Lowering suspension on tall bikes
Discussion
In my ongoing quest to buy a bike this week, I have narrowed it down to three contenders:
BMW F800GS
Honda VFR800x Crossrunner
Kawasaki Versys 1000
Would be buying used. Have tried out all three. Could get on with all three as-is.... except the Versys. Seat height is too high. Yes yes, I've read all about how it is easy to ride tall bikes etc etc, but that's not for me.
Lust Racing offer a lowering kit which reduces the Kwaka Versys height by 40mm.
http://www.lustracing.co.uk/suspension/kawasaki-lo...
Anybody used a lowering kit and how did it work out? Affect the suspension? Did you notice the reduced ground clearance when cornering? The Versys is a pretty tall bike so I think it could take a bit of reduction without ending up too low.
The other thing is, how much lowering is enough? Can I just work off the seat height? There is always a bit of a shape difference between bike seats. If I just subtract 40mm from the Versys seat hight, I get to the seat height of my last bike; but I was really on my tip toes on the test ride.
This is a standard height Versys. The Lust Racing kit would lower the whole bike 40mm (there is also a 25mm kit, but I don't think this is enough). The seat would stay the same in relation to the pegs.
BMW F800GS
Honda VFR800x Crossrunner
Kawasaki Versys 1000
Would be buying used. Have tried out all three. Could get on with all three as-is.... except the Versys. Seat height is too high. Yes yes, I've read all about how it is easy to ride tall bikes etc etc, but that's not for me.
Lust Racing offer a lowering kit which reduces the Kwaka Versys height by 40mm.
http://www.lustracing.co.uk/suspension/kawasaki-lo...
Anybody used a lowering kit and how did it work out? Affect the suspension? Did you notice the reduced ground clearance when cornering? The Versys is a pretty tall bike so I think it could take a bit of reduction without ending up too low.
The other thing is, how much lowering is enough? Can I just work off the seat height? There is always a bit of a shape difference between bike seats. If I just subtract 40mm from the Versys seat hight, I get to the seat height of my last bike; but I was really on my tip toes on the test ride.
This is a standard height Versys. The Lust Racing kit would lower the whole bike 40mm (there is also a 25mm kit, but I don't think this is enough). The seat would stay the same in relation to the pegs.
I might look at the problem in another way and try not to mess around with the bike, other than to setup the sag for your body weight.
You could easily lose 10-20mm off the foam seat and get a custom made one with gel inserts that will just as comfy, perhaps even more so.
Then just take a look at your footwear, choose some new boots with a good heel or buy some with extra lift. Daytona offer some of the best boots on the market, and some styles are available with heel lift from 40 to 60mm that you dont notice.
https://www.daytona.de/en/
You could easily lose 10-20mm off the foam seat and get a custom made one with gel inserts that will just as comfy, perhaps even more so.
Then just take a look at your footwear, choose some new boots with a good heel or buy some with extra lift. Daytona offer some of the best boots on the market, and some styles are available with heel lift from 40 to 60mm that you dont notice.
https://www.daytona.de/en/
^ Thanks for the boot link. I didn't know about Daytona boots and they do look like good boots.
I suspect the seats and the boots would not be quite enough for the Versys. The boots add 6cm to the heel, but I was tiptoeing enough that I don't think 6cm on the heel would enable me to flat foot. It looks like about 3cm on the toe, so that is maybe 1.5cm of my current boots.
OTOH with the Lust Racing kit, I'm not sure what you do about lowering the front forks and I'd also need to have the side stand cut and welded. Then I'd always be wondering about the quality of the weld and if one day I'd come back to find the side stand in two bits and the bike on the floor....
I suspect the seats and the boots would not be quite enough for the Versys. The boots add 6cm to the heel, but I was tiptoeing enough that I don't think 6cm on the heel would enable me to flat foot. It looks like about 3cm on the toe, so that is maybe 1.5cm of my current boots.
OTOH with the Lust Racing kit, I'm not sure what you do about lowering the front forks and I'd also need to have the side stand cut and welded. Then I'd always be wondering about the quality of the weld and if one day I'd come back to find the side stand in two bits and the bike on the floor....
Iminquarantine said:
^ Thanks for the boot link. I didn't know about Daytona boots and they do look like good boots.
I suspect the seats and the boots would not be quite enough for the Versys. The boots add 6cm to the heel, but I was tiptoeing enough that I don't think 6cm on the heel would enable me to flat foot. It looks like about 3cm on the toe, so that is maybe 1.5cm of my current boots.
OTOH with the Lust Racing kit, I'm not sure what you do about lowering the front forks and I'd also need to have the side stand cut and welded. Then I'd always be wondering about the quality of the weld and if one day I'd come back to find the side stand in two bits and the bike on the floor....
Just to add that Daytona boots are top quality. I'm on a pair of Roadstar HTX with Goretex that are over 10 years old and still good to go.I suspect the seats and the boots would not be quite enough for the Versys. The boots add 6cm to the heel, but I was tiptoeing enough that I don't think 6cm on the heel would enable me to flat foot. It looks like about 3cm on the toe, so that is maybe 1.5cm of my current boots.
OTOH with the Lust Racing kit, I'm not sure what you do about lowering the front forks and I'd also need to have the side stand cut and welded. Then I'd always be wondering about the quality of the weld and if one day I'd come back to find the side stand in two bits and the bike on the floor....
As for lowering kits I'd always go with the factory fit option.I've no knowledge of the Lust Racing kits but in essence you have to unclamp the front forks so they can come up through the clamps so the reaction in rear height is matched by a reduction in front height so as to preserve the front end steering geometry.
I bought a Honda NC750X that had been lowered on lust racing dog bones, bought it at 3.5 years old and the rear suspension was absolutely knackered. My mechanic said the suspension just hadn't been designed to have that little travel and had worn out very prematurely. I had it raised back to standard and the whole bike felt better put together.
Just my very limited experience but personally I wouldn't mess around with the ride height on a bike and just buy the one that fits you best as standard or as someone else has suggested maybe consider a different seat.
Just my very limited experience but personally I wouldn't mess around with the ride height on a bike and just buy the one that fits you best as standard or as someone else has suggested maybe consider a different seat.
Rubins4 said:
Does anyone have the opposite problem? I'm 6'5" and worried that everything thing will feel too small! (especially seat to peg). What are the options?
Based on my experience, you want a Kawasaki Versys 
KTMs are also ridiculously tall.
Any adventure-sport bike like the Versys, BMW GS, Honda Africa Twin will come with massively high seat options.
Edited by Iminquarantine on Tuesday 18th August 10:48
Thanks for the advice; I've eliminated the Versys even though when I was riding it I loved it, as opposed to sitting on it with my feet down where I hated it. Too much flaffing to get it right.
So down to the BMW F800GT and the Honda VFR800x Crossrunner.
I like the BMW better, but the Honda has much better double LED headlights vs a single halogen on the BMW. Which is important as I ride at night and filter on it.
So down to the BMW F800GT and the Honda VFR800x Crossrunner.
I like the BMW better, but the Honda has much better double LED headlights vs a single halogen on the BMW. Which is important as I ride at night and filter on it.
Iminquarantine said:
Based on my experience, you want a Kawasaki Versys
KTMs are also ridiculously tall.
Any adventure-sport bike like the Versys, BMW GS, Honda Africa Twin will come with massively high seat options.
...and thank you for your advise.KTMs are also ridiculously tall.
Any adventure-sport bike like the Versys, BMW GS, Honda Africa Twin will come with massively high seat options.
Edited by Iminquarantine on Tuesday 18th August 10:48
Fortunately, I'm into the whole adventure bike thing, rather than sports or cruisers so that helps. I'm liking the CB500X and original Africa Twin. I don't have the bunce or desire for a new bike and want to work on it myself too.
^ Take a look at
http://cycle-ergo.com
This will show you on the bike once you enter your body dimensions.
If the bike has an adjustable seat (or high seat or low seat), you can also enter the difference in seat height from a standard seat. Once you have the data for one bike which you have used and know you are comfortable on, you can use that as a basis of comparison for other bikes, without even having to sit on them.
http://cycle-ergo.com
This will show you on the bike once you enter your body dimensions.
If the bike has an adjustable seat (or high seat or low seat), you can also enter the difference in seat height from a standard seat. Once you have the data for one bike which you have used and know you are comfortable on, you can use that as a basis of comparison for other bikes, without even having to sit on them.
I got a Tiger 800 XRx, as I am 5'7'' it was too tall for me, I went to Kais suspension specialists outside Manchester who fitted the 30 mm Lust suspension kit, and lowered the forks as well, got the 30mm as if I had got the 40mm then I would have had to shorten my kickstand also, and I thought that a step too far. Really improved my confidence when riding, cost around £160 all in ,and is easy to switch back when I sell the bike.
I had the Lust Racing dog bones on my MV Agusta. I have a 29" inseam and chose the 25mm lowering option. It works well, but as others have suggested, you can always use the Daytona GTX boots with the bigger sole as well as a custom seat with different padding. I've used all three options at times but the custom seat one can be very effective especially if its narrowed as well, as the width of a seat often makes it tricky for shorties.
As for suspension compromises, mine has semi-automatic suspension and stiffens up nicely when on the extra pillion or luggage settings, but it does ground out on large potholes and rough tracks on the standard single rider setting. I would imagine you'll need to experiment with suspension settings once the lowering kit's been fitted.
A lot of people say you shouldn't "ruin" a bike that's not designed for shorties, and choose a different bike instead. Whatever option(s) you choose it should mean you can ride the bike of your choice with much greater confidence.
As for suspension compromises, mine has semi-automatic suspension and stiffens up nicely when on the extra pillion or luggage settings, but it does ground out on large potholes and rough tracks on the standard single rider setting. I would imagine you'll need to experiment with suspension settings once the lowering kit's been fitted.
A lot of people say you shouldn't "ruin" a bike that's not designed for shorties, and choose a different bike instead. Whatever option(s) you choose it should mean you can ride the bike of your choice with much greater confidence.
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