Lowering bikes - Page 2

I just took my regular Dianese mc boots to a local cobbler and he added about an inch (some on the inside, some on the outside). Just walking around the house in them is fun - I can reach things!
-Susan
CBR600F4i

There ya go, that's one way to do it.

Oh yeah, and I also took the seat to an upholsterer and had them cut it down quite a bit, and in on the sides.

I did the seat on my old Seca 2 myself with a bread knife, it was a little lumpy but worked fine - figured my CBR rated a professional job tho!
-Susan

quote:

ORIGINAL: The Ant

I just took my regular Dianese mc boots to a local cobbler and he added about an inch (some on the inside, some on the outside). Just walking around the house in them is fun - I can reach things!
-Susan
CBR600F4i

LMAO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: pitsvtec

Well I shy away from lowering the bike b/c it throws off the bikes handling. I'm only 5'2" and it's hard to believe that your 5 inches taller than me and have a problem. Sorry if that is outright, but it's true...LOL... To correct this problem I purchased taller boots. It's cheaper and if you ever want to sell the bike, it won't be an issue. The boots I now have are called Rocket Dog Draglines. They cover your ankle and add 2.75 inches to your height. Although, I can't fullly touch, they helped me a great deal . It's not a problem it you fully can't touch. At stops, I end up leaning the bike on one leg and when having to move it, I'm off the bike doing so. Be more confident in yourself and you'll be able to handle the bike just fine. Hope that helps you. Let me know.

I agree absolutely. Don't, don't, don't lower your bike. The nifty lil engineers who designed it did so with a method to their madness. It's designed to handle optimally at the height it's at. I'm 5'8" and can flat foot (or damned near) on most bikes, and definitely in proper boots. At 5'7", there should be very few bikes you can't get good ground contact on.

If you HAVE to, look into shaving the seat... it's easy to do (PM me and I'll give you some links to other forums where ladies have done this).

my F4i is 1 inch down
links at the back

just the ground clearance is affected
you have more confidence when you can flat foot both feet than not.

shh im not suppose to be posting in here

This helped me a great deal with how my bike handles and they also can adjust your spring so your not sitting higher in the back if you don't have the weight down, but you would need to find a place near you that does it.

http://www.cbrforum.com/m_71596/tm.htm

quote:

ORIGINAL: shraz
just the ground clearance is affected

Sooooo untrue. HANDLING is affected greatly, which in turn affects safety.

'nuff said.

I'm 5'4 and can touch fine on my 600 but my old 1990 ex500 was so top heavy i found that in order to get better traction and touch i got the corbin seat and that alone dropped me 2 inches inthe seat! whatever your comfortable with is fine and if your unsure then looking at the seat to shave or picking up a lower one is probably your best bet. because dropping yourself in the seat more is always a good thing wether your pulling it up or just relaxing......

I'm 5'6". I am "almost" flat footed, but not quite, so I tend to slightly lean and put my left foot down when i stop. I am lucky to be long legged/shorter torso. I have a friend that put the dog bone on her 05' CBR600 and hasn't had any trouble at all.

I am 5ft. 3# and have to have a lowering kit put on it.

I'm just 5' maybe..... and just upgraded from a cruiser from which I could definately touch, to a 02' CBR F4i at which I couldn't touch until I had it lowered. Unfortunely it could only go down 1 or 3 inchs. 3 inchs is way to much, because then your risking damage to your bike when you go over any bumps,dips in the road and even going around turns. So now it's only lowered 1 inch and I can barely touch but can manage. Lowering your bike is not good, but when you're vertically challenged like myself, theres really no way around it. I even tried some of my high heel boots and that didn't work. Bottom line is, you really got to go with what feels comfortable to you.

Slamming your bike won't affect handling unless you only drop the ass end. When you only drop the ass end it extends the rake of the forks making it more chopper-like. Just make sure that when you drop it you drop the front end as well and have the front slightly lower than the back for improved handling. If you're carving corners and dragging your exhaust/rear sets, chances are that you're not even on the bike anymore. If you're ballsy or ovary enough to get it that low in a corner you need to start charging admission for people to watch you ride. As for clearance issues with the belly, just take it easy on speed-bumps and driveways and for god sakes don't hit any animals in the road. The answer is yes ladies, drop your bike so you feel comfortable on it otherwise you'll hate stop lights....

I rode an F4i that was dropped 3 inches....handling SUCKED! Overall performance....BAD! But that was just my intake...

If you're ever over here in Oregon - you can ride mine, handles like a dream.

There's so much that can affect the ride - perhaps the one you rode wasn't lowered properly, or even the compression/rebound settings weren't adjusted right. Wheels, tires, steering head bearings could be loose or too tight, sag could be way off.

I've had my dirt bike professionally lowered as well, believe me, life on a motorcycle is waaaay easier if you can touch the ground solidly. I know some gals manage, slide practically off when they come to a stop, all that, but why make things more difficult.

Spend some time, energy, $$ to getting your bike set up properly for your height and weight - effort well spent.

-Susan
'04CBR600F4i - lowered and I love it!

quote:

ORIGINAL: ladybug600

I'm 5'4 and can touch fine on my 600 but my old 1990 ex500 was so top heavy i found that in order to get better traction and touch i got the corbin seat and that alone dropped me 2 inches inthe seat! whatever your comfortable with is fine and if your unsure then looking at the seat to shave or picking up a lower one is probably your best bet. because dropping yourself in the seat more is always a good thing wether your pulling it up or just relaxing......

What year/make 600 can you flat foot? I'm 5'4 also and would like to touch the ground with both feet. Can you post a picture with you on your bike with feet touching the ground. Thanks a million..Got it suxs to be short on a street bike

I'm 5'3", posted this picture on an older post. Sorry I don't have a new one yet!

-Susan
'04CBR600F4i


Thumbnail Image

If you click on the attachment doohicky at the bottom (on my previous post), the photo will get bigger. You can just make out my right foot on the other side of the bike, heels don't quite touch, but good solid balls of my feet. Both feet touch the same.
-Susan
600F4i

I am 5'3" and ride with River Road Field boots ( http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/item.aspx?style=10129&department=125&Division=1 ) that give me about 2" more. My F4i has been lowered (both front and back) using the 1" dog bones. It is very stable and handles well, however I do have to use caution and go slowly over street humps, RR xings, large dips, etc. IMO giving up a little clearance is well worth the stability I get in retrun by being able to touch the ground firmly with both feet. Touching at a stoplight with the toes is ok, but you have no leverage to push the bike back up if it tilts a little too much in a slow speed turn-around or such. Backing up (especially if there is ANY type of incline) is impossible for me without being able to plant both feet firmly on the ground. I know my views do not go along with most I have read here, but it works great for me.

Yep, I agree! Being able to touch firmly means you don't have to ask strangers for help if you get in a spot you'd otherwise not be able to turn around, gravel parking lots are no big deal, putting your toe down on a little rock or leaf or anything slippery doesn't mean you're headed for the ground.

The gain in confidence is priceless.

-Susan
'04F4i

do the draglines feel super heavy on your feet they look it? does the wedge make shifting difficult?

The decision will be yours....there are too many mixed opinions here....you may want to see what it is like by riding a friends' bike. But if you install them, you can always take them out.

ok time for a laugh at my expence,
i baught a kawasaki gt 550 and i could not reach the floor now if any of you girls have sat on one of these machines they are the equivelent of a tank on 2 wheels
sooooooooooooooooo i decided i had had enough i took of the seat took off the leather got a bread knife and hacked away three inches (plus) of foam, recovered it with my old leather trousers complete with zip pocket and road 30k miles on it before i baught a king and queen seat for it lol
the guys used to say it was a ladies bike as it would kill a bloke to ride it being too close to the tank!!!!!!!!!
i now have both the gt and a cbr, not a problem and i am only 5'4 !!
happy riding