When people lower with a 21" wheel
#1
08-27-2012 | 04:45 PM
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Maryland
When people lower with a 21" wheel
I understand trying to keep the same (similar) diameter tire on the front and back.
I understand keeping the front and the rear the same distance from the ground.
How important is center of gravity? If you raise the bike up 1 inch in back and 1 inch in the front does that make any difference to the handling of the bike?
Since stock SG's are lowered one inch does that mean they handle better or worse than the other batwing bikes?
If a wheel (21") raises an EG an inch in the front then it has the same height difference (front/rear) than a stock SG. One inch taller all the way around but same differential. Both being 1" taller in front than in the rear.
I understand keeping the front and the rear the same distance from the ground.
How important is center of gravity? If you raise the bike up 1 inch in back and 1 inch in the front does that make any difference to the handling of the bike?
Since stock SG's are lowered one inch does that mean they handle better or worse than the other batwing bikes?
If a wheel (21") raises an EG an inch in the front then it has the same height difference (front/rear) than a stock SG. One inch taller all the way around but same differential. Both being 1" taller in front than in the rear.
#2
08-27-2012 | 06:50 PM
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 144
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From: Purgatory, Fl
Center of gravity makes a difference, yes. And you're right the difference, front to rear, is the same between the stock SG and the stock EG with a bigger front wheel. Or close enough.
As a general rule in handling the lower the center of gravity the better and more stable the cornering. It's most certainly true with cars and the same for bikes. It makes the weight transition from side to side easier since the weight doesn't have to be transferred as far. Think of a beer bottle sitting on its base and wiggle the table versus sitting on its top. Far more stable in the wiggles with the majority of its weight on bottom.
The lower center of gravity will make the bike feel more agile at lower speeds and Will make it feel lighter when handling. the trade off is it will also be a bit touchier at higher speeds as well. Of course the faster you go and the more rolling mass you have (heavier wheels) the more centrifugal force you are generating which has a gyro effect and makes the bike want to stand itself back up when leaned over. so I think the trade off is negligible.
Mine is a SG 2012 with 21"/18" with stock height front and 1.5 inch lower rear. before the rear lowering it was stock suspension but with the extra height (CG) from the wheels. I felt like I was top heavy when I rode it. Like at slower speeds I had to try to keep it up. After lowering the rear it makes it feel far more stable. I can imagine when I lower the front that it will handle closer to the stock config does with stock wheels and feel even more agile than it does now. Makes sense.
Hope this helps.
As a general rule in handling the lower the center of gravity the better and more stable the cornering. It's most certainly true with cars and the same for bikes. It makes the weight transition from side to side easier since the weight doesn't have to be transferred as far. Think of a beer bottle sitting on its base and wiggle the table versus sitting on its top. Far more stable in the wiggles with the majority of its weight on bottom.
The lower center of gravity will make the bike feel more agile at lower speeds and Will make it feel lighter when handling. the trade off is it will also be a bit touchier at higher speeds as well. Of course the faster you go and the more rolling mass you have (heavier wheels) the more centrifugal force you are generating which has a gyro effect and makes the bike want to stand itself back up when leaned over. so I think the trade off is negligible.
Mine is a SG 2012 with 21"/18" with stock height front and 1.5 inch lower rear. before the rear lowering it was stock suspension but with the extra height (CG) from the wheels. I felt like I was top heavy when I rode it. Like at slower speeds I had to try to keep it up. After lowering the rear it makes it feel far more stable. I can imagine when I lower the front that it will handle closer to the stock config does with stock wheels and feel even more agile than it does now. Makes sense.
Hope this helps.
#3
08-27-2012 | 08:11 PM
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Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 3,524
Likes: 33
From: Maryland
OK, I buy that. Thanx BS
If nobody figured it out I'm fighting the whole lowering thing. I feel taking away suspension to be a bad thing. I also feel there are lots of guys that are shorter in stature on here that need to keep the bike as low as possible. So with that it mind, and knowing how incredibly low our center of gravity is, I thought raising both ends (via tire) might be a good idea, while still maintaining a lower center of gravity than Sporty's and most Jap bikes.
So I'm hearing that the relationship of height between front and rear is really not a big deal at all. It's all about keeping as low a center of gravity as possible.
If nobody figured it out I'm fighting the whole lowering thing. I feel taking away suspension to be a bad thing. I also feel there are lots of guys that are shorter in stature on here that need to keep the bike as low as possible. So with that it mind, and knowing how incredibly low our center of gravity is, I thought raising both ends (via tire) might be a good idea, while still maintaining a lower center of gravity than Sporty's and most Jap bikes.
So I'm hearing that the relationship of height between front and rear is really not a big deal at all. It's all about keeping as low a center of gravity as possible.
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