Shorter Dog Bones.

Korsair

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Mar 23, 2022
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At World's End
Since Jesus blessed me with the gift of height; standing at an enormous 5'7" (170mm), and weighing 175 lbs (78kg) of pure muscles and sexiness....Wait, I'm going off track.

So, being short, it was a challenge for me to find bikes where I could be flat footed on. After years of riding, I've realized my height was not a handicap. And I just had to learn the bike.

I moved from Los Angeles where every rider there had ball$ and rode with a purpose, to Norfolk Virginia. The bike scene there was way different than LA. Most of the sport bike riders lowered and stretched their R6s and Gixxer 600s...
So whenever I would ride my Super Hawk, TL1000, SV650, or Ducati 999 in the twisites with these groups, I would have to wait for them miles down the road at a gas station we would prearrange if we got separated.
To sum it up, I was always against lowering bikes. It affects everything a bike was designed to do...in my opinion. of course, and I am not talking about cruisers.

Years ago, I wanted to turn my naked SV into a streetfighter. One of the steps was to raise the tail. So, back when bike magazines existed and on the cover would be some bada$$ in leathers doing a wheeile; I read an article written by a British road course racer who said he shortened his Dog Bones. So I removed mine and took them to a local machine shop. A couple days later, they had laser cut 2 out of aluminum with half an inch shorter. I put them on my bike, and was tippy toed. But I didn't care. The bike dropped in the turns quicker, and the acceleration was amazing.

I have since done that to all of my sport bikes.

2000 miles ago, I ordered spare Dog Bones for my ST and dropped them off at a local machine shop. They cut 1/2 inch in the center, and welded the ends back together.

With the height adjusted at its lowest setting, I tippy toe both feet, but can slump slightly to one side and be flat footed at a complete stop.

One of the main reasons I lifted the rear of the bike, is because she would sit too low when loaded with camping gear, to the point when I'm on a dirt road, I couldn't put the kick stand down.
I looked into spending an extra $1500 for a nice Ohlins rear shock, but I figured I'd go this route and see how she performs.

Now, every time I hit the dirt roads or the twisties, this ST behaves in a way like "About damn time you lifted my rear". Plus the ground clearance is nice to have when off-roading, and the kickstand now holds the bike up nicely. The rear wheel also touches the ground when the bike is on the center stand. Not by much, I can still barely spin the wheel, but if I have to do maintenance, I just find a small slope.

So I figured I'd share this thread since I couldn't find anything here on lifting the ST. I saw a video on Youtube where some ADV rider did the same on his Triumph Tiger 900.
 

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Thrasherg

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Oct 16, 2017
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319
Location
Dallas, TX
I am 6’2 tall and 180lbs (an ex racer), I found my 2015 ST ES to be grounding out regularly in the corners and fitted shorter suspension links (I forgot who sells them) but loved the greater cornering clearance and the handling in dirt. If you can live with the raised seat height, I feel they are a great addition to the ST.
 

One4Liberty

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May 25, 2017
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Space Coast - Florida

Korsair

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Mar 23, 2022
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At World's End
This thread is what you want. I just put a set of the LUST racing bones on mine this week. Only took about a week for them to be delivered from the UK to Florida. Easy install, with no need to remove the exhaust if you pull the bearing shim out prior to removing the bolt.

<https://yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?threads/raised-dog-bones-easy-install-and-way-to-get-ground-clearance.26852/>
WOW. I searched all over the internet and couldn't find any. Thanks.
 

DigiPaul

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Joined
Jan 8, 2022
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27
Location
Groningen
I had the same wish to have shorter dogbones because of my length.
I machined shorter ones, but they were to short, with the ES model the rearend can lower about 30mm, more is not posible because of the construction of the suspension.
Yesterday I machined the correct length. Its a difference and i'm very pleased with it. It looks and rides great.

20220601_062637.jpg 20220601_065701.jpg 20220601_065636.jpg
 

Cycledude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,998
Location
Rib lake wi
I had the same wish to have shorter dogbones because of my length.
I machined shorter ones, but they were to short, with the ES model the rearend can lower about 30mm, more is not posible because of the construction of the suspension.
Yesterday I machined the correct length. Its a difference and i'm very pleased with it. It looks and rides great.

View attachment 91902 View attachment 91903 View attachment 91904
so what is actually the correct length that you machined yesterday ?
 
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