lowering help

[ifiddles]

ok...here goes...i just finished my first season on a 2009 kawasaki vulcan 500 and while i love the bike, i'm looking to "upgrade" or "tradeup" for this upcoming season...few reasons why: 1) back and shoulders get tired after a few hours (four one day without stopping), 2) very skinny front tire means i feel every crack in the pavement (100/90r16), and 3) looking for more power when accelerating/shifting gears...i'm female, 5'4" and 105 lbs...i posted one thread about 500 cc sportbikes (Ninja 500 and GS500) and got some good feedback so went to sit on them...too tall i'm used to flat footing my cruiser and not sure if i like the whole tip toe thing when coming to a stop...

i'm on a kawasaki vulcan forum and asked about upgrading to a vulcan 800...guys there told me that because of engine design (mine is a parallel twin and the 800 is a v-twin) and higher rpm range on my bike, that the 800 wouldn't really be an "upgrade" if i was comparing performance only (apparently the horsepower difference is only 7 and the 800 weighs over 100 lbs more)...

now here's my question...i really love the look of the naked sportbikes (love the er-6n, versys, v-strom, bmw f800r) but they are all too tall for me...i know they can be lowered but want to know a) how much it generally costs to lower a bike and b) what effect it has on the bike's handling overall (i know it changes the centre of gravity but that's it)...

thanks in advance to everyone's input...

ivana

[tricky]

Sounds like you're looking in the right direction with a change in bikes.. I enjoy the riding position on my GS a lot more than a cruiser

As for lowering.. I believe the two most common methods are to order a kit for the rear suspension, and/or shave the seat down. A quick google shows a lowering kit for an ER6n costs about $150, then maybe the cost of installation after that. Not sure about getting the seat shaved down..

Here's a link to another forum I'm on, I saw them talking over this same issue http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=58693.0 The fifth post down has some good info

[Brian P]

Lowering the suspension will adversely affect the handling of the bike and is strongly not recommended. Take every other possible alternative first and then if lowering is still absolutely necessary, lower it as little as possible and equally at both ends to minimize the adverse effects.

Look into: shaving the seat down and narrowing it a bit at the front so that your legs can be at a better angle, not flat footing at a stop (it isn't necessary - get used to not doing it), boots with thick soles.

[BimmerMike]

I would go to a BMW dealer and check if they have a factory lowered F800, on the F800S and the F800ST you could get a factory lowered chassis and then there were three different seats available. The lowest setup is substantially lower than the standard.
No worries about doing a custom suspension and you will also find these bikes are quite light and with the fuel tank under the seat they also have a very low center of gravity.
Another model to consider is a 650, they make a twin cylinder ( same motor as the F800GS but detuned ) and a single cylinder. Also available with low suspension.

[BimmerMike]

Just noticed who you are....still got that xs jacket if you want

[Brian P]

F800R and F800S = good bike! I had close cousin F800ST as a rental in Europe for two weeks, and liked it.

[GunSlinger]

I to am not blessed with gift of height, i ride a gsxr600 and i have lowered it. There has been no adverse affects from lowering , i have never ridin it at stock height, so it feels natural to me. I have put many track days in on it and have no problems with handleing or how fast it turns in at the beining of a turn. When done right you should feel no difference if you take delivery of it lowered. Race bikes are lowered and raised almost every race for the spesific race track and rider feel.

[ZX600]

ok...here goes...i just finished my first season on a 2009 kawasaki vulcan 500 and while i love the bike, i'm looking to "upgrade" or "tradeup" for this upcoming season...few reasons why: 1) back and shoulders get tired after a few hours (four one day without stopping), 2) very skinny front tire means i feel every crack in the pavement (100/90r16), and 3) looking for more power when accelerating/shifting gears...i'm female, 5'4" and 105 lbs...i posted one thread about 500 cc sportbikes (Ninja 500 and GS500) and got some good feedback so went to sit on them...too tall i'm used to flat footing my cruiser and not sure if i like the whole tip toe thing when coming to a stop...

i'm on a kawasaki vulcan forum and asked about upgrading to a vulcan 800...guys there told me that because of engine design (mine is a parallel twin and the 800 is a v-twin) and higher rpm range on my bike, that the 800 wouldn't really be an "upgrade" if i was comparing performance only (apparently the horsepower difference is only 7 and the 800 weighs over 100 lbs more)...

now here's my question...i really love the look of the naked sportbikes (love the er-6n, versys, v-strom, bmw f800r) but they are all too tall for me...i know they can be lowered but want to know a) how much it generally costs to lower a bike and b) what effect it has on the bike's handling overall (i know it changes the centre of gravity but that's it)...

thanks in advance to everyone's input...

ivana

Pm Asia, she is a member here, she is about your height and got the BMW factory lowered. She loves it for what she told me the last time we spoke.

She also has had a lowered ninja 250, she would have some good perspective

[WoBblyCaT]

Pm Asia, she is a member here, she is about your height and got the BMW factory lowered. She loves it for what she told me the last time we spoke.

She also has had a lowered ninja 250, she would have some good perspective

Azia. She has the 650 GS in blue. She also has a matching handbag.

[adri]

Azia. She has the 650 GS in blue. She also has a matching handbag.

+ 10 hp