Want to lower my bike!

[inspiron]

If you really want to see what kind of lean angle your bike offers, start with a piece of plywood about 3 to 4 feet long by about 1.5 feet wide. Sit on your bike with your left foot on the ground, and have someone put the board on the ground against the right side of the bike (against the tires). Then lift the other side of the board until it touches the peg. Measure the angle, or have a third person take a picture so that you can see how much clearance you have.

Most sportsbikes has more than 45° of lean clearance. That means that the bike can lean a lot farther than most people are willing to "risk". Cruisers and heavy tourers have alot less clearance, so they tend to scrape much sooner.

[stevie c]

Originally Posted by inspiron

.....That means that the bike can lean a lot farther than most people are willing to "risk"....

Agree totally mate, thats why I said that if he speaks to a shop that lowers bikes and tells them how he rides then maybe they can help.

I ride with people of all abilities, but most ride sportsbikes, some of them have to change their knee and toe sliders quite often, some just change their toe sliders and some have plenty of room to play with. Everybody rides in a different style, and I know being on a sportsbike doesn't mean you ride like a pro (I know I am one of them who doesn't! ).

[mark]

Originally Posted by stevie c

Agree totally mate, thats why I said that if he speaks to a shop that lowers bikes and tells them how he rides then maybe they can help.

I ride with people of all abilities, but most ride sportsbikes, some of them have to change their knee and toe sliders quite often, some just change their toe sliders and some have plenty of room to play with. Everybody rides in a different style, and I know being on a sportsbike doesn't mean you ride like a pro (I know I am one of them who doesn't! ).

Thats totally my point. I lowered my bike using links and at the clamp. I also tried to account for my weight when considering the move. I can jump on my pegs and not bottom out my bike....i dont see how i could scrape my engine case like nut did.

Simply put, I prefer technical answers to telling people not to cry if they wreck...(i am just using that particular post as an example -nut has many valid points and posts)

Perhaps, I went about it wrong, but I am simply trying to establish some "response etiquette" Which in the end makes everyone happier.

For those who believe I am a squid, so be it. But I focus more on my technique than speed and I am pretty much a detail person requiring facts to make a decision.

I asked for lowering advice myself...which I got some. However no one was able to provide any stats on lean angles and how much that is reduced at certain ride heigths..we're not engineers..but thats the kind of info which makes for informed decisions.

NUT, it wasn't personal, and my apologies..

http://www.pmrcomponents.com/pmrweb_002.html is where i bought mine. I contacted the shop that makes them with concerns on strength and past performance. They gave me product specs, including bikes they have used them on, thickness, alloy. They also separate out the 1" and 3" from the 2" so the holes have adequate metal around them. They run around 30 dollars here.

[87gsxrnut]

If you get into a situation, a real emergency situation where you need more lean angle (been there) and it isn't there for whatever reason, well . . .

Granted, most riders won't push their bikes that hard, but still . . .

- Nut

[87gsxrnut]

FWIW: IF you are scraping your toe sliders, you really, really need to change your riding style and/or foot position.

Your feet should NEVER drag on the ground.

- Nut

[stevie c]

Originally Posted by 87gsxrnut

FWIW: IF you are scraping your toe sliders, you really, really need to change your riding style and/or foot position.

Your feet should NEVER drag on the ground.

- Nut

Change it how Nut? Feet further back so toes are on peg instead of ball of foot? Not sure how you mean.

[Roaddog]

I lowered my bike by 1.5 inches front and back, I can still burn the tires to the edge without dragging, if you lower both ends the same then all you've done is lost a little ground clearance, if you understand this then it will be fine, if not.........

[Andy Singh]

Hi Guys
sorry for the late reply, just got back from my hunny moon, as for the lowering to tell you the truth why Im asking is, not becoz it boy racer and ****, but because I drive cars all day long aswell as bikes, now I was after feed back just to get a jist of what manz think and not think, I dont need to explain why Im asking, thats what this forum is about asking asking and answering, Personally I would not do it now, but believe it looks wicked lowered, and if there was not to many disadvanges I would do it.

[stevie c]

Hi mate,
hope you enjoyed the honeymoon.
Good luck to you both for your married life together.

[Novaz3]

wow this was an exciting debate whewwwwwwwwwww i know several riders who have lowered there bikes, I am only 5'7 in hieght and chose not to lower my bike do to my mind bothering me when i rode. However my friend who stands at around 6'3 lowered his bike and hasnt had a problem yet. Im not really sure why he lowered it but he did and its been working for him just fine.

[Becky29fohio]

AS I said before on another thread.....

I just bought my Suzuki a little over a month ago and I couldn't even touch the ground. ( I am 5'1") I had my buddy make me some dogbones and I had it lowered 3 inches and 1/2 up front. I now can touch flat foot and I do not see a difference in the way it handles. I do not scrap the ground (unless I am jumping curbs..lol) nor is the bike off balance. Just my 2 cents... -

[Clint]

There's no doubt in my mind that the steering of your bike has changed, Becky. That's a dramatic lengthening of the rake and trail. You probably haven't been on the bike long enough to notice.

[Becky29fohio]

You may be right but I wouldn't know it. I never rode the bike before it was lowered so I can not tell the difference. I have no problem going around corners or going fast. I am sure if someone else got on the bike they might see a difference. I used to ride a Ninja250, so going from that to a GSXR600 is a total difference in itself and I had to get used to it. I was just stating a fact that you can get your bike lowered and still be able to ride it without any problems...