Lowering Kit

Dropping the rear end is definitely an option, but personally I'd try other things first (e.g. cut out seat, getting off the bike to move it) before deciding to change the way that the bike itself sits.

Lowering the back will change the angle of the steering, so you will then need to drop the front forks to compensate, and possibly change the sidestand as well (depending on how much you change it by). Lowering will also reduce your ground clearance slightly - though this may not matter to you unless you plan on doing trackdays. I'm not a suspension expert, but I would suspect that dropping the front forks will affect how the front suspension works as well - though again if you're not pushing the bike hard this may not be a problem to you, and you can change springs/oil for not too much money anyway.

Simple - get off and push it when you're parking up. That's what I do I've never had a bike yet (in 15 years of riding) that I can shuffle about whilst sat on it. I'm 5'2" (ish...) and manage quite nicely with just one foot down when stopping etc (I just have to be careful with cambers ) but parking up means I have to get off and push.

What isn't clear from this thread is whether you're actually going to get the longer dogbones that make the bike lower. You're saying your bike has been jacked up so that means the back is higher than normal, so that needs to be returned to normal and then you go one step further and get the special, non-standard dogbones, that's what us shorties do to get the SV lowered. You can get them online cheaply those dogbones. Plus having the forks dropped. And yes some foam out of the seat helps too, don't know where you are but there are various companies that do it. If you're going to keep the bike it's worth while to have gel put in as the seat is a lot more comfy then.

Forgot: best to leave the suspension (pre-load), back and front, set up esp for you and not lower it and yes you will have to have the side stand shortened as well.

Well I hope you get it sorted , and if you do drop try not to smash the fairing because Suzuki have put there prices up and for a Curvry it's £179.72 for the upper right or left panel.

In my opinion, don't soften the suspension.

It's too soft already, but some one with more technical knowledge(YC, Sid, Rictus etc) will be along soon to tell you properly.

Amanda, if you are 5ft2 and can get your toes on the ground, the bike can't be jacked up that much. I am 5ft6 and I can get only the balls of my feet on the ground and my bike is a standard curvy....

[Luckypants]

Originally Posted by Amanda M

Simple - get off and push it when you're parking up. That's what I do I've never had a bike yet (in 15 years of riding) that I can shuffle about whilst sat on it. I'm 5'2" (ish...) and manage quite nicely with just one foot down when stopping etc (I just have to be careful with cambers ) but parking up means I have to get off and push.

Amanda_M is right Amanda, if you struggle to manoeuvre sat on the bike, get off and push. We all should be proficient at man handling our bikes around while pushing. I realise that this is easier for physically larger people, but it's something we can all learn to do.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by Luckypants

Amanda_M is right Amanda, if you struggle to manoeuvre sat on the bike, get off and push. We all should be proficient at man handling our bikes around while pushing. I realise that this is easier for physically larger people, but it's something we can all learn to do.

Not always that simple. Miss Ophic has such short legs that the only thing she can reach the floor on is a quarter tonne cruiser. She has no hope of manhandling that bike anywhere on a slope.

Sorry to hear this

I'm lucky as I'm quite tall so am able to paddle mine around - although i would prefer to push it, but cant as I have a dodgy arm.

I always plan where and how I'm going to park as I can't move the bike backwards uphill, and always avoid gravel unless I'm with someone who can turn the bike round for me

Thanks for all the advice and comments peeps.

MBK - Don't get us 2 Amandas confused. I'm the 5' 4" and can only get my toes on the ground when centred. I'm fine when riding, stopping, slow maneuvers, etc. It is purely a reserving or full lock parking issue, if that makes sense.

Anyways, I have been down to Moore again today and they have measured the bike after taking the dog bones out and luckily had some standard ones in stock exactly the right size I need. He is also going to lower the yoke by about an inch on the forks. Whilest we dropped it down I managed to get the ball of my foot down so with the yoke drop I should get the majority of my foot flat. Felt so much better!!

They are such a good bunch down there that "Tubbs" said he has no work in tomorrow so he's going to do the lowering and my mods then have a go at the damaged bung AND then give the bike a good going over to see if there is anything else he can do to help. All at no extra cost!!!

Just out of interest "Tubbs" is featured on page 105 of the December Fast Bikes. So I trust his judgement on the lowering.

Very excited to get my Suzi back on Monday. Whoop whoop