Lowering a CBR125. Links provided, opinions required. | GTAMotorcycle.com

Lowering a CBR125. Links provided, opinions required.

m9hrdad

m9hrdad

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Hey,

I'm looking for some info about lowering a CBR125 for my girl. She can safely remain on the tips of her toes (and a bit more) however both, her and I, would feel safer knowing that she can place her feet down some more.

We were doing some research ourselves and came across the following two pages. Please take a moment to check them out and comment accordingly. We're going to also explore the option to shave the seat down but realistically, how many cm/inches can we really expect from that?

Hyperpro Rear Spring Kit - CBR 125 (30mm Lowering Kit)
http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/63901

Hyperpro Front Spring Kit - CBR 125 (30mm Lowering Kit)
http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/63897

Naturally, we would be purchasing both the Front and Rear kits to keep the bike leveled. Is there any feedback about the items that you can provide that might be helpful? Has anyone used them before? Does it matter that it's a site from the UK that's offering the kits?

Thanks
M.
 
Hey there, I just wanted to say, as a female who also can only barely touch the ground on CBR125, now that I have completed a course, I feel fine about having a bike, Ducati 695, that I will have to tippy toe on. I asked the instructors in my course about lowering my bike so I could flat foot it and they said it effects the suspension and I would become comfortable with my bike after the first ride or two. I know this isn't the info you were looking for but I thought I would just put this out there in case you weren't completely settled on lowering her bike. Good luck :)
 
Depending on the money you are willing to spend, you might also want to look at boots that provide a bit more height. I know Daytona makes the MStar and LadyStar boots that should add around an inch, but then they are pricey (around $450-500). The good part about boots though is you don't have to buy something else when you get a bigger bike, and doesn't affect the bike's handling at all.
 
You shouldn't need a spring kit for the front. You can easily lower the front by raising the forks through the triple tree. As for the rear I'm pretty sure they make lowering links. If you're not gonna be whipping it around corners then it shouldn't matter if you lower the bike. My Busa is lowered 2" in the front and 3" in the rear.
 
I don't think I could flat foot any of my bikes the last 2 decades....'cept maybe my CBX250. It's just a matter of getting used to it. If not, +1, should not need a front kit and would dogbones work on the 125? Don't know it's shock layout.
 
Went through a similar situation with my cbr250r. Hubby and I lowered the back, and the front forks with no issues so far. I don't see any handling difference.

It's not like it's a permanent thing. When comfort level gets better, you can raise it up again :)
 
chrias said:
You shouldn't need a spring kit for the front. You can easily lower the front by raising the forks through the triple tree. As for the rear I'm pretty sure they make lowering links. If you're not gonna be whipping it around corners then it shouldn't matter if you lower the bike. My Busa is lowered 2" in the front and 3" in the rear.
Click to expand...

BE CAREFUL

I betcha that if you've slid your forks 2" up through the triple clamps, that your actual bump stop is either the front fender colliding with the bottom of the upper fairing and/or radiator, or the exhaust or oil pan hitting the ground. And if you've lowered it by more in the rear than the front, turn-in is probably very heavy and the bike will probably require constant force on the handlebars to hold a lean angle when cornering. Taken collectively, these are rather unsafe handling characteristics for a street bike.

If you are going to slide forks up through triple clamps, you HAVE TO make sure that the mechanical compression travel limit of the forks is reached while still having a few millimeters of necessary clearance to spare before the front fender starts colliding with stuff. On my ZX10R, the most the forks could be slid up in this manner was about 10mm. On my CBR125, the most the forks could be slid up was 15mm (and I did this in conjunction with 15mm longer preload spacers in order to get the rider-aboard sag correct ...) In both cases, these still give acceptable clearance before other parts start colliding.

I don't remember how many times on www.zx-10r.net I've heard of people doing drag-racing suspension mods (lowering) and then had a situation where the bike wheelied off the line, came down hard, and the oil drain plug (and the oil pan) was the suspension travel limit in compression ... Badness follows. Won't happen if you preserve the correct functions of the suspension ...
 
chrias said:
You shouldn't need a spring kit for the front. You can easily lower the front by raising the forks through the triple tree. As for the rear I'm pretty sure they make lowering links. If you're not gonna be whipping it around corners then it shouldn't matter if you lower the bike. My Busa is lowered 2" in the front and 3" in the rear.
Click to expand...

Do you have any recommendations regarding DIY guides on raising forks? I found this link http://www.webbikeworld.com/motorcycle-shocks-suspension/forks/ but was hoping to read some more (and different) guides.

Brian P said:
BE CAREFUL

I betcha that if you've slid your forks 2" up through the triple clamps, that your actual bump stop is either the front fender colliding with the bottom of the upper fairing and/or radiator, or the exhaust or oil pan hitting the ground. And if you've lowered it by more in the rear than the front, turn-in is probably very heavy and the bike will probably require constant force on the handlebars to hold a lean angle when cornering. Taken collectively, these are rather unsafe handling characteristics for a street bike.

If you are going to slide forks up through triple clamps, you HAVE TO make sure that the mechanical compression travel limit of the forks is reached while still having a few millimeters of necessary clearance to spare before the front fender starts colliding with stuff. On my ZX10R, the most the forks could be slid up in this manner was about 10mm. On my CBR125, the most the forks could be slid up was 15mm (and I did this in conjunction with 15mm longer preload spacers in order to get the rider-aboard sag correct ...) In both cases, these still give acceptable clearance before other parts start colliding.

I don't remember how many times on www.zx-10r.net I've heard of people doing drag-racing suspension mods (lowering) and then had a situation where the bike wheelied off the line, came down hard, and the oil drain plug (and the oil pan) was the suspension travel limit in compression ... Badness follows. Won't happen if you preserve the correct functions of the suspension ...
Click to expand...

Brian, (what) did you do with rear-end of the CBR-125? Thanks.
 
karentsang said:
Brian, (what) did you do with rear-end of the CBR-125? Thanks.
Click to expand...

Aftermarket YSS shock from Thailand. But remember, my objective was not to lower the bike. My objective was to preserve the original geometry in order to maintain good turn-in and steering feedback (the 2011+ cbr125 is very good in these areas - better than the original model with race-kit tires!) while giving more front compression travel before hitting the bump stop, and allowing rear suspension damping and preload/sag to be adjusted (the stock shock is not adjustable).
 
You could also try shaving the seat down. The boots idea is also good. Use your money on gas and practice in a parking lot. It is no big deal to ride on tippy toes, and she'll need to get used to it. There are few bikes (with the exception of forward controls cruisers, and then she won't be able to shift or use the rear brake) that are shorter on seat height. She should try a mid controls Harley Davidson 883 Low, but this is not a beginner bike. In fact lots of people learn to ride on bikes using tippy toes, and then buy a bike that is even taller.
 
TorontoBoy said:
You could also try shaving the seat down. The boots idea is also good. Use your money on gas and practice in a parking lot. It is no big deal to ride on tippy toes, and she'll need to get used to it. There are few bikes (with the exception of forward controls cruisers, and then she won't be able to shift or use the rear brake) that are shorter on seat height. She should try a mid controls Harley Davidson 883 Low, but this is not a beginner bike. In fact lots of people learn to ride on bikes using tippy toes, and then buy a bike that is even taller.
Click to expand...

Yes I've already shaved about 3/4" off the seat (DIY at home). The issue is also width. I am very small-framed with narrow hips so while I don't mind tippy-toeing, my inner thighs would appreciate the break while standing in traffic.

Brian P said:
Aftermarket YSS shock from Thailand. But remember, my objective was not to lower the bike. My objective was to preserve the original geometry in order to maintain good turn-in and steering feedback (the 2011+ cbr125 is very good in these areas - better than the original model with race-kit tires!) while giving more front compression travel before hitting the bump stop, and allowing rear suspension damping and preload/sag to be adjusted (the stock shock is not adjustable).
Click to expand...

Ok that's good; thanks. I am going to raise the front forks a bit and have lowering links installed. No suitable shock could be found.
 
Last edited:
karentsang said:
Yes I've already shaved about 3/4" off the seat (DIY at home). The issue is also width. I am very small-framed with narrow hips so while I don't mind tippy-toeing, my inner thighs would appreciate the break while standing in traffic.



Ok that's good; thanks. I am going to raise the front forks a bit and have an aftermarket shock installed. I think I picked it up from a GTAM member!
Click to expand...

To follow up my gf and I raised the front forks 15mm today. Was pretty difficult as my centre stands haven't come in yet... haha, but we got it done.

With the seat shaved and the front forks raised, I've managed to lower the bike by some 1.5-2". I'm actually content with the height of the bike at present, with my heels about 2-3 inches from the ground tip-toeing, but I've already ordered the lowering links, so when it comes and gets installed it should be even better.
 
I would contact this guy...why not ask a specialist? He worked on the race series and helped develop the new shock for the CBR250. I know he has lowered a few bikes in the past. John knows what he is talking about! He is also well reviewed on this site and he might even be at one of the bike shows...I met him a few years ago at the Elka booth at the Jan show. He has worked on my front forks and replaced my rear shock.

Accelerated Technologies - Performance Suspension Specialists - Products
 
on an off topic...why would you want to flat foot BOTH the feet? One is supposed to stay up on the gear shift peg
 
karentsang said:
... but I've already ordered the lowering links ...
Click to expand...

This is impossible. I'm not sure what you ordered, but they are not lowering links for a cbr125. The rear suspension on a cbr125 has the shock directly attached to the swingarm. There are no links, there is no linkage.

Shorter shock is possible if you can find one ... see a couple posts up.
 
merrybob said:
Hey,

I'm looking for some info about lowering a CBR125 for my girl. She can safely remain on the tips of her toes (and a bit more) however both, her and I, would feel safer knowing that she can place her feet down some more.

We were doing some research ourselves and came across the following two pages. Please take a moment to check them out and comment accordingly. We're going to also explore the option to shave the seat down but realistically, how many cm/inches can we really expect from that?

Hyperpro Rear Spring Kit - CBR 125 (30mm Lowering Kit)
http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/63901

Hyperpro Front Spring Kit - CBR 125 (30mm Lowering Kit)
http://www.sportsbikeshop.co.uk/motorcycle_parts/content_prod/63897

Naturally, we would be purchasing both the Front and Rear kits to keep the bike leveled. Is there any feedback about the items that you can provide that might be helpful? Has anyone used them before? Does it matter that it's a site from the UK that's offering the kits?

Thanks
M.
Click to expand...

Reviving an old thread, just wondering if Hyperpro is still the only company that supplies lowering springs for the CBR 125?
 
TorontoBoy said:
You could also try shaving the seat down.
Click to expand...

I would start here. If you remove the seat cover and lightly sand off the "skin" on the poly foam, the seat will sink in 1/2" lower, with no other mods.

Screwing around with suspension settings from the factory levels is not recommended. There is a reason why they don't make the bike lower.
 
sid_for_speed said:
on an off topic...why would you want to flat foot BOTH the feet? One is supposed to stay up on the gear shift peg
Click to expand...

safety. if you lost your balance for some reason, you'll want to be able to control the bike and often, that might mean two feet.
 
I would listen to Brian on the technical aspects of lowering a bike, I know Brian, and I know he knows what he is talking about.
On the other hand, as an instructor, and as a rider of over 40 years, I have ridden many bikes where I could barley touch the ground.

Your real issue here is your experience. If you are a good rider, you will not ever be scared of riding a high bike.
If you know how to handle a bike, it should be a non issue.
The problem here is gaining the experience to gain confidence.
The best way to do that is to jump on a few dirt bikes and let loose.
After a lot of dirt riding, the confidence of riding a street bike will be incredible.
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