Riding High

[Billmc]

I am really curious as to the "normal" height from ground to seat of an '87 R65. I'm asking because after I replaced the rear original but broken monoshock with a Progressive I seem to be sitting a higher both at the seat and in the gap between the top of the tire and the edge of the lower fender. The bike looks like an enduro with this large gap! Does anyone have any experience with the Progressive shock?

[Bob_Roller]

You could try adjusting the spring preload .

I thought at first this was going to be about riding in Colorado, it's turned into the ' high country ' !!!!

[Matt Chapter]

Same side, a little bit further away.  Mansfield dam in the background.  Also consider in this photo I have the luggage mounts.

[Billmc]

Same side, a little bit further away.  Mansfield dam in the background.  Also consider in this photo I have the luggage mounts.

Sorry Matt your photo didn't show...I'm not a member of Flickr.

[Bob_Roller]

They took a while to download for me .

[montmil]

Just an observation regarding your bike's rocker covers. The covers are "handed" for left and right with some even having an L and an R cast near the spark plug recess. The ribs should be parallel to the ground. When the opportunity presents itself, swap your covers side to side and you'll then be "on the level".

[Billmc]

Just an observation regarding your bike's rocker covers. The covers are "handed" for left and right with some even having an L and an R cast near the spark plug recess. The ribs should be parallel to the ground. When the opportunity presents itself, swap your covers side to side and you'll then be "on the level".

Really, ok! That's the way they came and when I took them off to clean I put them back on the same side. I'll look for that little mark you mentioned.
While contemplating the height issue I took the time to view many pictures of other r65s and find that I may have the correct stance after all, based on what I've found.
 It could be that the old monoshock was so worn out that it had collapsed giving me a false sense of what was correct.

[Billmc]

Ok after careful and repeated measuring, researching, looking ,studying riding, testing and thinking I have stopped wasting time over it and am just going to accept it as correct and enjoy. It sits a little taller than I would like for my short legs but the pre-load is right on the money and it handles beautifully. I am going to modify that old hardened up brick of a seat with some fresh foam for my butt, (hopefully the old vinyl cover will withstand the change) so that might lower me into it a 1/2" or so, but other than that I'm good!

As far as the rocker covers go, I could find no markings on them but even after swapping them over there was no difference, they are still not parallel to the ground.  

[nhmaf]

If I remember correctly, my 88 monolever R100RT had some clearance showing above the rear tire also - maybe not quite as much as yours does, but DEFINITELY more than your first picture shows.

Seems odd about the valve covers - inside they usually say "Links" and "Recht", or at least L and R on the inside of them.