So, my better half is beginning to look at bikes. I showed her "Red Rebecca" (http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=64583.0), and she seemed very interested. (Brian, if you'd prefer I not lower Rebecca, I'll honor your decision :D).
The issue lies in the fact that she is 5'1 3/4" (she stresses that 3/4). Since it'll be her first bike, I would prefer she have both feet firmly planted when straddling it. I've been reading up on other forums, and found out that a 1.5" drop is about the max for any bike to avoid drastically changing the rear suspension geometry too much. This should be fine. My question is, how would one go about lowering the front forks to match the rear? Could I just grab her a new set of stiffer springs and cut really small spacers, or would I need to actually modify the forks?
Thanks!
For the forks, just loosen the upper and lower triples, and slide the front down. And find clip ons since that amount of drop doesn't mesh with the stock handle bars sitting right above where the forks would poke through.
Quote from: mustangGT90210 on June 24, 2013, 09:58:00 AM
For the forks, just loosen the upper and lower triples, and slide the front down. And find clip ons since that amount of drop doesn't mesh with the stock handle bars sitting right above where the forks would poke through.
Or you may wish to raise the handlebars anyway since it will be more comfortable for her shorter arms. In raising the handlebars, it moves the stock bars high enough, and/or out of the way to bring the forks up an inch over the top plate to level out the front suspension after lowering the rear.
After lowering, you probably want to take the centerstand off too.
- Bboy
Both good points! I didn't even think of raising the bars up, as it's not something in my vocabulary lol
Many bar riser kits move the bars up and back, closer to the rider.
We have lowered a GS500F and an FZ6R for my wife. I have ridden both and could not tell you what the differences were between the feel of the steering geometry or the shocks under normal riding conditions.
I had this great, informative post that my other laptop decided to erase without warning.
Suffice it to say that lowering the bike is not a big deal and the pursuit of an answer to every little detail is a fool's errand. We found an 1.5" drop in the back and a 1.25" drop in the front was sufficient to make the bike ridable for my 5' 2" wife. We put the rear shock on its lowest setting. We didn't have to shorten the kickstand. The centrestand would just graze the pavement around some corners when you had a passenger. It never gave us any trouble riding within the speed limit and occasionally beyond it. Ride it normally and with the proper respect and I don't see why you should have any trouble.
My wife would not have had the confidence to ride without being able to get stable footing at a stop. For those people who say learn to deal with it I say stop on your tippy toes only for a full year and then let us know what you think about your advice.
You could lower the back and keep the front forks where they are as well. The bike will steer a little slower.
By lowering the bike and/or changing the chassis geometry (forks + swingarm) through alteration to the ride height you are technically decreasing the potential performance of the motorcycle.
As long as it won't severely hurt handling, I'm not worried. I doubt she'll be knee-dragging any time soon. I just want her to be as comfortable as possible with her machine.
Thanks so much for all of the information guys!
Don't enter the Isle of Mann TT on it.