Lowering help for a new guy and an '07

[kballowe]

I've searched the forum and read a few posts about lowering. Found a nice set of dogbones and was looking at the front end... wanting to lower the front end the same amount as the back. The idea here is to slide the forks up into the triple trees but it appears that there's not enough room before they'll hit the handlebars. Actually, the adjustment knob on top of the forks would hit the handlebars.

Anyone have a fix for this?

No, I don't want to have my legs stretched, thankyouverymuch.

 

[cougar8000]

Platform shoes?! :yahoo:

 

[kballowe]

Platform shoes?! :yahoo:

Ahhhh - not my color.

Got anything in a basic black?

 

[cougar8000]

:0 Sorry could not resist making that post. You should not need more then an inch on front and I think there is plenty of room, even half an inch on both sides will get you what you need unless you are under 5 feet. in that case can I suggest Wrigley and Barnum :yahoo:

please do not take offense it is all in a good fun.

 

[kballowe]

Naw. 5'9" and I got about a 30" inseam. I can ride it OK but an inch lower would be better. Maybe I just need to get used to it. Don't notice the height until I'm trying to back it up, or if I'm not riding in boots.........

 

[leo]

Naw. 5'9" and I got about a 30" inseam. I can ride it OK but an inch lower would be better. Maybe I just need to get used to it. Don't notice the height until I'm trying to back it up, or if I'm not riding in boots.........

I also thought about lowering it but by the time I looked into the parts needed, got used to it after just a few miles.

Don't over think it. I'm 5'6". I have to back it dismounted. No problem.

L

 

[feejer222]

Naw. 5'9" and I got about a 30" inseam. I can ride it OK but an inch lower would be better. Maybe I just need to get used to it. Don't notice the height until I'm trying to back it up, or if I'm not riding in boots.........

I am 31" inseam and can flat foot comfortably. I have heard of others with this problem and dont understand it. The only bike I had the problem with was my Massey-Ferguson 250, but that had steps and stuff.

 

[MotorSWATCop]

I had my wife's ST1300 lowered for her. The fork will not take much to make a difference. There was not a dogbone for her bike, so I went with a Penske rear shock built for her height. She is 5'4" and has a 28.5" inseam. Traxxion did the work and it cost a total of about $780. Not only does her bike fit now; she has a better suspension than I do. :angry:

 

[otrfjr]

What about a custom seat? You can have them shave material & probably get you an inch lower to the ground. You can even shave some of the foam from your own seat (plenty of info on the board about how to do that)

Good luck.

 

[Knifemaker]

I'm the same size you are..all I did was get a Corbin seat. It got me about 3/4 of an inch lower, but that is all I really needed, I can get both feet on the ground. Backing up is still a bit of work only if I have to back up an incline, but I try to never park in such a way that I'd be stuck on one.

Many do no like the Corbin seat, many like me love them. Another optionis just to have the stock seat cut down a bit, I have done this on many bikes...cheaper than any other option.

KM

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I had my wife's ST1300 lowered for her. The fork will not take much to make a difference. There was not a dogbone for her bike, so I went with a Penske rear shock built for her height. She is 5'4" and has a 28.5" inseam. Traxxion did the work and it cost a total of about $780. Not only does her bike fit now; she has a better suspension than I do. :angry:

I'll file this post away for future use...my wife is on day two of MSF today :yahoo:

 

[krashdragon]

I've searched the forum and read a few posts about lowering. Found a nice set of dogbones and was looking at the front end... wanting to lower the front end the same amount as the back. The idea here is to slide the forks up into the triple trees but it appears that there's not enough room before they'll hit the handlebars. Actually, the adjustment knob on top of the forks would hit the handlebars.
Anyone have a fix for this?

No, I don't want to have my legs stretched, thankyouverymuch.

dont' know how to make a link, but if you look under the Calssified, For Sale...

2005 FJR ABS with STUFF!, too many toys.... (

There's a list of the stuff I did to lower my bike, including shaving the stock seat ( you MUST be careful there, not too much to cut off)

and sliding the forks up about 3/8 of an inch....

It fits me just fine. Only thing with the lowered bike, the tire pressure is a couple pounds lower.....

should work an an 07..., not sure if the Shocks and springs are available yet....

Corbin close seats are a bit lower as well as a bit more forward...

Good luck,

Mary

 

[MotorSWATCop]

I'm the same size you are..all I did was get a Corbin seat. It got me about 3/4 of an inch lower, but that is all I really needed, I can get both feet on the ground. Backing up is still a bit of work only if I have to back up an incline, but I try to never park in such a way that I'd be stuck on one.
Many do no like the Corbin seat, many like me love them. Another optionis just to have the stock seat cut down a bit, I have done this on many bikes...cheaper than any other option.

KM

The Corbin seat was the first thing I did for my wife's bike. It is lower; but, it also wider which causes the legs to be spread further apart(shut up). I had to send the seat back to Corbin for a "nose job" which helped a little. Ideally, you whould do a ride in for the proper seat fitment if you are trying to achieve better contact with the ground.

 

[daddysbike]

Get a Corbin seat. I've had one on 3 different bikes. Just make sure to tell them to do the "nose job" that you want the added width/comfort/support for your butt but don't want to sit higher.

When I picked up my '07 FJR recently there was another with a Corbin seat on it. I was suprised how comfortable the seat was, not hard like it was on all the other bikes I've had. I also noticed that it sat me lower (I'm 5-11) and I didn't really want that.

The stock seat hurt so much after only 1000 miles (bad low back and recent hip surgery) that I just couldn't wait for the Sargent any longer. I was just about willing to concede sitting a little lower to be more comfortable and order the Corbin when I got the notice from Sargent that the seat I pre-registered for was ready so I ordered it and am VERY happy with it.

Get the Corbin, if you don't like it for some reason you can always sell it on this forum.

Steve

 

[TruWrecks]

You can get a shop to mill you risers to go under the handle bars. Or you can get the Heli-bar risers for the 06+. That will give you the clearance to slide the forks up about an inch. Then you would want to get a rear shock to match the drop from the front. If you only lower the front you will get easier steering, but less stability (more wobble prone).

Avoid lowering links like the plague! Those will lower the rear, but it will also change the spring rate during compression. I talked with a suspension expert about this yesterday (He build race bikes for Mike Sullivan Racing). Repeatedly said "Don't do it". He suggested getting a shorter shock to keep the same spring rate.

After having him set my suspension correctly for me, the FJR feels like a real sport bike. I had it out scraping pegs today. It was more firm, and has no dive coming off of the throttle.

 

[dobias]

I've found my lowered seat to be much more comfortable than stock, due to the 3/4 inch gel pad that was laid on top of the seat base.

The front forks should not be raised in the triple tree more than 12mm (1/2 inch) due to the possibility of bottoming out the front end while in a panic stop.

Yes, dogbones do soften up the shock.

I had lowering links with my OEM shock but had to add a 1/4 inch spacer to stiffen it up. A shorter shock is best. My present setup is adjustable.

dobias :glare:

 

[Bounce]

Anyone have a fix for this?

This is still the ultimate solution for all your shortness problems.

No, I don't want to have my legs stretched, thankyouverymuch.

You're no fun at all, areya?

 

[petercwelch]

I am about 5'6" with 29 in inseam. Got the corbin seat which helped a little. However, as I rode it more, got more used to toes down on each side. If you are careful you can ride safely. I am now comforable on it but be careful where you stop, especially do not park front end down where you have to push back. I can't do it. I back in when the curb is lower than the street and have to park diagonally.