Rear Ride Height -- Hooped Framed Monsters

[Blue]

Hey Blue

Hows that bike handling?

Well, I haven't had time to remove the spacers as of yet. 

Last weekend I took my Monster to a performance riding school (ZARS) which consisted of a closed course track made up of 17 turns with elevation changes (track layout here). 

What can I say...FUN, FUN, FUN!!! [moto]

Throughout the day, I did not have one issue or concern arise from the rear being raised.  No headshake or instability problems.  There were plenty of slow speed corners followed by hard acceleration.  The bike performed wonderfully. 
I am still considering removing the spacers and trying the bike out with ~15mm or half the increase to see if I like it that way.  In keeping the spacers, I do need to source a longer side stand (and a damper, most likely).  I really would like to purchase neither of these if possible.
I will be attending the school again at the end of July, so I have a month to figure things out.

On another note, what is the first thing to touch down on a hooped frame Monster (left and right)?  Looks like side stand on the left and the exhaust can on the right?

[koko64]

Way to go Blue.

Sounds like it's stable enough despite the big ride height increase. It seems you have good feel in the front end that's confidence inspiring and not all Monster riders could say that.

I remember 'machining' the pegs, gear lever, brake lever and slip-ons, and wrecking a pair of boots at Phillip Island in 1996 on a 1995 M900! It had the stock ride height. Gear lever touched knocking it into neutral entering turn two (Southern Loop) .
Needed a change of leathers!

[ducpainter]

<snip>

On another note, what is the first thing to touch down on a hooped frame Monster (left and right)?  Looks like side stand on the left and the exhaust can on the right?

My experience was that with raised ride height the only thing that touched was my toes and the pegs.

I have a sidestand with out the nub

[greenmonster]

In keeping the spacers, I do need to source a longer side stand

W my settings, I`m quite happy w making the stand 15mm longer.

[COP TZR]

I finally got my bike back together and on the road.  My first ride was pretty impressive (slower speeds).  My 2nd ride out I rolled on the throttle much more bringing the bike around 180km/hr.  I found that once I got up to that speed and above, it felt like my bars wanted to wobble or so called "head shake".  I do have the risers in the rear hoop, and I also have the front end of the bike lowered to allow the installation of my clip ons above the triple tree.    I didnt want to ride any faster in fear that I would have gotten myself into a nasty tank slapper.  I do also have a "70" series front tire (stock is "60").  Does that have anything to do with it, or is it just the geometry of the bike now?

Looks like I may need a steering dampner at this point.

[Blue]

Well, I had a month between my track days with the intention of removing the spacers and trying various lengths of the heim joints.  It turned out that this was one of the busiest months of the year for me, so I did not have time to remove the spacers or or try various ride heights. 
I haven't had a wobble from the front since I started this post.  I have been on the street and the track for hundreds of miles without a single issue. 
I am pleased to report that the second track day was a success.  It came with increased confidence and absolutely no handling issues with the increase in rear ride height.  I must say, I really like the quickness of the steering and the feeling from the front tire. 
This bike is fun, fun, fun!
The front tire:

[Blue]

I thought I would take a minute to update this thread.
I still have the spacers installed and I am going to be leaving them in place and getting a longer side stand.  The improvement in handling is fantastic over the stock set up for the rear ride height in my experience.  I was able to get rid of all head shake by having one less click the compression damping (there are 25 clicks of adjustment).  I know, you may not believe that one click could cause such a difference, but it can!  I couldn't believe it either as it seems to good to be true, but after another thousand miles, I have not experienced any head shake, on the track or on the road.  Life on the Monster is the best it has ever been to date; I am just a side stand away from done with this mod.
Happy riding! [moto]

[koko64]

Great to hear.
Sounds like you achieved a nice balance between stabilty and agility.

Cheers.