Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > Everybody loves a knowall ...

[Redruth]

Thanks Lizzie. I think anyone posting a wrong answer on here's gonna get shot down in flames anyway, so I don't think we need to worry about that aspect of it

So, that's my 3 fellow judges sorted. There's a fourth person I'm thinking of asking as a 'guest' judge but we'll see about that nearer judgment day.

[electricsheep]

Here's a question

For the shorter rider that wants to lower the rear ride height. Is it better to compensate by changing to the quicker steering head angle, or to also lower the front by changing the position of the forks in the triple clamps ?

[keefer]

how about just getting some moon boots.
thus rectifying your height inadequacies

[AK]

Originally posted by electricsheep
Here's a question

For the shorter rider that wants to lower the rear ride height. Is it better to compensate by changing to the quicker steering head angle, or to also lower the front by changing the position of the forks in the triple clamps ?

there is a cheaper option - I shall call it number '3' option:

One can purchase boots with deeper soles & heels to make oneself taller, therefore not needing to adjust the goemetry of the bike.
A diet may also possibly help in your case Mr Sheep

However - should one like to make the bike turn in quicker, one could drop the forks through the yokes to lower the front a little.

One could however, take up riding pillion instead:P

- or even worse, buy an import hon..hon.... unmentionable word, which is lower to start with!

Is this a correct answer???

C

[BANSHEE]

My answer is to always park/stop at the kerb

[AK]

Which kerb was that .... at Mallory..... Banshee

C

[madmav]

Originally posted by electricsheep
Here's a question

For the shorter rider that wants to lower the rear ride height. Is it better to compensate by changing to the quicker steering head angle, or to also lower the front by changing the position of the forks in the triple clamps ?

well ES, the short answer(pardon the pun) is Be afraid be very afraid!

messing about with the Rake , can seriously damage your health

I'm no expert in chassis geometry but i can tell you of the efects that it will bring on!

on the track i can see a distinct advantage to gettting the bike to (Turn in quicker)
but on the road it can realy have an adverse effect like make ing the bike very very twitchy on certain roads!!!!!

(be carefull) !!!!!!!!!!!!!

changing the ride height (by Lowering it for the size of your legs ) is a big NO NO...

as this can make the bike squat and give the efect of the front wheel skiping across the tarmack ie loss of traction!


this is a simplified answer !

Bring it on Shazzam
or nelly etc
for the indepth technical answer!.................mav

[electricsheep]

A diet may also possibly help in your case Mr Sheep

I find the extra weight helps compress the springs, bringing my feet closer to the ground

[Edited on 1-2-2005 by electricsheep]

[NBs996]

Suspension and chassis geometry is a bit out of my league too, but common sense would suggest that what you do to one end you must also do to the other, just to keep the balance right. Like, if you drop the rear ride height an inch then you should do the same at the front.

Not sure if altering the steering will have any effect in compensating for a drop in rear height
To diverse just a little from the question, and maybe a little contradictory to mav's views (sorry mav!), but I really don't find the bike twitchy after changing to the steeper rake. The bike turns noticably quicker, and theoretically should be twitchy, but it just isn't! I wouldn't try it unless you've got a damper tho, and certainly not to compensate for the ride height.

Do what CK says - get platform boots!!

[Chaz]

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