Lowering a Low Rider
Road Warrior
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 1,641
Likes: 5
From: West Branch, Michigan
Unfortunately, not only have I advanced in years, I've also advanced in weight. I'm at 205 lbs. To me, It rides and handles so much better than it ever did. I feel it's because the center of gravity was lowered as well. It doesn't feel "top heavy" or hard steering anymore. I'm not fightening the handlebars like I had been.
One thing I did learn was to sit on the bike, turn the handlebars for the wheel to be straight, then "right it" off the kick stand. SOOO much easier, especially if you dont have that upper body strength or long legs. If you dont use that technique.......try it. You'll be amazed.
I feel much more confident when coming to stops now that both feet are totally flat with even some knee bend ( when on the stock seat) and 90% flat when I'm using the Sundowner seat for longer cruises. My shocks are set at medium stiffness......but If I was loaded down with luggage, I'd dial them up a notch or two. No bottoming out or rear fender rubbing even going over RR tracks or bad pavement. Even being lowered so much, I've only scraped my right peg ONCE, when I got a little spunky and made a wide turn while really leaning into it and gave it a little gas. Kinda shocked myself that I did that......as I'm not an aggressive rider.
I have to say, with all the stuff I've done to my bike, lowering BOTH the front and rear was the BEST ( and in the long run .....safest) thing I ever did.
One thing I did learn was to sit on the bike, turn the handlebars for the wheel to be straight, then "right it" off the kick stand. SOOO much easier, especially if you dont have that upper body strength or long legs. If you dont use that technique.......try it. You'll be amazed.
I feel much more confident when coming to stops now that both feet are totally flat with even some knee bend ( when on the stock seat) and 90% flat when I'm using the Sundowner seat for longer cruises. My shocks are set at medium stiffness......but If I was loaded down with luggage, I'd dial them up a notch or two. No bottoming out or rear fender rubbing even going over RR tracks or bad pavement. Even being lowered so much, I've only scraped my right peg ONCE, when I got a little spunky and made a wide turn while really leaning into it and gave it a little gas. Kinda shocked myself that I did that......as I'm not an aggressive rider.
I have to say, with all the stuff I've done to my bike, lowering BOTH the front and rear was the BEST ( and in the long run .....safest) thing I ever did.
Last edited by LWOS; Nov 15, 2009 at 01:42 PM.
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