Lowering my Pointy

[Shellywoozle]

As most if you know I am a newbie to riding and have very little experience.

I have put a lowered seat on my SV so that I can touch the floor just that little bit more. I am about 5'6" tall and was on tip toes. I still can't put my foot down fully, I am generally OK but I have trouble in pushing the bike back as I can't get the grip on the floor as I am walking it with my toes more or less.

What do you suggest, do you think it will come with riding experience or should I lower my bike. It doesn't need alot, the problem I have is my fella (almost 6ft) uses it too.

Help :P

Have you got a pair of Daytona Ladystar boots? They are excellent boots but usefully have a built-up sole. Can give you that little extra height.

Now don't laugh, but have you tried the 'rowing' motion with your feet? I'm on tip-toes all the time (I'm 5'2") and the rowing motion with your tiptoes can work

adjust the back shock to lower the bike ??

[Shellywoozle]

Thanks Kate !

Ouch those boots are expensive - should be covered in gold, I will speak nicely to Santa

I will give the "rowing" thing a go, I can just picture myself in town parked up and stuck LOL

[jambo]

Originally Posted by hovi5

adjust the back shock to lower the bike ??

This is preload adjustment rather than ride hight, it does more to make the bike feel horrid when moving than actually alter the seat height

Listen to kate & Samnooshka, They're both a fair bit shorter than you.

Originally Posted by jambo

This is preload adjustment rather than ride hight, it does more to make the bike feel horrid when moving than actually alter the seat height

Listen to kate & Samnooshka, They're both a fair bit shorter than you.

sorry

[Shellywoozle]

Originally Posted by jambo

This is preload adjustment rather than ride hight, it does more to make the bike feel horrid when moving than actually alter the seat height

Listen to kate & Samnooshka, They're both a fair bit shorter than you.

Cheers for that - no worries Hovi I appreciate your thoughts

Originally Posted by Shellywoozle

Thanks Kate !

Ouch those boots are expensive - should be covered in gold, I will speak nicely to Santa

I will give the "rowing" thing a go, I can just picture myself in town parked up and stuck LOL

They are a little expensive, however, almost two years (and a few accidents) later and the boots are still perfectly comfortable, warm and 100% waterproof. I don't see me needing to replace these boots for a while and I wear them all year round and will probably buy another pair when these eventually die. I know a couple of others who also have these boots and swear by them, one of which would have probably had her leg amputated at the ankle if not for these boots

I did a perfect example of the rowing technique at Brighton during Viney's rideout. Even managed to get it up a slight incline. God knows what I looked like but I was just well chuffed at getting it up an incline!

If you did want to go down the route of altering the bike setup, you can get longer links, drop the forks and the preload at the back but doing all of this does affect the handling.

Tbh, if you can get both tiptoes down, it will come with practice. On my gixer I can get both tiptoes down in my daytona boots (not ordinary boots!) and I won't be lowering it. Still got to be extra careful about where to stop - inclines down to the left are not great, but I just need to develop the bad habit of putting my right foot down first instead of my left.

[Shellywoozle]

Originally Posted by Kate

Tbh, if you can get both tiptoes down, it will come with practice. On my gixer I can get both tiptoes down in my daytona boots (not ordinary boots!) and I won't be lowering it. Still got to be extra careful about where to stop - inclines down to the left are not great, but I just need to develop the bad habit of putting my right foot down first instead of my left.

The inclines were what worried me, my 1st ride I stopped at a T-juntion, it had a incline to left and gravel and i lost my footing. Luckily I didnt loose my baby i managed to hold it but it made me think.

I will invest in a pair of those boots, may turn out cheaper than dropping her at a junction (and less embarassaing)

I love shopping so it shouldnt be too hard to spend the money LOL :P

[jambo]

Best of luck with this!
As stated longer dog bones can drop the rear, the front forks should be brought up through the yokes at the same time to stop the bike becoming a cruiser if you're going this route, but I'd side with Kate that if you can leave the bike stock it will handle better than if it's been lowered.