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[evtricity]

My Zero SR is a 2014 model.

Outer diameter near the top of each shock is 49mm.

Outer diameter of the threaded shaft is 26.5mm.

[Manzanita]

I lowered my Zero SR about 20mm by putting a spacer in the rear shock

So this was a modification to the FastAce rear shock? And the spacer is actually inside the shock? Did you do this yourself or have a shop do it? What did that cost? 

[evtricity]

I had Shock Treatment (outer Sydney, Australia) add the spacer to the rear shock.

Cost was AUD275 for parts and labour.

They also suggested adding a stiffer rear spring but it was going to require a custom spring to be made as the 2014 isn't a common shock size.

I noted that Electric Cowboy found a stiffer spring for his 2015 Showa rear shock so I'm glad to see it's easier to find off the shelf parts for the 2015 bikes.

I love my 2014 bike and the 12 months I've enjoyed riding it but the 2015 Showa suspension is a huge improvement in so many ways!

[rayivers]

I'm planning on lowering my 'MX' rear end this winter.  I'll be modifying the swingarm instead of the shock.  This will involve redrilling the bottom shock mounts 8mm lower & cutting away some of the cross tube for eye clearance, welding on thick aluminum washers each side of the mounts & filling in the old hole areas with weld bead, then drilling/grinding everything flat and straight.  My wheel/shock ratio is 3:1, so this should give me 24mm of lowering without losing any travel (tire clearance is @ 12" right now, travel about 9"). I'm looking for a slightly lower CG, less anti-squat force, and more fork rake for less front-end nervousness (most of which is probably caused by the fork itself).

Ray

[Cortezdtv]

Why don't you try bolting a xu shock on the rear first?

[rayivers]

Why don't you try bolting a xu shock on the rear first?

Two reasons:

1) The Fox shock I paid $700 for is working just about perfect, and

2) I don't have an XU shock, and surely never will.

Ray

[Straightedg4lif]

I was told that one place has successfully lowered a few Zero bikes, Hollywood Electrics of course. I was also told that my dealership might not be able to lower it since it requires a bit of knowledge that if they haven't lowered one before might be a little difficult for them to do. I also would hate for my bike to be a test case. Basically what I would like to know is if anyone has ordered their bike and had it shipped to them from out of state? I live in PA and would have to have the bike shipped directly to my house from California, after buying it from Hollywood Electrics. I just would hate to do that when I have two dealerships that are close to me that sell the Zero. More for the reason when I need any service done to it, (hopefully not much) I would feel weird bringing a bike in that I didn't buy from them. Is it weird for me to think like that? Should I just buy from the one place that has lowered the Zero and not worry about taking it to my dealership when service is needed? I appreciate all feedback!

[Manzanita]

I was told that one place has successfully lowered a few Zero bikes, Hollywood Electrics of course. I was also told that my dealership might not be able to lower it since it requires a bit of knowledge that if they haven't lowered one before might be a little difficult for them to do. I also would hate for my bike to be a test case. Basically what I would like to know is if anyone has ordered their bike and had it shipped to them from out of state? I live in PA and would have to have the bike shipped directly to my house from California, after buying it from Hollywood Electrics. I just would hate to do that when I have two dealerships that are close to me that sell the Zero. More for the reason when I need any service done to it, (hopefully not much) I would feel weird bringing a bike in that I didn't buy from them. Is it weird for me to think like that? Should I just buy from the one place that has lowered the Zero and not worry about taking it to my dealership when service is needed? I appreciate all feedback!

Are you saying you'd order the bike from Hollywood Electric just to get it custom lowered? Just my opinion, but it seems like overkill. This is not rocket science. I just reduced the preload on my rear shock to zero (using a screwdriver and mallet) and it significantly lowered the seat height (~2" maybe?). My 5'0" girlfriend sat on my 2014 Zero S yesterday after I lowered it and although she was on the balls of her feet, she was not straining in any way and it certainly seemed that should could ride it as-is with no problems. I also have a 140/60-17 tire on it now, and that alone lowers the bike about 0.8" versus a 150/70 tire. But for example in your case, if you're 5'3", these two mods alone, or with lowering the front slightly, may be all you'll need to be flat-footed.

As mentioned above, a motorcycle suspension shop can lower the rear shock by trimming the internal spacer, and these shops will do it via mail order (you can have your local dealer remove the shock and send it out to be modified). The issue is that the 2013, 2014, and 2015 rear shocks are different, and so unless someone has experience with that particular model, it is hard to say for sure what is possible. But for suspension shops, these kind of mods are standard, it's nothing that hollywood electric has some particular expertise in. Shock internals will be the same regardless of bike brand.

Lowering the front by lowering the triple-trees is dead simple, any shop anywhere could do it. You should just learn to do it yourself, two allen wrenches is all you need. Do it gradually, 1cm at a time, and test ride it to be sure it doesn't introduce any stability issues.

Things like moving the suspension mount point is certainly work you'd want done by a motorcycle suspension specialist, but it could be that a local motorcycle shop that does customizations has 10x more experience than hollywood electric at dealing with this issue. Are there any PA-specific motorcycle forums that might have more info on local shops that can be trusted to do suspension work?

Hope that help, Alan

[Straightedg4lif]

Are you saying you'd order the bike from Hollywood Electric just to get it custom lowered? Just my opinion, but it seems like overkill. This is not rocket science. I just reduced the preload on my rear shock to zero (using a screwdriver and mallet) and it significantly lowered the seat height (~2" maybe?). My 5'0" girlfriend sat on my 2014 Zero S yesterday after I lowered it and although she was on the balls of her feet, she was not straining in any way and it certainly seemed that should could ride it as-is with no problems. I also have a 140/60-17 tire on it now, and that alone lowers the bike about 0.8" versus a 150/70 tire. But for example in your case, if you're 5'3", these two mods alone, or with lowering the front slightly, may be all you'll need to be flat-footed.

As mentioned above, a motorcycle suspension shop can lower the rear shock by trimming the internal spacer, and these shops will do it via mail order (you can have your local dealer remove the shock and send it out to be modified). The issue is that the 2013, 2014, and 2015 rear shocks are different, and so unless someone has experience with that particular model, it is hard to say for sure what is possible. But for suspension shops, these kind of mods are standard, it's nothing that hollywood electric has some particular expertise in. Shock internals will be the same regardless of bike brand.

Lowering the front by lowering the triple-trees is dead simple, any shop anywhere could do it. You should just learn to do it yourself, two allen wrenches is all you need. Do it gradually, 1cm at a time, and test ride it to be sure it doesn't introduce any stability issues.

Things like moving the suspension mount point is certainly work you'd want done by a motorcycle suspension specialist, but it could be that a local motorcycle shop that does customizations has 10x more experience than hollywood electric at dealing with this issue. Are there any PA-specific motorcycle forums that might have more info on local shops that can be trusted to do suspension work?

Hope that help, Alan

I appreciate your input. I thought that it was unnecessary to get the bike from Hollywood Electric but the person I talked to at the factory made it seem like they were the go to guys to have it lowered. When I start to shop around for my 2016 I will make sure that the place I chose feels comfortable doing it and knows what they are doing. I wanted to be able to shop around for the best price anyway and having the 2 dealerships near me is a bonus. If I have to go to an independent shop to have it lowered, I think that would make more sense than having it shipped to me. I want to have a relationship with my dealer and I think buying from them will make my relationship better than if I buy from out of state. Thanks for your reply!

[trikester]

I posted earlier in this thread that I lowered my 2013 FX by having a shock rebuilding shop put a 3/4" nylon spacer inside the shock. It cost me $100 to have that done. With the approx 2x multiplication of distance this lowered the rear axle by about 1 1/2". I lowered the front by 1" sliding the shock tubes up in the clamp.

Trikester

[Straightedg4lif]

I posted earlier in this thread that I lowered my 2013 FX by having a shock rebuilding shop put a 3/4" nylon spacer inside the shock. It cost me $100 to have that done. With the approx 2x multiplication of distance this lowered the rear axle by about 1 1/2". I lowered the front by 1" sliding the shock tubes up in the clamp.

Trikester

Thanks Trikester,

I will definitely have to look into all of the options that are available to me. I think that I might need a whole different shock since I would probably need it to be a little lower than the 1 1/2" that you achieved. The cost of $100, does that include the price of the spacer? I know a new shock and having it installed will run me a pretty penny, but will do it if it gets me where I need the bike to be. Although if it only adds about another 1/2" off and the price is way more, I will opt for the spacer!

[trikester]

I can'r remember if the spacer was included, he may have charged me separately for that, since he had to make it. He also stressed the importance of not using a metal spacer. He used nylon and my being familiar with the durability of that material, I agreed.

This shop does work for a friend of mine so I think he gave me a deal. Obviously, different shops would have their own pricing. My price was based on my handing him the shock.

Trikester

[Straightedg4lif]

I can'r remember if the spacer was included, he may have charged me separately for that, since he had to make it. He also stressed the importance of not using a metal spacer. He used nylon and my being familiar with the durability of that material, I agreed.

Trikester

What is the importance of not using a metal spacer? I would like to know in case they say that they would use metal. I can then know why that is not a good idea.

Thanks!

[Manzanita]

Also, just a thought: it seems reducing the preload on the rear shock to minimum should not be an extra charge when you buy a new bike, it should be included as normal setup for that rider. It will depend on where the factory has set the preload, but it could lower the bike by 1" or more.

[trikester]

What is the importance of not using a metal spacer? I would like to know in case they say that they would use metal. I can then know why that is not a good idea.

Metal will get hammered each time the shock tops out and it will deform. The nylon is resilient and can take the pounding.

Trikester