the suspension link are two different things. Once you change the shock linkage you change the progression of the suspension stroke. Depending on the progression (+ or -) of the new linkage, a stiffer or softer spring will be needed. Raising the rear via spacers (not the stock linkage) will not require a different spring.

Call up someone like GMD and ask the same question…….you are playing with fire.

njracer

[Rev]

Originally Posted by njracer

Raising the shock and changing out the suspension link are two different things. Once you change the shock linkage you change the progression of the suspension stroke. Depending on the progression (+ or -) of the new linkage, a stiffer or softer spring will be needed. Raising the rear via spacers (not the stock linkage) will not require a different spring.

Call up someone like GMD and ask the same question…….you are playing with fire.

njracer

Exactly what I wasn't going to say.

But he's right. Once you start messing with geometrics with a mostly stock bike your messing with somethings that ain't supposed to be messed with unless you have a strictly track bike and you are experienced on dampers..etc etc..Just do the obvious mods...

Slip on's
New Tires
SS Brake Lines
Blinkers
Turbo...

Etc Etc..

GL.

[liquiddevil2000]

wow....so much to think about!!!

[Cakes206]

Originally Posted by liquiddevil2000

wow....so much to think about!!!

Just imagine what it takes to set up a MotoGP bike

[njracer]

Originally Posted by Cakes982

Just imagine what it takes to set up a MotoGP bike

However, setting up a kitty litter tester bike is VERY easy......I know U know this.