Lowering an xCountry.

[dean0n0]

If you have a spring compressor it's straight forward enough, but if you haven't.......
When young and daft we compressed springs by standing the shock on the floor, put two tyre levers in the spring either side of the shaft, wedged two lengths of wood under the bench, over the tyre levers and pressed down hard on the other end. The short straw got to pull the collet out, I dread to think what would have happened had it let go.
Spring compressors are much less exciting and not expensive.

 

[Drumacoon Lad.]

Thanks for the comments guys about putting on the collar in my garage. I don't have a spring compressor so now that I understand what is involved, will not try it without. I have since spoken to the local bike shop and they will do it for me when the collar arrives.

One of my mates spoke about doing this work with a lot of DIY stuff in his garage in the past and something slipped and the spring punched a hole in the roof of the garage. So am happy that the garage is going to do it.

Have now dropped the forks 20mm and taken it out and it seems stable enough.

About the 170Kg max load. I suppose 2 up we may be 130kg so I'll be wary of bottoming issues now with it lower. I do of course have the option of increasing the preload 2 up which should help. If I'm riding solo, even with camping gear and luggage I hope I should be OK.

 

[Animal]

After having a previous bike lowered for my mrs, I can honestly say I'd never do it again.

Have the seat modified, buy some Daytona boots with bigger soles, even modify the subframe if you really have to, but don't bugger the bike up.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

 

[Alan25]

Thanks for the comments guys about putting on the collar in my garage. I don't have a spring compressor so now that I understand what is involved, will not try it without. I have since spoken to the local bike shop and they will do it for me when the collar arrives.

One of my mates spoke about doing this work with a lot of DIY stuff in his garage in the past and something slipped and the spring punched a hole in the roof of the garage. So am happy that the garage is going to do it.

Have now dropped the forks 20mm and taken it out and it seems stable enough.

About the 170Kg max load. I suppose 2 up we may be 130kg so I'll be wary of bottoming issues now with it lower. I do of course have the option of increasing the preload 2 up which should help. If I'm riding solo, even with camping gear and luggage I hope I should be OK.

Hi,

I realise that this was many years ago, but I am considering doing this with my '07 XCountry. Just wondered how the lowering collar worked out?

 

[Hoggyf]

I have an unused lowering collar if you're interested, bought it then never used it

 

[Alan25]

I have an unused lowering collar if you're interested, bought it then never used it

Thanks Hoggy, I've sent you a DM