I am a short female (5 feet) and a new beginner in motorcycling. I am looking to get a sport motorcycle and I have found that Kawasaki Ninja 250 R has the lowest seat height. It is about 29.3 inches high. I also found that I can lower the seat as well. Could the dealer do this? If not, does anyone know a good garage in Detroit Metro who does this?
2007-08-16 07:38:38 · 7 answers · asked by Laura S 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Motorcycles
what are the things I need to know specifically when lowering the seat. example: dog bones and shock adjustments
2007-08-16 07:47:05 · update #1
does lowering the seat cause instability in ninja 250 R. what sport motorcycle would be a better optoin for lowering the seat to 27 or 28 inch
2007-08-16 09:28:16 · update #2
Other than replacing the seat altogether, lowering the seat entails removing the seat cover and reducing the thickness off the foam pad but cutting some off. This certainly helps, but can also make the seat more uncomfortable and leave you with a wrinkled up seat cover. I don't know the rear suspension arrangement on a 250 Ninja, but if it has two conventional shocks, in the good old days you could replace the shocks with ones slightly shorter or add a device that moved the bottom of the rear shocks back, thus lowering the entire rear of the bike. Not sure of the tire size, but using a lower profile tire (shorter) will get you a little closer to mother earth. For lowering the front, the old trick was to loosen the triple clamps and slide the fork tubes upward a bit. For most of the above suspension tricks, you're going to be able to lower the seat height by about an inch before you start running into trouble.
While nowhere near a sport bike, the Suzuki Intruders have a very low seat although the seat on early ones were a tad bit uncomfortable. They range from 700-800cc depending upon the year and are fairly light in weight and have good performance as well as great fuel mileage. My ex was just slightly over 5' and she was very comfortable on it, even more so than on the 250 Suzuki she had. And LOTS faster and better looking. Keep in mind that most sport bikes are bought for their looks and the average rider NEVER comes close to riding them to their full potential. In other words, the average cruiser bike is going to be able to keep up with most sport bikes in the handling department, not that their better handling, just that the rider is the limiting factor. And while the little Ninjas are fast, a big thumping V twin is going to be just as fast more than likely. There's a big difference between whacking open the throttle in high gear on a little bike and have it make a "waaah" sound from the carbs and slowly gather up speed while a big V twin will immediately walk away without having to do any down shifting or ever breaking a sweat.
2007-08-16 08:09:51 · answer #1 · answered by bikinkawboy 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Cb400 Seat
2016-12-14 12:27:17 · answer #2 · answered by campbel 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Nothing else but a sportbike for you eh?
I am a short gal (5 ft). I think short gals on sport bikes are dangerous. Looks can kill, babe! And I have seen gals on their very most tippy toes and heels, straddling a scrambler.
I have been on a Honda CB400. It was quite a reach. An excellent ride, but what a pain to stop at lights, crosswalks, stop signs. On the CB400, I could opt for a thinner cushion and get about 1".
On the Ninja, I dont think you can get much off the seat. ... Have anyone tried a smaller rim whell. Less air pressure in the back wheel may help some.
.. but hey, what is a sportbike after its performance has been reduced?
Anyway, now I ride a Yamaha chopper.
2007-08-16 11:10:09 · answer #3 · answered by WHO 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ninja 250 is limited in what you can do to lower it. You are better off getting a GSXR600. They lower quite well and there are kits for them.
The 250 is a great starter bike and that is what I recommend to start. You can lower the front forks but you loose stability this way.
2007-08-16 08:40:45 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
Seat lowering kits usually lower the frame. The seat can also have some of the padding in it taken out as well.
Sport bikes generally have much higher seats than cruisers.
2007-08-16 08:10:46 · answer #5 · answered by Glennroid 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Lowering seat - good, if you can find one thats comfortable.
Lowering suspension - BAD, Decreased ground clearance can decrease the lean angle / turning radius,
(Cause you to drag things that you shouldn't.)
2007-08-16 19:34:16 · answer #6 · answered by Irv S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Harley has seats lower than that 24" and less
2007-08-16 07:44:19 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋