fork extensions

Submitted by ncBiker on Mon, 07/05/2010 - 19:13
in

I have an 03 shadow spirit 750 and im thinking about geting 3" fork extensions. Would this affect my handling? Thanks

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3 inch fork extensions

Submitted by Jeff in Kentucky on Mon, 07/05/2010 - 22:26.

For a posted 35 mph corner with a Honda Shadow 750, with the stock forks you might just make this corner at 70 mph, and with the 3 inch fork extensions and the same tires the top cornering speed might be 55 mph.

For a different look, you will lose some cornering ability. Since more of the weight is shifted to the back tire, the front tire will start to slide sooner, but at the legal speeds most people ride, it will not matter at all, except during emergency cornering.

Yes. Perhaps dramatically.

eternal05's picture
Submitted by eternal05 on Mon, 07/05/2010 - 22:27.

You're going to completely change the steering geometry of the bike. When making adjustments to a bike at the track, engineers and mechanics usually make adjustments to fork length (actually they just raise or lower the forks into the triple clamp) in millimeters.

What you're going to do is increase the effective rake (angle) of your forks, but because you're not changing that angle at the steering head, you're also tilting the whole bike backwards a bit. In theory, more rake means greater stability at the cost of poorer maneuverability (more resistance to turning, more effort on the bars to make a turn). I'm afraid I don't know what other side effects your fork extensions might have.

fork extensions

TrialsRider's picture
Submitted by TrialsRider on Fri, 07/16/2010 - 23:25.

Search Flickr.com for "2003 Honda Spirit 750" and you can see a bike there with the 3" fork extensions plus the rears lowered 1.5" if you post the owner your question, perhaps he can tell you first hand how the changes affected handling. Keep in mind that chopper mods are strictly show off and nobody would ever do those things to a bike in the name of performance improvement.

Thanks but ive decided not to

Submitted by ncBiker on Sat, 07/17/2010 - 14:35.

Thanks but ive decided not to get fork extensions. Ive decided to go for more of a bobber look then chopper look

Bobbers are cool...and a

ShamRock229's picture
Submitted by ShamRock229 on Sat, 07/17/2010 - 15:19.

Bobbers are cool...and a better fit for a shadow imo.

Here is a bobber from a

Submitted by Jeff in Kentucky on Sat, 07/17/2010 - 19:42.

Here is a bobber from a motorcycle like mine:

http://www.shadowriders.net/forums/showthread.php?t=14314

Ha. Im on that forum all the

Submitted by ncBiker on Sun, 07/18/2010 - 05:25.

Ha. Im on that forum all the time. Im ncSpirit if you ever go on there anymore. If anyone else plans to go on ther USE THE SEARCH BUTTOM or your gona get flamed all to hell. Im goin for a that look 2. The first thing im doing after i get a new tail light and signals and a sidemount is 10" mini apes with ace risers. Thats what a street bob has stock and it sits perfect for me

The traditional bobber was an

Submitted by Jeff in Kentucky on Sun, 07/18/2010 - 13:44.

The traditional bobber was an early racer, and they kept the back suspension if the bike came with suspension, and the handlebars were often left stock or wider than stock, but never higher than stock so your chest acts like a sail in the wind and slows you down. Apehangers are from chopper stying, and many people mix bobber and chopper styling to what they like. Here is a more typical (and a much more expensive antique) bobber:

http://www.indian-bobbers.com/indian_1941/1941_Indian_741_Flathead_Bobbe...

Not 100% accurate........but

Munch's picture
Submitted by Munch on Sun, 07/18/2010 - 17:47.

Not 100% accurate........but close. Had to do with speed and light weight . But the movement came from World War vets wanting more speed. The idea was from designs from across the pond ( meaning Europe). They found that just removing or cutting (bobbing) the fenders the bikes felt lighter......then progressed quickly into removing anything that wasn't necessary.

In the war the idea was a necessity for traversing the rocky terrain of the front lines.

****Life's journey is not to arrive at the grave safely in a well preserved body, but, rather to skid in sideways, totally worn out, shouting "Holy Shit....What a ride!!!"****