View Full Version : lowering bikes?
ChantelleT
06-08-06, 10:06 PM
Paid a visit to fowlers today and had a good look at a CBF500. But at 5ft 2 i'm on my tip toes (or hopping from foot to foot :-[) Anybody know the best way to go about getting the bike lowered??
Paid a visit to fowlers today and had a good look at a CBF500. But at 5ft 2 i'm on my tip toes (or hopping from foot to foot :-[) Anybody know the best way to go about getting the bike lowered??
Oldie mod.. is to have the seat foam reduced in thickness, loose a few inches ..trade off maybe a little comfort. Worth having it done Professionally for a few quid. 8-)
GixerBoy
06-08-06, 10:34 PM
There are lowering kits out there Chanters but they aint cheap! :o :'(
ChantelleT
06-08-06, 10:36 PM
its so expensive to be short :'( If i just took some foam out the seat how much do you reckon i could lower it by?
blurbiker247
06-08-06, 10:40 PM
How about some of Gary (lock up yer children) glitters old platform golden glittery boots :)
Yes, they just remove the cover shave out a acurate layer of foam and refit cover. dead easy..could diy if you felt confident about it.
ChantelleT
06-08-06, 10:43 PM
How about some of Gary (lock up yer children) glitters old platform golden glittery boots :)
Thanks but those boots would clash with my NEW jacket!
blurbiker247
06-08-06, 10:46 PM
Mmmmmm how about a session on the rack,........were thinkin outside the box here ;)
ChantelleT
06-08-06, 11:01 PM
...Were thinking outside the box here hmm thats abit techie??? Have heard about knee transplants which can give you a few extra inches!! Or i could pay less for a lowering kit ::)
evilkeneval
06-08-06, 11:10 PM
would a smaller bike not be the easiest option? ;)
ChantelleT
06-08-06, 11:13 PM
there is that option... but unless i go down to a 250cc (baring in mind im doing my DAS on a 500cc) There isnt many bike that cater for us "little people"
evilkeneval
06-08-06, 11:30 PM
do no other manufacturs make the same class of bike slightly smaller?
ChantelleT
06-08-06, 11:37 PM
none that ive found.. i want sports commuter and the CBF was rated highly. sat on quite a few today but im so little :(
evilkeneval
06-08-06, 11:38 PM
do suzuki still make the bandit 400?
ChantelleT
06-08-06, 11:40 PM
tried it!! not only did my feet not touch the floor but didnt feel comfortable leaning over the tank (little arms with little legs) Kawa ER5 was nice but sooo old!
GixerBoy
06-08-06, 11:40 PM
do suzuki still make the bandit 400?
Don't think so...How about a SV650??
evilkeneval
06-08-06, 11:41 PM
old? thought they were still miking them
ChantelleT
06-08-06, 11:41 PM
yea tried that too. they had a nice blue one at fowlers today but it was huuuge on me
ChantelleT
06-08-06, 11:42 PM
i sat on a new Kawa at BMF this year but it was bigger than the older ER5
evilkeneval
06-08-06, 11:44 PM
you should complian to the bike companies and request they make a bike taylord to your needs:)
ChantelleT
06-08-06, 11:46 PM
yea little people power!! what about our rights ;D they would prob give me a electric granny cart
evilkeneval
06-08-06, 11:49 PM
have you considerd that option? :P
you tried a sv650?
cheap as chips to buy
GixerBoy
07-08-06, 12:36 AM
you tried a sv650?
cheap as chips to buy
Do you actually read ALL of the threads that you post on NinjaBrat.........Sheesh! :o :D ;)
Ps. Dum ass! :-*
mental note to self: start reading all the posts
another mental note to self: start getting worried cos Edmonds is blowing me kisses
GixerBoy
07-08-06, 12:46 AM
And I thought we were 'good' friends BratBoy?? :o ;D :D ;)
And I thought we were 'good' friends BratBoy?? :o ;D :D ;)
:o
not that 'good' Barrymore
GixerBoy
07-08-06, 01:01 AM
You lie closet boy!! :o :D ;)
RVFBabe
07-08-06, 08:22 AM
This company do lowering:-
http://drshull.co.uk/
Found it on another bike forum for girlies, there's loads of us shorties out there :D
That's why I ride the RVF400
ChantelleT
07-08-06, 08:52 AM
Brill website RVfbabe Been on it most the morning (must get out more) How tall are you if you dont mind me asking?
Scott_W
07-08-06, 08:53 AM
RVFBabe is 5ft 3! :)
blurbiker247
07-08-06, 09:18 AM
RVFBabe is 5ft 3! :)
and beautifully formed ;)
Scott_W
07-08-06, 09:32 AM
:D
RVFBabe
07-08-06, 11:13 AM
Blue you've made me blush!!! :-[
:D
desmojen
07-08-06, 11:51 AM
Stop trying on boring heavy and dull commuter bikes! ;D
Have you sat on a new GSXR600 perchance? or a Z1000? Even the R6? If you insist on a non sports bike what about the new Kawasaki ER600 or whatever it's called.
All of these bikes are tiny. I am only 5'4" and I can sit flat foot in my leathers on a GSXR600, and it's really light to boot, unlike a CBF Honda. I'd go as far as to say, the new GSXR600 is smaller and easier to handle than an NC30 or NC35!
Go on, try one!
Jen.
RVFBabe
07-08-06, 11:57 AM
Must admit I sat on the GSXR600 and fitted it perfectly.
Unfortunately I have no money to buy one so will be sticking with the RVF :)
evilkeneval
07-08-06, 01:02 PM
Problem with getting a sports bike is the big diferance in insurance prices
From past experience work out what seat height you need, and find a bike to suit. Proper lowering kits are very expensive, and there is always the change of balance/handling to think of especially with cheaper options. Rod
ChantelleT
08-08-06, 11:07 AM
I need the bike for commuting really and as the old man is selling his bike to get 2 more I dont have a huge say in it all :(
Also it will be my first proper bike (after passing full licence) so insurance would be a stinger on a GSXR. Need summit cheap and cheerful to get some no claims.
At this rate i will just have to put some stabilisers on, then i wont have to worry bout putting my feet down :-[
evilkeneval
08-08-06, 12:25 PM
It's looking like the seat foam options the best to go for till you find a bike perfectly suited to you. the cbf500 has got quite a chunkey seat hasn't it??
ChantelleT
08-08-06, 12:32 PM
yeah, either take some foam out or go down to the CBF250 :'( Does anyone know whether there is a choice on what size bike you can do your DAS on?
evilkeneval
08-08-06, 12:42 PM
do none of the instrutors have a bike small enough for you?
I got the sub frame taken off my GSX1100 and one off a different bike (firestorm) put on to lower it, to make a more streetfighter style of bike which i quite like, hence it wouldn't be prudent to do it on a newish bike but if you can find a decent engineer might be worth doing on an older one.
ChantelleT
08-08-06, 02:41 PM
this is my only worry at the moment... all the bikes being to big to do my DAS on. this is why i'm thinking it may be wiser to do it on my own bike. :-/
Can you only do your DAS on a 500cc or can it be smaller? anyone know?
The bike has to be 35 kW (46.6 bhp) to do the DAS on.
I thought most places used the CBF500 or CB500 for the test - It might be worth phoning whoever you are intending to do it with and ask them what bikes they use for the DAS training.
ChantelleT
08-08-06, 02:46 PM
i'm sure they have seen smaller people than me on their bikes. But yeah i think it would be wise to make contact with them first.
Ta guys (and girls)
I wouldn't recommend something too lively for straight after your test, like Z1000 etc. There are firms that do lower shock linkages, didn't follow the link above so this may have already been covered. Have you searched ebay for 'lowered' in the bike section?
Chantelle
Just saw this on fleabay, maybe worth a look, depending on your budget;
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Lowered-Honda-CBR-600FS_W0QQitemZ180014394794QQihZ008QQcategoryZ9806 QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
Hi Chantelle ;D
My father in law has a Pan, and he found it to be a tad too high, so he bought some boots from M&P that just had a slightly rasied platform on the bottom. This did the trick for him, until I went round and said that he could raise and lower the seat, now he has no issue at all DOH!
Also there are seats out on the market that you can get that lower the hight without comprimising the feel, you still get a full padding but it has been lowered to suit you, you might want to give this a go.
ChantelleT
09-08-06, 04:57 PM
Thanks mike.. might make a bid for that!! :)
Found just the bike , chap at work just bought a Beamer K1200RS.
Adjustable lowerable suspension :)
I had a similar problem just recently with my Z750 - I'm 5'6" and my little legs kept slipping around when I was pedaling it around (like when you have to back it into the garage etc).
In the end I ordered a pair of replacement dog-bone links (only 18 quid from ebay) that go between the suspension linkage at the bottom of the shock and the swing arm. They are a bit longer and drop the seat height by 20mm, which doesn't sound like a lot, but make a big difference. They effectively raise the swing arm a bit.
I also dropped the forks through their yokes by 5mm, to compensate for the mod slowing down the steering.
Finally, got my old man, who can weld really well, to cut out a 20mm section of the side-stand and re-weld it with fillets to ensure the strength was kept.
Hardest thing about this job is supporting the bike with none of the weight bearing on the swing arm. To do this, you'll need to use an abba stand or wood blocks and a trolly jack - best to just get the new links fitted at a mechanic's.
Anyways - good luck and don't limit your choices too much just because a bike you love is initially too tall for you. I've wanted a Z for ages and I didn't let my blasted stumpy legs get in the way of it :)
just realised that you posted this a year ago - bugger! lol, ah well - good advice for any stumpies wating to lower their bike :)
FJ_Biker
29-10-07, 02:00 PM
Obzy I done the same on Mrs. FJ’s bandit and it works a treat
Edited to say with the dog leg attachments
Yes, certainly does the job - found that I had to lower the preload a little bit though, to get the shock working just a bit earlier. Must have something to do with leverage physics or something :)
How about letting some air out of the tyres. Only joking
My wife rides a 1981 CM250 but I don't think you have much choice these days. Its either lower the 500 or try something like a CB250. It might not be much lower be will be lighter.
How about a Bonnie or Thruxton with a restrictor kit on it?
Cheers
Kevin
busas are pretty low - I can get my feet flat on them ;)
Amante_271
31-10-07, 08:59 AM
How about a Bonnie or Thruxton with a restrictor kit on it?
PLEASE tell me your joking, right!!
Is that like the restrictors they put in the old 125s (&250s before that) where they welded a washer into the down pipe or fitted a plastic gromit in the carb so the slide wouldnt open fully.
OR do they blank off one spark plug hole to stop it firing???
Believe it or not they do a restrictor kit to bring it down to 33bhp.
I think they take the chain off and put peddles on.
A better idea would be to buy an indian enfield which you could tune up to give you 33bhp
Cheers
Kev
Amante_271
01-11-07, 07:48 AM
Believe it or not they do a restrictor kit to bring it down to 33bhp.
:o :o OMG!!! :o :o
Harley Nightster - cheap as chips for a Harley....looks the biz as well.
crispynoodle
22-05-08, 10:42 PM
Mate of mine who's got an RF900 is 5'2" had all the foam taken out of the seat and had one of those gel pads put in and that did the trick for him
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