we have a 2007 sportster 1200 low, has anyone found a low profile tire for there sportster. my wife has a short 28" inseam weighting in at 123 lbs wet ,we have 10" shocks on and i slid the front forks up 1" , goldwing has a 180/60-16 tire but it hits the belt,can i put on a thinner belt ??.my next plan is to raise the rear fender and the fender armes to relocate the top shock mounts which should lower the bike 1 1/2 "more .has anybody done this?? do they make shorter lower front leg for the front end ? jim

 

I'm a guy...5'3" with 26" inseam and 28" leg length. 140 lbs. I could straddle the bike comfortably and solidly on the ***** of my feet bone stock. I couldn't QUITE flat-foot it, but it was close. I put 11" Progressive shock on, left the front forks alone, and put a Reach two-up seat on. The new seat and shocks were put on at the same time, so I don't know what just the shocks would do in comparison with the stock seat. I wouldn't think the Reachseat lowered memuch, if at all, but it is a MUCH better seat, IMHO. The nose of the Reach is slightly narrower than stock, putting the legs closer together at stops. At first I had the shocks on the first setting, but after about a week changed them to the third, or middle setting. It lessened the sag, and firmed it up a little bit. I can flat foot it.

My question is that if we have the same model bikes, the same leg length, and your wife has shocks an inch shorter than I do, and I can flat foot my bike, albeit it's a strain with sneakers on...what's still the problem? Yeah, backing up can be achallenge because our short legs don't offer that much leverage, but still? I wear River Road Engineer boots with a 1/2" sole and a 1.75" for most of my riding and that helps. Is she just not flat-footing after all that? If she's not flat-footing the bike on level pavement, then how much is she lacking?

As far as the other mods, I don't know. It sounds rather involved to me, but it might be well worth it if you can pull it off. I'm guessing thebottom of the frame is about 3" off the ground, now? And fender-to-tire clearance isn't that much either. If you can raise the fender,relocate the shocks, lower the bike some more, and still maintain somesort offender-to-tire clearance, I would be interested in knowing how that turned out. I would also be interested in your frame to ground clearance, and any sidestand lengthissues you might have.

So there's no 170 mm or narrower tire available in a 60 or 70series? Stock tire size is 150/80/16, so the 180 tire just seems too fat to fit without getting a rear-end kit for it. Those are very expensive. Assuming a 170/60/16 or a 150/70/16 tire is made...AND if you can find one, from my limited knowlege of tires that would put you about where the 180/60/16 is. Am I totally off on this? Hope I didn't cause a "zone out" withthe length ofthis post, but though I may not be much help, I'm really interested in how this works out.

Teek

 

I would really think about it again. I wouldn't lower a low any more than it already is unless it were really necessary. The ground clearance is already a challenge when it comes to obstacles in the road, speed bumps, etc. Lowering it further would only add to the challenge. If it's "a little" inconvenient I think she'll get used to it. If it's a case of she "can't" physically ride the bike the way it is, o.k.

 

Talk to Mean City Cycles he is on this board, he may be able to work on the seat to get her a better riding position. You start cutting/welding and what not it may change the geometry of the motorcycle. In turn if you decide to sell it down the road the only person that it will fit would be a little person. Just my .02

 

How about haveing some riding boots made with double thick soles, and a different seat. The low profile tire would add clearance concerns and there's always the possibility of bending a wheel,from a road hazzard.

Tom

 

+1... I've dented up a front spoked wheel from a pothole with stock tires. I wouldn't go any lower profile.

 

That's how I got my cast front wheel. I bent the laced wheel and took the opportunity to replace it with cast so I could run tubeless both front and rear.

 

My wife bought the Icon Bombshell boots. She's 5ft tall and has a 1200L with a standard solo seat.

http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/...t--610202.html


They dont look like a riding boot but they have really improved her ability to handle the bike.

 

My wife is 5'3....... 27 inch inseam, Rides an081200C only mod is 11" progressive shocks. She wears riders boots but nothing special about the soles. She can get her feet flat since we added the 11" progressives, stock shock was a 13".

She is going to add a reach styled seat in the future to help relax her arms a little more

 

Alittle off the subject, but what is the widest rear tire we can put on a 05 1200C? anybody max it out?