Lowering a bike for g/f

ok, so my g/f sold her rebel 250cc and has her heart set on a blue/white gixxer 600. The bike will most likely need to be lowered an inch or 2 and she is pretty short, 5'3"ish...whats the best/easiest way to do this? Softening the compression in the back was one way i thought might work? What else?

Short seat, short shock, raise the forks in the triple. Possibly two lower aspect ratio tires (dunno bout this one though).

Don't do the compression thing you are talking about. You don't want to lower a ride that way - doing so basically will screw up your suspension and handling.

might wanna check the womens section.....

lowered dogbones and raising the fork thru the triple clamp, not recommended as it affects handling, but it's done often.

custom seat to bring the legs in closer to the bike.

If you drop the suspension through the compression settings and such or slip the forks up into the triple clamps it will seriously hnder the ride. I suggest she either learn to ride it at proper set up, or she find a bike she is more comfortable with. (Ninja 250?).

Originally posted by SD72GSXR
If you drop the suspension through the compression settings and such or slip the forks up into the triple clamps it will seriously hnder the ride. I suggest she either learn to ride it at proper set up, or she find a bike she is more comfortable with. (Ninja 250?).


she is dead set on this bike..there's no talking her out of it..honestly the bike will sit in the garage more than it will be ridden or i will ride it more than she does..but it's what she wants and I'm not gonna argue...and it's not that she coulnd't ride it properly, its more so she can flat foot the bike.

Originally posted by BMW-K
Don't do the compression thing you are talking about. You don't want to lower a ride that way - doing so basically will screw up your suspension and handling.
Not so... keep in mind that because she is smaller, she will probably weigh alot less than you guys... I "lowered" my F4i that way when I bought it last year... and this year I went to do suspension setup for the track... and I found that at the softest setting, I still don't have quite enough loaded sag. I am only 100 lbs and typically a bike['s suspension is going to be set up for a 170 lbs or so rider.

Overall height is not the critical factor... it is the inseam... I am only 5'2", but I have long legs for my height. The gixxer has one of the highest seat heights. The F4i or the R6 with it's very narrow seat are better choices if seat height is an issue.

Originally posted by mattf4i
she is dead set on this bike..there's no talking her out of it..honestly the bike will sit in the garage more than it will be ridden or i will ride it more than she does..but it's what she wants and I'm not gonna argue...and it's not that she coulnd't ride it properly, its more so she can flat foot the bike.
If she's dead set on that bike, AND wants to be flat foot, you'll definitely have to get lowering links/dogbones... I have long legs, and a shorter bike, and I'm definitely not flatfoot on it.

Originally posted by mattf4i
she is dead set on this bike..there's no talking her out of it..honestly the bike will sit in the garage more than it will be ridden or i will ride it more than she does..but it's what she wants and I'm not gonna argue...and it's not that she coulnd't ride it properly, its more so she can flat foot the bike.

As Diamond said...If your G/F is pretty lightweight then you may be able to get an inch or so out of the suspension. The GSXR does have a wide seat compared to most.
You do not have to be able to flat foot a bike to ride it. It does help when stopping, but I would just think that if she is not comfortable on a bike she cannot flat foot, then she should choose a different bike. If that's not possible then she will need to get used to riding it that way.

forget about lowering hte bike... get a taller gf........

Originally posted by black
forget about lowering hte bike... get a taller gf........

:laughing

good idea... not gonna happen though :) we have a house together..im in this one for the long run :)