What are the cons to lowering a bike to match my height? Performance & handling?

Question

I currently ride a CBR600 F4i. The seat heigh is perfect but I'm looking to buy another bike. Almost everyother 600cc bike out there from Kawsaki to Suzuki has a seat height by at least an inch more. I'll need to lower the bike to fit my 30-31'' in leg height.

Answer 1

I'm 5'3, so most any bike I'm interested in has to be lowered to fit me.

I had my Magna lowered. At first it was great, because being able to firmly reach the ground was a HUGE confidence booster. I don't believe it changed the handling or performance at all. The only thing is that it's a little rougher over the bumps. But I really had it lowered...you wouldn't have to go to the extreme I did.

I had my ZX6R lowered. I think the seat height would be about 28-29" now. Since I couldn't ride it as it was, I can't say whether or how the handling might have changed. It most certainly did not affect performance!

But my husband has ridden it, and he didn't have any complaints. I haven't had the problem with bumpy roads that I did with the Magna, but then it wasn't such an extreme lowering job.

I think you'll be just fine, since you're only going to need to drop it a little bit. If you're inseam is 30-31, and mine is probably 28-29, I don't think you'll have any problem.

There are those - both those with experience and plenty without - who will say that you shouldn't lower a bike because it affects handling. Sure, if you were planning a career in racing you might be SOL, but for the kind of riding I assume you're going to be doing, no worries. I've never scraped anything. Granted I'm not an extreme rider, but if it were such a bad thing, I should have had problems by now, and I haven't.

If lowering is the only way you can get on the bike you want, then do it!

Answer 2

Some good responses so far, and I don't want to steal anybody's thunder, but I will add that when you lower the bike, the sidestand will not deploy at the same angle. The more you lower the bike, the less angle the bike will sit at when its on the sidestand. As you get close to 2 or 3 inches, the bike will be close to straight up and down. Keep in mind that even if the bike's lean on the sidestand is okay when you're parked level, it might not work if you have to park along any kind of incline. There is a lot of padding in the CBR seat - probably 2 inches or more - I would look at getting the padding shaved, or getting an aftermarket lowered seat.

Answer 3

The bikes can be lowered without too many problems. However, be sure to test out the height while they're adjusting it. I'm 5'6" so I had to lower mine too and when I did mine, the first time it was too low.

It will cut down on your suspension a bit (so you'll really feel those bumps!). If you can avoid it, try not to lower the front, only do the back. Lowering the front severely impacts the handling and can really screw it up.

Answer 4

Handling will go to sh#t. If you have an inseam of 30 inches you'll be fine. If you just have to lower I suggest both ends to keep the geometry the same, your ground clearance when leaning will go away grinding hard parts when turning.

Answer 5

Some can be lowered by the dealer by suspension adjustment but you will lose some ground clearance.I've had friends with ducks disease who have their seat modified by having some foam removed and the soles of their boots built up.
Just a thought.Good Luck.

Answer 6

If it is fully adjustable i don't think that it should be a problem but i am not an expert I would suggest you talk to a bike shop owner (one where you are not wanting to by a bike from because he might say anything to get you to buy his bike) and ask him

Answer 7

You'll just have to install lowering links. If your new bike isn't listed here, I have more sources.
http://www.pingelonline.com/lowering_links.htm

Answer 8

They all can be adjusted about 2 inches.