To much sag with dirtbike carrier?

[19963.4lsr5]

My 500 is setup for trail riding here in central PA. Lots of rocks. I can go over a 8” log at speed and not get off my seat. However, that also means getting 3 foot of air all but bottoms out my suspension.


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[shadow247]

Here is my setup.

99 Tall Springs with 1.5 Daystar Spacer and Airlift 1000 bags in the rear aired up to 50psi. You wouldn't even know the bike was hanging off the back even on rough bumpy roads.

 

[Boognish_Forever]

I just installed the Firestone Airbags, bought them for $80 shipped. Did the whole thing myself and only removed the spare tire and passenger side rear wheel. I recommend the Milwaukee long glad knife (for insulation cutting) from Home Depot. Made removing the rubber bump stops super easy.

All in all did the job by myself in under 3hrs. Very happy with the results, my camper sits perfectly level with 30psi in each. I have an electric air compressor that I plug into the rear plug and they’re inflated in less than 10 seconds! Highly recommend these airbags.


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https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-6-in-Smooth-Blade-Insulation-Knife-48-22-1921/205935391

Is this the knife you are talking about? I see the last rubber puck is hard to get with a sawzall and would like to get the right tool as you recommend.



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[thegipper]

You might consider OME 2906 rear springs. They’ll likely give you a 1 inch boost in the rear but they’ll carry the load better than OEM 99 springs. You shouldn’t need airbags with the 2906’s, they are heavy enough on their own. The price per pair isn’t bad either.

This is what I was going to suggest. The 906 springs from OME are great for towing or situations like yours. You'll get a small lift (maybe an inch higher than the 99 talls) but it will handle the weight much better.

I have probably 300lbs of crap in my cargo area and even when I tow my boat, it doesn't sag and rides very nice.

The only downside is they are relatively "stiff" when you don't have any weight on them but it's not terrible.

 

[Boognish_Forever]

This is what I was going to suggest. The 906 springs from OME are great for towing or situations like yours. You'll get a small lift (maybe an inch higher than the 99 talls) but it will handle the weight much better.

I have probably 300lbs of crap in my cargo area and even when I tow my boat, it doesn't sag and rides very nice.

The only downside is they are relatively "stiff" when you don't have any weight on them but it's not terrible.

I’d like to avoid the stiff ride. As of right now, I’ll only be carrying this bike about 4 times a year for long distance trips. If the airbags don’t work out, changing the springs is my next route.

 

[shadow247]

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Milwaukee-6-in-Smooth-Blade-Insulation-Knife-48-22-1921/205935391

Is this the knife you are talking about? I see the last rubber puck is hard to get with a sawzall and would like to get the right tool as you recommend.



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You can use a SheetRock knife to cut it. You could also use a hacksaw blade.

 

[Boognish_Forever]

So I just installed the Firestone airbags yesterday and notice the driver side is lower (sitting at 36”). I check the pressure and it’s holding air on both sides since yesterday. So I pumped the driver side up to 20psi and brought the passenger side (sitting at 37”) all the way down to 5 psi and it’s still an inch higher on the passenger side.

When I was cutting the rubber bump stops with the springs still on the vehicle, I was left with about a 1/8” of rubber on the last stop as I couldn’t get the rest off. The passenger side I was left with about 1/16”. That being the case I would think the driver side would be higher then.

Not sure what to do at this point.

 

[3bears]

So I just installed the Firestone airbags yesterday and notice the driver side is lower (sitting at 36”). I check the pressure and it’s holding air on both sides since yesterday. So I pumped the driver side up to 20psi and brought the passenger side (sitting at 37”) all the way down to 5 psi and it’s still an inch higher on the passenger side.

When I was cutting the rubber bump stops with the springs still on the vehicle, I was left with about a 1/8” of rubber on the last stop as I couldn’t get the rest off. The passenger side I was left with about 1/16”. That being the case I would think the driver side would be higher then.

Not sure what to do at this point.

Did you remove the springs to install bags. maybe one is not sitting correctly on the perch

 

[Boognish_Forever]

Did you remove the springs to install bags. maybe one is not sitting correctly on the perch

I did not remove the springs, I squeezed them in there. I think you might be right. Should I deflate the passenger side and readjust it? Here’s some pictures of the driver and passenger side. The passenger side is not level.

Btw that’s fluid film on the welds of the rear end, not on the springs or perch. I sanded and painted the perch and the rusted spots on the springs.

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[Mabuz]

Interested in seeing what the cause is. I have a 5th Gen and am thinking about trying these out for towing my utility trailer to help with some rear-end sag.

 

[shadow247]

I did not remove the springs, I squeezed them in there. I think you might be right. Should I deflate the passenger side and readjust it? Here’s some pictures of the driver and passenger side. The passenger side is not level.

Btw that’s fluid film on the welds of the rear end, not on the springs or perch. I sanded and painted the perch and the rusted spots on the springs.

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The airbag should not affect ride height that much. 3rd Gens naturally sit lower on the driver side, many people use a Trim Packer on the driver side when lifting to get it level from side to side. My 99 has a little lean to the drivers side. I would double check the upper rubber piece is seated correctly on the Passenger side. The only thing I can see is that the upper bumpstop could be shifted in the bucket and causing the right side to be higher.

 

[Boognish_Forever]

Interested in seeing what the cause is. I have a 5th Gen and am thinking about trying these out for towing my utility trailer to help with some rear-end sag.

So far they are working out well. I just got back from a 5 day trip with my bike on the back and rode some pretty rough terrain at times. I’d say the total amount of weight including my bike and gear was about 650lbs in the rear. My bike weights 300 to 325 and the carrier weights 65lbs.

But be aware with the Firestone Airbags. Two days after I installed them, the driver side lost air. After spraying everything with soapy water it ended up being the tiny needle valve (I tried tightening it and it still leaked) leaking inside the schrader. I was surprised being a new valve it leaked, but also was relieved being an easy fix. I ended stealing one out of my bicycle and it’s held air since.

 

[dawudih]

Here is my setup.

99 Tall Springs with 1.5 Daystar Spacer and Airlift 1000 bags in the rear aired up to 50psi. You wouldn't even know the bike was hanging off the back even on rough bumpy roads.

So do the air bags in the rear just lift the rear end or do they also push the front down? I get flashed constantly at night with a bike on the rear.

 

[Bad Luck]

So do the air bags in the rear just lift the rear end or do they also push the front down? I get flashed constantly at night with a bike on the rear.

Any change in rear height will change your headlight aiming. If you raise the rear then your headlights will point lower. If you lower the front then your headlights will point lower. The opposite is true as well which is why lowering the rear due to extra weight causes your headlights to point higher into oncoming drivers.

 

[19963.4lsr5]

Ha! Maybe a 250 two stroke for the tight trails. I won’t be selling this bike anytime soon. Yup, it’s a 2000 XR650R fully street legal. I use to own a 650L for a while as well and was a great bike, but I wanted something faster and lighter. I searched for years trying to find a R that was in good shape and street legal in Oregon. The only thing I don’t like is kick starting this pig when I dump it on a hill climb.

My 95 CR500 with a Baja Designs street legal kit would be the shit. I’d probably loose my license.


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[dawudih]

Any change in rear height will change your headlight aiming. If you raise the rear then your headlights will point lower. If you lower the front then your headlights will point lower. The opposite is true as well which is why lowering the rear due to extra weight causes your headlights to point higher into oncoming drivers.

I guess my question is does raising the rear end from sagging with airbags just raise the rear and not affect the nose, or does it push the front down at the same time?

 

[phattyduck]

I guess my question is does raising the rear end from sagging with airbags just raise the rear and not affect the nose, or does it push the front down at the same time?

With weight cantelivered out the back, the front will stay higher. Headlight aim will still be improved if you lift the rear back up. Overall handling will still be affected, though less so than without something to help carry the weight.

The only way to push the front back down is with a trailer and a weight distribution hitch...

-Charlie