Disadvantages of lowering?

[geddyt]

I'm tentatively planning on buying a bike for my girlfriend in a few months after I get my bonus. She seems to like the sportier side of things and when we were at Cycle Barn a few days ago, kept pointing at various 600s that were on sale and saying, "Oooo, that one's pretty."

So I'd have her sit on them and invariably her feet would be dangling. Barely able to tip toe with one foot. That just seems like asking for trouble to me. She will be a new rider, so I'm trying to nudge her more towards an SV anyway and on the SV she can at least barely get both balls of her feet down.

So what's the recommendation? Will lowering a bike have too negative an impact on the handling/clearance? An answer may be, "Will handling/clearance really be an issue with a new rider?" but she's got a lead foot and I could see her even getting on a track down the road some time, so the answer is it may.

Should I maybe just stick to the SV?

How have other riders with shortie legs dealt with this?

*Edit: And speaking of "The Shorties", I'm looking at my avatar here and thinking, "I wonder if this is offensive to anyone..." Just let me know and I'll change it.

[johndr83]

Has you looked at the Ninja 650r? I looked at the specs on line and it said its height was an inch shorter than the SV.

[JayS]

Geddy, you should contact Mark DeGross (EmDee). His wife Taji had a CBR600RR that was lowered quite a bit. I can't remember what Mark did to the bike exactly, besides dropping the triples and changing the shock linkage, but the bike worked very well.

[piper907]

I have a friend that lowered a 2003 R6 for the street and it seemed to ride fine (on the street)... Some bikes want the front dropped on the forks so they handle better! also, the new GSXRs are quite low from the factory. If she needs to have a lowered bike for cruising around town... then lower it. If she decides to start riding on the track then you could always raise it back or have the geometry measured by a pro (Barry @ GP Suspension/KUNG-FU GRRRRIP) and find a happy medium. Get the bike that she wants to ride and go from there.

[Lauralynne]

lowering is totally going to depend on the bike - and how the lowering is done. Simplest solution is to get a bike that's close and then shave the seat and get boots with 1" or so soles in them. Other question is does your girlfriend ride now? ridden before? remember to get her a bike that when she drops it - and she's likely too (not because she's a girl but because of her height) - you won't cry seeing that bike on the ground. She should be able to learn to pick it up herself as well. But that's a whole nother can of worms... :)

[Mr Sunshine]

lowering is totally going to depend on the bike - and how the lowering is done. Simplest solution is to get a bike that's close and then shave the seat and get boots with 1" or so soles in them. Other question is does your girlfriend ride now? ridden before? remember to get her a bike that when she drops it - and she's likely too (not because she's a girl but because of her height) - you won't cry seeing that bike on the ground. She should be able to learn to pick it up herself as well. But that's a whole nother can of worms... :)


I remember a SV650 being sold by a local racer here...


Oh yes here it is....

http://www.sport-touring.net/forums/index.php/topic,1506.0.html

[geddyt]

Yeah, that's another reason I'm leaning towards SV: Way cheaper if it's dropped. And as someone who's dropped my pretty Repsol TWICE while loading into my van :o , I know all about having a bike that's too heavy/tall for you and too expensive to fix when you drop it. I swear, Ron Ayers is gonna just put a big button on their website saying, "Click here if you are Tom and need a 1000RR right rearview mirror."

But, anyway, thanks for the advice guys and gals. I'm going to try going to the 2Fast/GP Suspension setup day at RMC and I'll talk try and talk to Mark about it then.

[tophyr]

Why would your avatar offend anyone?

[geddyt]

Why would your avatar offend anyone?

I don't think it should, but some people might not appreciate the nude chick. Maybe I'm just being overcautious, but I get lectured a lot on being "PC" by my hippie Bellingham friends...

[Mr Sunshine]

Bring it back.

[Lauralynne]

I don't think it should, but some people might not appreciate the nude chick. Maybe I'm just being overcautious, but I get lectured a lot on being "PC" by my hippie Bellingham friends...


aw shit - I missed the naked chick!! Bring her back!!

(for people who are offended, there's a box you can UNcheck in your profile options and then avatars are NOT shown...we reserve the right to mock your PC-ness though Heehee)

[Mr Sunshine]

aw shit - I missed the naked chick!! Bring her back!!

(for people who are offended, there's a box you can UNcheck in your profile options and then avatars are NOT shown...we reserve the right to mock your PC-ness though Heehee)

There we go...the token women on this board (I'm not counting GoMoto) says bring it back.

So bring it back!

[geddyt]

Uh, I never took it down. Maybe I just should have kept my mouth shut...

http://www.bodyscapes.com

[Lauralynne]

Uh, I never took it down. Maybe I just should have kept my mouth shut...


:eek:

(that rocks!)

[steadyeddie]

Another option is to cut the seat down. I took over an inch out of my SV seat and it is fine.

[geddyt]

Thanks for the advice. Yeah, cutting the seat down is an option I hadn't considered. I used to own an SV, though, and the seat was a total plank! How'd you get an inch out of there?

[tophyr]

HOLY CRAP THAT'S AN AWESOME PICTURE, THEN.

It definitely still took me a good minute or so after both seeing the website AND staring at your avatar to realize that that's not a sand dune.

p.s. goddamn hippies.

[Mr Sunshine]

HOLY CRAP THAT'S AN AWESOME PICTURE, THEN.

It definitely still took me a good minute or so after both seeing the website AND staring at your avatar to realize that that's not a sand dune.

p.s. goddamn hippies.


since you said that it took like 5 seconds for me. damn.

[geddyt]

We can only hope that this particular model has moved out of Amish Country and learned how to use trimmers since that photo was taken...

[geddyt]

Hey Laura, I was looking for boots with thick soles for her to make it easier to get the feet down. I found these Joe Rockets here (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/item.aspx?style=9101&department=115&Division=1) (these are men's, but there's a ladies' version as well) and she says they're alright. They have fairly thick soles and a heel. My only question is, I've never ridden in a boot with a heel. Have you? Would that get really annoying catching on the pegs or anything? I'm trying to point her towards more sporty, more protective type gear, but she doesn't want to look like Mega Man, either.

[Lauralynne]

Hey Laura, I was looking for boots with thick soles for her to make it easier to get the feet down. I found these Joe Rockets here (http://www.motorcycle-superstore.com/item.aspx?style=9101&department=115&Division=1) and she says they're alright. They have fairly thick soles and a hell. My only question is, I've never ridden in a boot with a heel. Have you? Would that get really annoying catching on the pegs or anything? I'm trying to point her towards more sporty, more protective type gear, but she doesn't want to look like Mega Man, either.

My boot choice is limited by my monster calves...the ONLY race boot that fits me (I've never worn street boots, only race) is the teknic Violator without heels. I've seen many women riding with "heels" and they don't seem to have any problems. I would imagine it would take a little getting used to but if she's getting used to everything then I don't see the issue.

[geddyt]

She says she has big calves, too, and that she's always had a problem getting boots to fit. I'll have to check out those Teknics. I used to own a pair myself and they were alright, I guess.

[Lauralynne]

I've got a brand new pair that I was trying to sell on Ebay - http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=230083910263&ssPageName=STRK:MEUS:IT&ih=013
-
if she wants to try them on - if they're the right size, she can...they're great boots, I ride, race, and can even walk around in them very comfortably. I'm in my 2nd pair now.

[geddyt]

So these are just men's boots that fit you well? It's funny, I still have my Teknics and they're that exact boot, color and all. Wore them for a year. Too bad they're too big for her! I'll have to ask her what size she wears... Wait... *picks up one of her shoes*... Looks like women's 8.5. Would yours fit?

[Lauralynne]

So these are just men's boots that fit you well? It's funny, I still have my Teknics and they're that exact boot, color and all. Wore them for a year. Too bad they're too big for her! I'll have to ask her what size she wears... Wait... *picks up one of her shoes*... Looks like women's 8.5. Would yours fit?

Yup - I wear a 9 and the 41's were just slightly too small (hey - they were only $170 instead of $250...I WANTED them to fit!)

I'd be willing to let 'em go for $125...

[Mr Sunshine]

Yup - I wear a 9 and the 41's were just slightly too small (hey - they were only $170 instead of $250...I WANTED them to fit!)

I'd be willing to let 'em go for $125...


A women's 8.5 is not the same size as a men's 8.5. I wear a men's size 9 shoe or a 42/43 (depending on the boot).

So how does a womens 8.5 translate into a 41 (which is a unisexed size)?

[Lauralynne]

A women's 8.5 is not the same size as a men's 8.5. I wear a men's size 9 shoe or a 42/43 (depending on the boot).

So how does a womens 8.5 translate into a 41 (which is a unisexed size)?

Not sure - I know I wear a women's 9, a men's 8 and a 42 euro boot. *shrug*

[geddyt]

She's really picky. Any way I could try them out before buying them off of ya? I'm hoping to be at the RMC/2Fast/GP suspension workshop. You gonna be there?

[Lauralynne]

She's really picky. Any way I could try them out before buying them off of ya? I'm hoping to be at the RMC/2Fast/GP suspension workshop. You gonna be there?


I don't think so - when is it? We can figure out sometime...they're just sitting in the gear closet in their box right now...

[tophyr]

My boots have a slight heel, I've never had a problem with it. I actually find it handy for street riding; the heel sits right on the peg very comfortably.

[Seehorn]

I'm pretty sure if you want to lower a bike you would have to have the whole bike chromed out and extend the swing-arm. So it might get expensive. Seems to be pretty standard, plus your grill has to be all platinum or gold. Maybe check with Lil Wayne he has a "Yamaha, chromed out eleven-hundred."

Just trying to help out

[piper907]

:p :p :p :) :D :) :p :p
teehee...

[geddyt]

Yeah, they just don't make spinners for bikes, though, that match my platinum teeth...

[timk]

Yeah, they just don't make spinners for bikes, though, that match my platinum teeth...

To tide you over while the spinner technology for bikes is being perfected, you could just go with clear:

http://www.dragtimes.com/img/forum/Motorcycle6.jpg