So it looks like the shock is mounted to the swingarm without a normal linkage so it can only be lowered by installing a shorter shock. My woman still wants to buy her R3 but it's too tall for her little legs. Does anyone have any info about lowering the R3 ? Will it be possible to drop the front an inch and get a shock that's an inch shorter ? I haven't even seen it in person yet to see for myself what can be done. Help please.
Can it be lowered ???
R1-Dave
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Just chiming in as Navin has said coming to a stop and keeping the bike up is a matter of balance and not so much strength. I'm 4'11 ish under 100lbs fairly new rider I spend a lot of my time practicing this and honestly no matter what you ride if you dont learn to lean and balance its gonna be a challenge stopping on any bike. It would be great if the bikes were smaller but if you can learn to deal with it you'll be better off. If you can't ninja has been out long enough that there are tons of lowering links you can get for it. There are aftermarket lowering links available for the CBR I believe too. But both are heavier than the r3.
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Let's Move On
It seems as though this thread has been thoroughly beaten to death.
What it really comes down to is if a rider, new or seasoned, just isn’t comfortable on their motorcycle and feels confident that they’re not going to fall over at a stop in traffic or elsewhere, all the best intended advice, words of encouragement and detailed instructions on how to overcome the problem won’t help at all, even if repeated ad nauseam as it has been here lately.
Chiding the person for not trying hard enough with “If you’ll just do this” may actually do more harm than good and end up with the Motorcycling Community losing another rider.
To paraphrase Yoda, “Lower it or lower it not. There is no try”.
But until someone out there makes a shorter rear shock that’s not even an option.
And suggesting they have a custom shock made (at $800-$1500) for a $5,000 motorcycle (for regular street riding, at least) is not a sensible recommendation…..
It seems as though this thread has been thoroughly beaten to death.
What it really comes down to is if a rider, new or seasoned, just isn’t comfortable on their motorcycle and feels confident that they’re not going to fall over at a stop in traffic or elsewhere, all the best intended advice, words of encouragement and detailed instructions on how to overcome the problem won’t help at all, even if repeated ad nauseam as it has been here lately.
Chiding the person for not trying hard enough with “If you’ll just do this” may actually do more harm than good and end up with the Motorcycling Community losing another rider.
To paraphrase Yoda, “Lower it or lower it not. There is no try”.
But until someone out there makes a shorter rear shock that’s not even an option.
And suggesting they have a custom shock made (at $800-$1500) for a $5,000 motorcycle (for regular street riding, at least) is not a sensible recommendation…..
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Who cares the reason why someone wants it lowered? IT DOESN'T MATTER!
I have zero issues stopping, and have never even come close to dropping it. But I will be lowering it. Partly a looks thing to me...sometimes this bike has a bit of a "i'm a tall dirt bike" kind of vibe going on and i'm not really heavy enough to be taxing that spring even on the light settings...
I've got some cheap shocks of varying sizes on order based on the numbers given in the 'first tear down' thread...... hopefully one will be close enough to where I can just bang out some spacers on the lathe and bolt it up to try it out...
Otherwise.. I agree... just paying the cash to have a pro build up a custom shock seems like a good idea.
-Maven
I have zero issues stopping, and have never even come close to dropping it. But I will be lowering it. Partly a looks thing to me...sometimes this bike has a bit of a "i'm a tall dirt bike" kind of vibe going on and i'm not really heavy enough to be taxing that spring even on the light settings...
I've got some cheap shocks of varying sizes on order based on the numbers given in the 'first tear down' thread...... hopefully one will be close enough to where I can just bang out some spacers on the lathe and bolt it up to try it out...
Otherwise.. I agree... just paying the cash to have a pro build up a custom shock seems like a good idea.
-Maven
Giving advice that was asked for on how to overcome the problem won't help? Hmmm, not if you don't want to hear the advice of people who have taught motorcycle riding to people on "too tall" bikes for about twenty years.
Secondly, Ill be spending more than $800 to set up my $5000 motorcycle to suit me. Like I mentioned, this isn't a cheap sport. Yeah, you can do it in cheap gear, on a cheap bike but then a $5000 bike really isn't cheap compared to a $600 bike.
Street riders, geez.
What shocks were you going to try? I had a GSXR 600/750 shock in my Ninja 300 that was spot on. Raised with link arms to hugest more rear height too. Looks like the res. might interfere unless remote mounted on the R3.
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I would agree that spending several thousand dollars on setting up a motorcycle that will be used on the track is pretty normal but she isn't a track rider, or even a street/track rider. Spending $1,000 plus for one part just to get a motorcycle "rideable" is asking a bit much.
In her last post she specifically stated that the lean technique suggested wouldn't work for her on the R3:
In her words, "On a Honda 125, I was also too short, but the bike was a lot lighter. Leaning to one side and not having both feet flat foot was not a problem for me. The R3 is obviously quite different. The problem is when I'm stopped. I do not physically have the leg strength to support the leaning bike with only one foot. FYI, I'm a female and I'm only 5'2". I also weight less than 100 pounds. I've practiced around my neighbourhood and in parking lots. So lack of practice and commitment isn't the problem. The commitment is definitely there, and the practice is still on-going. But physically, stopping on a slope and backing up the bike (ex. out of a parking spot) is a huge problem for me."
She quite obviously has to lean the R3 over far enough to get part of her foot on the ground that she DOES need to rely on leg strength rather than just balance. So continued advice about balancing on one toe isn't helpful for her.
I understand the predicament. I am inseam-challenged (30") and cannot ride a KTM with a seat height of 37". Off road, on uneven terrain, I like to be able to at least get the front half of my foot flat on the ground. I can't even do that on a BETA 300 (35" seat height) with a shaved seat and lowering link. And the lean technique doesn't cut it when you're half way up a steep hill. There's just no substitute for being able to get both feet at least partially on the ground for stability and safety. That's my preference. To each his own.....
In the industry the R3 IS considered a cheap bike, especially when compared to an $18,000 R1.
Track riders, geez! (Just kidding)
I track ride dirt, with my street bikes I ride street.
If I track on tar, it's a sumoto!
She didn't seem aware of the common dirt bike practice of sliding to one side to plant a foot or Judy a toe even. She got the advice, up to her to try it. People overcome far worse bikes at her height than the R3. It's not strength, it's a skill she can build if she chooses to do so.
With proper sag, a 37" seat height KTM has an actual seat height of 32-3/4".
I recommended she look at sag and a correct spring too.
Love the Beta bikes. I want a water cooled 125 thumper they build for everyone else but the USA!
If I track on tar, it's a sumoto!
She didn't seem aware of the common dirt bike practice of sliding to one side to plant a foot or Judy a toe even. She got the advice, up to her to try it. People overcome far worse bikes at her height than the R3. It's not strength, it's a skill she can build if she chooses to do so.
With proper sag, a 37" seat height KTM has an actual seat height of 32-3/4".
I recommended she look at sag and a correct spring too.
Love the Beta bikes. I want a water cooled 125 thumper they build for everyone else but the USA!
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2,264 Posts
I'm considering getting the BETA Cross Trainer. My local dealer can't keep them in stock so I haven't had a chance to test ride one.
I sense a gap in the market and a business opportunity for any company willing to provide a solution. All we need is a slightly shorter shock body, or if you want to go the less proper way, a threaded coilover sleeve. The latter would be cheap to produce.
Just read in a tire thread here that a 150/60 size rear tire is 0.6" shorter than stock. That would mean a 0.3" lower ride height. If you slightly dropped the triple tree to match, you could at least get that. 0.3" isn't much, but it is a drop nonetheless. Maybe look at an even shorter tire than that?
So...I just bought my 5' tall 87lbs girlfriend her 1st bike. She absolutely loved the r3. Now it just sits because we are having such a hard time lowering it. I have lowered the front triples about 1.75 inches the rear is stock. The bike ride just fine. I've put miles on it...even 2 up with her and still does well with the extreme geometry change. So that's a start.
The rear has been a PIA. I've call JRI who is a sponsor of mine. They say they cant phiscially make a shock short enough. I've also called ohilns, penske, elka, and Race tech. I've even bought a few random shock on ebay. Nothing has worked so far. I looking to get a shock that somewhere around 230mm eye to eye. There is a grom lowering shock that looks promising. It's on order I will keep you guys posted. It also under $100 bucks.
My girl can't wait. She need to get this bike on the track.
The rear has been a PIA. I've call JRI who is a sponsor of mine. They say they cant phiscially make a shock short enough. I've also called ohilns, penske, elka, and Race tech. I've even bought a few random shock on ebay. Nothing has worked so far. I looking to get a shock that somewhere around 230mm eye to eye. There is a grom lowering shock that looks promising. It's on order I will keep you guys posted. It also under $100 bucks.
My girl can't wait. She need to get this bike on the track.
Try contacting Ed Sorbo, the owner of Lindemann Engineering (well known suspension shop), and the guy in this video review of the R3.
When I contacted him specifically about lowering an R3, this is what he emailed me back:
"Smaller tires is the best way to lower a bike. Less un-sprung spinning mass is great for performance and the bike will be shorter.
...
I can shorten forks and shocks by taking away travel but only as a last resort. I don't like taking away handling."
I'm not 100% sure he understood my question was specifically about the R3, as his suggestions were a bit generic, but you can try him and see what he says.
Keep us posted.
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43 Posts
I have been trying to find someone to build a shock, I have found this:
http://www.racetech.com/page/id/98
Im new on the motorcycle world, but, do you thing this could work?
http://www.racetech.com/page/id/98
Im new on the motorcycle world, but, do you thing this could work?
So it looks like I found a winner!! $29 bucks a few washers and it's perfect. It drops it to the max. Maybe 2". If I bounce had it rubs but she's 1/2 my weight so I think we should be good. If not the shock is adjustable and we can always tighten up the spring.
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/990-310
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/990-310
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2,264 Posts
Great!
I passed on your post through Private Messages to those who wanted/needed lowering.
Let us know how it works out for her............
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You just made my day!!!!!! Tell us about it!
I don't see an application for the R3. The link lists Indian Motorcycle. Is this the shock you used?
This is awesome made my day for sure!!!
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