Criminal Pilot
Well-Known Member
Short version:
Has anyone here ever tried the FZ8 risers (or any lower risers) and had success? What were your methods? Did you hit any snags?
Long version:
I searched pretty thoroughly and ended up settling on using stock FZ8 risers to bring my handlebars to a slightly lower position. I heard about using SV650 risers and all sorts of other options, but was able to get FZ8 ones from a trashed bike locally, and wanted the lowest possible (these are extremely short, a good 2 inches shorter than stock, if not more).
What I did not account for was clearance because I figured it would be mostly plug-and-play. First of all, to even get the bar to sit on the risers properly, I had to adjust the suspension to be super tight because the adjusting screw/bolt was protruding out the top way higher than the risers were going (this is at stock 5.5 stiffness!!). I had to change it so the bolt was almost flush with the top triple, almost max stiffness (way too much for street).
Second, once I got the bars on properly, I wasn't able to get full steering lock to lock movement so I had to rotate the bars upwards slightly. No big deal, except for the fact that the controls clipped the top triple so I couldn't rotate the bar. So I had to rotate the controls separately from the bar to get the right angle, but then I couldn't rotate the controls because the cables coming from them got snagged and were no longer free moving (brake and clutch, mainly).
I actually finally got it to a very usable position after fiddling with it for a while, but then I was extremely unhappy with the stiffness of the suspension so I had no choice but to raise the risers. I used rubber stoppers to do this, and got another half inch of clearance which solved all the above issues. Only problem is now there is not enough thread visible on the bottom of the risers so I cannot properly re-attach the nut.
Wow, mouthful! Anyway... has anyone here ever tried the FZ8 risers and had success? What were your methods?
If not, what are the alternatives besides buying another set of risers? Any ideas? I guess I'd be considering a trade if anyone wants these and has SV650 risers or something else. What if I use stock risers and just lower the triple through the forks until the adjustment screw is just clear of the handlebar (hope that makes sense!). I've searched up on that too but am not sure on how that affects sag/response and handling, nor if it would even make a difference to riding position.
I loved the way the bike felt with the FZ8 risers, a little lower but still not superbike low. I just wish I could get proper clearance and have the suspension sorted properly.
Thanks!!
Has anyone here ever tried the FZ8 risers (or any lower risers) and had success? What were your methods? Did you hit any snags?
Long version:
I searched pretty thoroughly and ended up settling on using stock FZ8 risers to bring my handlebars to a slightly lower position. I heard about using SV650 risers and all sorts of other options, but was able to get FZ8 ones from a trashed bike locally, and wanted the lowest possible (these are extremely short, a good 2 inches shorter than stock, if not more).
What I did not account for was clearance because I figured it would be mostly plug-and-play. First of all, to even get the bar to sit on the risers properly, I had to adjust the suspension to be super tight because the adjusting screw/bolt was protruding out the top way higher than the risers were going (this is at stock 5.5 stiffness!!). I had to change it so the bolt was almost flush with the top triple, almost max stiffness (way too much for street).
Second, once I got the bars on properly, I wasn't able to get full steering lock to lock movement so I had to rotate the bars upwards slightly. No big deal, except for the fact that the controls clipped the top triple so I couldn't rotate the bar. So I had to rotate the controls separately from the bar to get the right angle, but then I couldn't rotate the controls because the cables coming from them got snagged and were no longer free moving (brake and clutch, mainly).
I actually finally got it to a very usable position after fiddling with it for a while, but then I was extremely unhappy with the stiffness of the suspension so I had no choice but to raise the risers. I used rubber stoppers to do this, and got another half inch of clearance which solved all the above issues. Only problem is now there is not enough thread visible on the bottom of the risers so I cannot properly re-attach the nut.
Wow, mouthful! Anyway... has anyone here ever tried the FZ8 risers and had success? What were your methods?
If not, what are the alternatives besides buying another set of risers? Any ideas? I guess I'd be considering a trade if anyone wants these and has SV650 risers or something else. What if I use stock risers and just lower the triple through the forks until the adjustment screw is just clear of the handlebar (hope that makes sense!). I've searched up on that too but am not sure on how that affects sag/response and handling, nor if it would even make a difference to riding position.
I loved the way the bike felt with the FZ8 risers, a little lower but still not superbike low. I just wish I could get proper clearance and have the suspension sorted properly.
Thanks!!
