Motorcycle suspension help!

Hi just looking for some advice please.

Went to look at a MV Agusta Brutale 990r, and everything seems good about the bike except the height! There is an adjustable link in the rear which would seem to control the ride height. At the moment it is adjusted as short as possible. First thought is this would be the lowest setting, but I'm not sure it's that simple. Can't find any info online (my Google fu must be waning) and wondered if anyone would know? Shorten or lengthen the link to lower the bike?
Thanks

If you DO get a height reduction link, then be sure to measure everything up before you start pulling bolts.
It's very important to lower the front too if you do this.
Otherwise you'll screw up the geometry (you will to a certain extent anyway...wheelbase for starters)
Thing to look out for...when you drop the yokes over the forks, will the front wheel on it's upstroke foul the rad?
Remember in doing this, you'll reduce ground clearance.
Have you looked at modded seats yet?

Some bikes/suspension units can be adjusted for length thus increasing/decreasing the rear ride height. Just backing the preload off to minimum can help.

Whilst raising the rear will quicken the steering (and vice versa), it’s not really noticeable unless you go to extremes.

As mentioned above though, measure the tide height and lower front and rear by similar amounts but, again as mentioned above, do make sure that the wheel doesn’t foul the radiator.

You’re unlikely to run out of ground clearance on a Brutale by lowering it an inch or two.

I used different shocks to get the tide height I wanted on the GPz, it’s 25mm higher at the rear and currently standard at the front. The wheelbase is also 50mm shorter and I’ve not noticed any lack of stability at road speeds.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...5949c927b3.jpg

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Originally Posted by Tifa

If you DO get a height reduction link, then be sure to measure everything up before you start pulling bolts.
It's very important to lower the front too if you do this.
Otherwise you'll screw up the geometry (you will to a certain extent anyway...wheelbase for starters)
Thing to look out for...when you drop the yokes over the forks, will the front wheel on it's upstroke foul the rad?
Remember in doing this, you'll reduce ground clearance.
Have you looked at modded seats yet?

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Hi, the seat looks wafer thin already on the bike, don't think I'll get much there. I know it may affect the handling but hopefully the 1-1.5 inches I want won't be too bad and can lower the front slightly.

The link on the rear suspension is arrowed on the picture of a similar bike. At first glance lengthening it would lift the rear but I don't think it's that simple as it locates on a fulcrum type arm on top of the shock.

https://i.postimg.cc/Kj4gJ0hK/MV-F4-...utale-10-3.jpg

Suspension showing fulcrum arm at top where top of shock and adjustable link mount each side.

https://i.postimg.cc/7L6JNx8H/Screen...t-14-27-42.png

One of the guys on the MV forum thinks it might be at it's lowest already. If so I'll probably just look for something else, it was just a nice clean example.

Looking at the diagram, the suspension linkage arm needs to be shorter to lower the rear (effectively pulling the wheel closer). Backing off the preload with the two adjusters on the shock absorber will lower the tide height further.

Without knowing the settings on the bike you’re looking at, it’s not possible to judge whether it can be lowered further.

Thanks, it's probably better to just look for another bike I suppose.

Well if you like the brutale and can lower it then I’d go for it. You could always get a shorter link rod made up.

At it’s simplest, it’s just a piece of hex bar with a left hand thread one end and right hand thread the other. A machine shop could knock you one of those up in about fifteen minutes.

With all the talk of upsetting handling etc it makes me wonder if it's worth it though. Will have to think about it.
Thanks.

Nice bike the Brutale
Little bit hunched up for me otherwise I’d have one- I tried a nice 1078rr that actually had good bottom end grunt as well as a crazy top end pull
Try a speed triple r /rs if you like that sort of thing? They ride well too.

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Originally Posted by oldoakknives

With all the talk of upsetting handling etc it makes me wonder if it's worth it though. Will have to think about it.
Thanks.

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Don’t worry about the handling; drop the front and rear by the same amount and all you’ll lose is some (of the probably excess for your needs) ground clearance.

I can’t help with the original question. But it will make a change from the Dyna!

Brutal(e)? You bet!

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Originally Posted by Saint-Just

I can’t help with the original question. But it will make a change from the Dyna!

Brutal(e)? You bet!

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Looking to lose a bit of weight as the Dyna starts to feel a bit heavy!

Half the weight and over thrice the power...
That will get the the adrenaline flowing [emoji846][emoji106]

Not really a Harley fan, but I'd have thought the HD would have a bit more torque?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by oldoakknives

With all the talk of upsetting handling etc it makes me wonder if it's worth it though. Will have to think about it.
Thanks.

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Happy to help

https://i.postimg.cc/NjNw94cN/3-F60-...A1-BE3-F85.jpg

[emoji23]

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Originally Posted by oldoakknives

With all the talk of upsetting handling etc it makes me wonder if it's worth it though. Will have to think about it.
Thanks.

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Coming from a Harley, a supermarket trolley will be an improvement!

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Originally Posted by Enoch

Happy to help

https://i.postimg.cc/NjNw94cN/3-F60-...A1-BE3-F85.jpg

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:icon_biggrin: Showing your (our) age there!!

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Originally Posted by Chris_in_the_UK

Coming from a Harley, a supermarket trolley will be an improvement!

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Have you ridden many?

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Originally Posted by oldoakknives

Have you ridden many?

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Every week @ Asda.

you can buy a lowering kit for that bike for £60 / 70 , 1970's platforms are prob cheaper thou :P

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Originally Posted by pugster

you can buy a lowering kit for that bike for £60 / 70 , 1970's platforms are prob cheaper thou :P

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Where? 2010 990R.

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Originally Posted by Chris_in_the_UK

Every week @ Asda.

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Thought so. #armchair expert.

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Originally Posted by oldoakknives

Thought so. #armchair expert.

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Quite the opposite, just having a bit of fun.

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Originally Posted by Chris_in_the_UK

Quite the opposite, just having a bit of fun.

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Of course.

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Originally Posted by oldoakknives

Where? 2010 990R.

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my bad - i thought you were looking at a new one from the first post , lust racing do kits from 2013

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Originally Posted by pugster

my bad - i thought you were looking at a new one from the first post , lust racing do kits from 2013

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That’s a pity, thought you’d found one I’d missed. ;-)