SV650S Suspension lowering (lots of pics)

[Willson]

Morning!

Last weekend I lowered the suspension on my SV650 because I'm a short arse, and have only just got round to posting about it.

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0666.jpg
That's the lowering kit, slightly longer linkages, and yes the price IS right... £16 with £2 delivery. (Better than the £100+ that some companies wanted). Although, the first thing I did was throw away the instructions as they told me to remove the back wheel and made no mention of lowing the front of the bike. After a quick chat with my mechanic he told me to lower the front end by about 20mm.

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0667.jpg
The only tools I SHOULD need (I think I missed a socket or two out of that picture, but I definitely needed more than that).

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0668.jpg
As the SV has no centre stand, I jacked up the bike at the link pipe. Contrary to what some people think, this is perfectly safe, as long as the jack can't slip anywhere. It won't knacker the exhaust, unless it's rotten through.

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0669.jpg
One of the original linkages. (Some of these pics are a little unclear, my iPhone camera is a bit crap.) The bolts either side were a nightmare to get undone.

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0670.jpg
After lots of farting around and getting nowhere, I applied a hearty amount of PlusGas and set light to it.

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0671.jpg
And that didn't work. So I took my (knackered) wrench, a foot long extension bar, socket and rested the head of the wrench on two bricks. (The other side there's a spanner holding the nut). 11 and a half stone of short arse jumping on the end of the wrench just about loosened it. I'd have used a power bar but I didn't have one to hand unfortunately.

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0672.jpg
The other bolt wasn't much easier... in fact it was harder. Don't EVER try the above: This was my dense moment. The spanner pushed the jack out of the way and the bike fell down. Thankfully it didn't fall over!

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0673.jpg
Then I found that spanner. Marvellous!

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0674.jpg
Problem solved, linkage off!

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0675.jpg
New linkage on. I forgot to put both on at first, and wondered why the nut was going further onto the bolt than before... At any rate, that was the back end finished. Now for the front end... oh the joys!.

First thing was to jack the front of the bike up by the engine.

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0676.jpg
Eight bolts in total to undo, two per fork at the lower yoke, one either side at the top and one each for the handlebars.

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0677.jpg
Forks being lowered. Problem was I didn't have a steel rule to hand, as my dad had taken his tool box somewhere... At this point he'd come over and given me a hand with this part... (Thanks Dad!). We used a socket as our reference point that was about 19mm outside diameter and levelled them by eye before tightening all of the bolts up again. At my uncle's later on I measured them with his callipers and they turned out to be about 20 thousandths of an inch out (not bad!).

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0678.jpg
Finally, a quick clean and lube of the chain before:

https://i1137.photobucket.com/albums/n510/isoisawillson/SV%20Suspension/IMG_0679.jpg
Relaxation time!

...I was feeling the sunburn later on that day though... and for the rest of the week!

Willson
____________________
Benson: Wouldn't life be easier if we were all turtles?
Me: Pig on bread = The way forward.
Riding: '00 Suzuki SV650S. Previous: '99 Kawasaki ER5 - sold, '02 Suzuki GZ125 Marauder - sold

[675Rusty]

When I bought my SV, the previous owner had it lowered (came with the original links). Took two of us to hold the back up whilst one of us lined the linkage up. Took around 15 minutes to switch over, but I didn't have to mess around with the forks .

Good effort with the pictures .
____________________
Current Bike - 2013 Triumph Daytona 675R

[Willson]

Ahh you had no jack? Makes life so much easier... Those trolley jacks aren't that expensive.

Willson
____________________
Benson: Wouldn't life be easier if we were all turtles?
Me: Pig on bread = The way forward.
Riding: '00 Suzuki SV650S. Previous: '99 Kawasaki ER5 - sold, '02 Suzuki GZ125 Marauder - sold

[675Rusty]

[easyroller]

Nice work. How much lower than standard is the seat height now?

Oh and just how short are you? Hehe!
____________________
....unrestricted and on two wheels since '04

[Willson]

Adam: You should!

Easy: Rear lowered by about 45mm, seat by 25mm, but that doesn't take into account how far the forks have gone down, which would reduce it a bit more. And I'm 5'6" with 30" inside leg. So I'm short

Willson
____________________
Benson: Wouldn't life be easier if we were all turtles?
Me: Pig on bread = The way forward.
Riding: '00 Suzuki SV650S. Previous: '99 Kawasaki ER5 - sold, '02 Suzuki GZ125 Marauder - sold