Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

Hi folks, thought I'd start by introducing myself and hitting you with a question.

Name is Derek and I live in East Yorkshire. I myself ride a BMW R1150GS. The SV650S belongs to the wife but she's a computer dinosaur :rolleyes: It's a very tasty SV650S 2002 curvy version in Blue with suzuki fairing lowers and crash bungs, double bubble screen. I must say it's a lovely looking and rides like a dream compared to my tractor.

Now for my question. The wife is only 5' 3" and we need to lower it so she can get both feet on the ground. She's not been riding very long so it's important she feels confident.

What is the best way to achieve this. seat? linkages? any advice would be most gratefully received.

Many thanks

Del

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

it depends how much you need to lower it really.

If it's just a little then cut the seat down

if you need more i'd go for different dog bones and drop the forks through the yokes as well

if that's not enough do dog bones, forks dropped through yokes and the seat

and if thats still not enough buy your good lady some ladystar boots as well

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

oh and welcome to the .org

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

Hi and welcome as dirtydog said here is a local company that can do the work for you http://www.drshull.co.uk/

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

Yes - wot he said ^^^ and welcome to the madhouse.

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

hiya,
i had the same prob, im only 5 1", got my curvey blue 02 from cresents in bournemouth, luckly it had had 2 girl owners and had been lowered already.

It has had the seat cut down, the dog bones lowered and the front forks dropped down the max, it hasnt affected the handling at all, and i can get both feet on the floor!!:cool:

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

Hi
I am only 5ft so i had my seat re sculptured also i had extra added on to my boots i cannot put my feet flat on floor when on bike but i can now ride comfortably, a place on hessle road does the seats and most cobblers will add more on to the boots, i paid £10 to have seat done and £12 to have boots done

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

Thanks for all the good info and the welcome.

We have been to the place in Hull (DRS) but they are looking for £300 to do the job which is a bit excessive at the moment.

Can anyone suggest where I can get the suspension linkages and how much I need to lower the forks by. I am looking to lower everything by approx 1.5" to 2" if thats not enough then we will do the seat as well.

Many thanks

Del

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

mine was done by cresent suzuki in bournemouth before i bought it, but i would imagine that it would be expensive from a main dealer, i have seen lowering kits on ebay, front forks have been lowered by an inch, been told all you have to do is undo the yokes top an bottom!!

Havin the seat sculped out i reckon has made the biggest difference as it wasnt just the height the took of they took some of the side padding off which helped so the seat was slimmer.:cool:

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

just found a bill for the seat lowering/sculpting, £50, lowering rods £40 and £50 for the labour, mind this was main dealer prices!!
hope this helps

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

you say your wife is 5.3 therefor you should get away with just having the seat altered, like i said im 5ft i could ride my bike before i had it altered but i am more comfortable now i have had seat and boots done and its a lot cheaper than having it lowered, maybe she could try it with seat altered then if she.s not happy then fork out for lowering, i live east yorkshire your wife is welcome to try my bike to see how it is with seat altered

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

Bandit mainia do the longer dog bones you need to lower the rear Also you can get them from HG then all you need is to let the forks through the yokes Job done. If your not sure get the parts and I'll help you do it!

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

Quick note you let the forks through the same amount you lower the rear!

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

Quick and free "mod" for the seat height would be to check the preload - if she's 5'3" then I'm guessing she's something of a lightweight (WARNING: Do not post your other half's weight on an internet forum - you will die). As a lightweight it's worth setting the preload (rear only on a curvey IIRC) appropriate to her weight, ie. getting the correct rider sag. You might find that it's set up for a more chunky rider and isn't compressing as she sits on it.

At 5'5" ish I've found the only mod I needed was setting correct rider sag.

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

im 5ft and weigh 8st i had my seat sculptured and 16ml added on to my boots i can ride my bike comfortably now (tho cannot put feet flat on floor)

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

Billy, thanks very much for the offer of help.

The wife is panicing in case I **** it all up :rolleyes: - as if.

She definetly wants to lower the bike as it should lower the centre of gravity a little and make it easier for her when carrying out slow speed stuff in car aprks etc. Your right she is a light weight and I won't be putting personal info on any web site ever again.

I will start with getting the seat lowered (anybody got one for sale?) then it's a trip to HG and see what they got.

Will let you know how we get on and maybe catch up with you Yorkshire guys at some point.

TTFN

Del

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

The others have coverd most of it, but IMHO don't drop the forks more than 10mm through the yokes, we had this discussion a while ago and the general consensus was that it will make the unstable if you go to far with lowering the front.

IMHO of course.

Welcome to the site.

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

Where did you get your seat done?

I have taken a carving knife to it and done a bit off a hatchet job so I would like to get it done profesionally.

TTFN

Del

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

Got the longer dog bones from Banditmania. It says on the kit it will lower the rear end by 25 - 30mm. How much should I be lowering the front end with these fitted. I read somewhere not to go more thean 10mm on the front forks, something to do with handling.

What have you guys done in the past?

Regards

Delboy

Re: Intro and question regarding bike lowering
 

got my seat done at a place called cravens in grimbsby cost me a tenner i dont know phone number