Any suggestion to lower ride height?
- Thread starter Nutt113
- Start date
JaimeC
New member
Any other lowering is going to severely impact handling and cornering clearance. I'd tread VERY VERY cautiously.
I knew someone many years ago that bought a BMW K75, and when she found the low seat wasn't enough, she put on lower-profile tires than were recommended by BMW, had a lower shock custom made, and had the fork tubes raised in the triple tree. She could now flat foot the bike, but had to have the side stand cut because when it was lowered, the bike leaned the wrong way and fell over. Plus, it took THREE big guys to heft the damned thing up onto the centerstand.
After spending literally thousands of dollars on her modifications, she ACTUALLY said: "This thing handles LOUSY, I don't know why everyone says BMWs handle so well..."
I knew someone many years ago that bought a BMW K75, and when she found the low seat wasn't enough, she put on lower-profile tires than were recommended by BMW, had a lower shock custom made, and had the fork tubes raised in the triple tree. She could now flat foot the bike, but had to have the side stand cut because when it was lowered, the bike leaned the wrong way and fell over. Plus, it took THREE big guys to heft the damned thing up onto the centerstand.
After spending literally thousands of dollars on her modifications, she ACTUALLY said: "This thing handles LOUSY, I don't know why everyone says BMWs handle so well..."
Stonebrook
New member
Good boots with a little more heel helps.
Jenshore
New member
I took my seat to a Motor Trimmer and he shaved 30mm (1-1/4 in) from the top and he narrowed and contoured the sides, the result being that rather than tippy-toe I can now comfortably get my balls of my feet on the ground with just my heels slightly raised. He even reinstalled the heating pad. The is no discomfort at all from the reduced padding in fact I regularly ride all day trips and I have never got a sore backside. The bloke I took it to was a short motorcycle rider himself and he had years of practice under his belt.
Yellasei is correct the only way is to mod the seat or the handling goes away. I had mine done at Astech Seats in Jonesboro, IN. They did a fantastic job of lowering about an inch, installing a gel pad, narrow the front, dished out for the tail bone and mod the front so the fueling door is no longer an issue.
You will get the same old answer on every forum about how lowering sabotage handling. I have lower all my bikes and have yet had any bad experience. Just make sure you have a pro-shop doing for you safely. Most riders that needs to lower their bike are usually new riders that just want to feel more comfortable with their new bike. These people don't usually ride all that hard to even notice any difference in handling. Unfortunately the only way to lower the c650 is the seat and preload setting to softest. A customized aftermarket rear shock and spring may also be made to lower the rear.
ScooterMike
New member
had my heated seat worked on by John Longo a seat magician in Maaryland near D.C. it made such a difference i now love the scoot. I also have a guy who will have a custom shock made in Germany for the 650GTto lower it more.
TwoPort
Member
I'm a believer in custom seats. It has been a game changer for me as well. So far as lowering the bike, my understanding is that there is only 4.5 inches of suspension travel in the rear so any lowering might mean the suspension would have to be stiffened up to avoid bottoming out. I'm hoping to get a wilbers custom shock this spring when I save my quarters.
http://www.beemershop.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=BS&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=630-1086-XX
http://www.beemershop.com/Merchant5/merchant.mvc?Store_Code=BS&Screen=PROD&Product_Code=630-1086-XX
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exavid
Member
I wouldn't lower the GT. I'm about 200lbs and had to set the spring to its highest setting to avoid scraping those little tapered guards on the center stand in the twisties. In fact I had to replace the one on the right side of the center stand because it was just about half way ground off.