Why Lower?
Road Captain
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 690
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach, SoCal
Lowered bike
I lowered my wife's Heritage because she is somewhat height challenged (5'3") and now she can flatfoot both feet with a slight bend on the knee. Plus it looks cooler too.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,123
Likes: 43
From: NJ
Thanks for the replys. My riding buddy lowers his when solo and raises it for 2-up and he rides with his wife alot. It seems every time I go over there he has to get out that wrench and lower it befor we can go riding. He is not vertically challenged and says it handles better so I was just wondering what you all thought.
Doug
Doug
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 7
From: North Atlanta Area, GA
For me it was all about proper rode height and safety (I'm 5'8"), although I do like the looks of a lowered rear end. I ride a big heavy E-Glide, and it was just too tall for me when I got it. I couldn't put both of my boots flat on the ground. If I were a few inches taller this probably wouldn't have been an issue.
It had a hard Corbin seat on it when I got it, which I replaced with a Mustang Regal touring seat that is lower, more comfortable, and has a much narrower throat that allows me to keep my legs in closer to the bike and put both feet on the ground much easier than I could with the Corbin seat.
With the Mustang seat and the lowering of the rear end, I can now easily put both feet flat on the ground, and the bike feels much more comfortable to ride. I occasionally scrape the floorboard when riding 2-up with my wife on the back on twisties, but it only ever happens on the left side... I've never scraped the right board even 2-up. I guess I am more aggressive with left turns than with right turns for some reason.
Anyway, I like my bike lowered in the rear. It feels like I'm sitting down more in the bike instead of on it... more like a Softail feel. I've thought about getting a spring kit that would lower the front too - but since I like the way it feels now, I haven't pursued that.
It had a hard Corbin seat on it when I got it, which I replaced with a Mustang Regal touring seat that is lower, more comfortable, and has a much narrower throat that allows me to keep my legs in closer to the bike and put both feet on the ground much easier than I could with the Corbin seat.
With the Mustang seat and the lowering of the rear end, I can now easily put both feet flat on the ground, and the bike feels much more comfortable to ride. I occasionally scrape the floorboard when riding 2-up with my wife on the back on twisties, but it only ever happens on the left side... I've never scraped the right board even 2-up. I guess I am more aggressive with left turns than with right turns for some reason.
Anyway, I like my bike lowered in the rear. It feels like I'm sitting down more in the bike instead of on it... more like a Softail feel. I've thought about getting a spring kit that would lower the front too - but since I like the way it feels now, I haven't pursued that.
Cruiser
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 121
Likes: 0
From: Mesa Az
For me it was all about proper rode height and safety (I'm 5'8"), although I do like the looks of a lowered rear end. I ride a big heavy E-Glide, and it was just too tall for me when I got it. I couldn't put both of my boots flat on the ground. If I were a few inches taller this probably wouldn't have been an issue.
It had a hard Corbin seat on it when I got it, which I replaced with a Mustang Regal touring seat that is lower, more comfortable, and has a much narrower throat that allows me to keep my legs in closer to the bike and put both feet on the ground much easier than I could with the Corbin seat.
With the Mustang seat and the lowering of the rear end, I can now easily put both feet flat on the ground, and the bike feels much more comfortable to ride. I occasionally scrape the floorboard when riding 2-up with my wife on the back on twisties, but it only ever happens on the left side... I've never scraped the right board even 2-up. I guess I am more aggressive with left turns than with right turns for some reason.
Anyway, I like my bike lowered in the rear. It feels like I'm sitting down more in the bike instead of on it... more like a Softail feel. I've thought about getting a spring kit that would lower the front too - but since I like the way it feels now, I haven't pursued that.
It had a hard Corbin seat on it when I got it, which I replaced with a Mustang Regal touring seat that is lower, more comfortable, and has a much narrower throat that allows me to keep my legs in closer to the bike and put both feet on the ground much easier than I could with the Corbin seat.
With the Mustang seat and the lowering of the rear end, I can now easily put both feet flat on the ground, and the bike feels much more comfortable to ride. I occasionally scrape the floorboard when riding 2-up with my wife on the back on twisties, but it only ever happens on the left side... I've never scraped the right board even 2-up. I guess I am more aggressive with left turns than with right turns for some reason.
Anyway, I like my bike lowered in the rear. It feels like I'm sitting down more in the bike instead of on it... more like a Softail feel. I've thought about getting a spring kit that would lower the front too - but since I like the way it feels now, I haven't pursued that.
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 3,193
Likes: 7
From: North Atlanta Area, GA
Yeah, it's funny about turns... I just feel more comfortable making left turns than right ones. I make left U-turns all the time, but I've never made a right u-turn! I'm left-handed, so maybe that has something to do with it. I also slalom water ski and snow ski, and I feel more comfortable making carving turns to the left than to the right on skis, too. Just a mental thing, I guess...
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