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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I wanted to add that I didn't notice a difference in my chain or the turning radius or anything like that The shock one on easy I showed you the pictures of how many washers I used everything was tighten and thread lock was used. I will not be lowering the front forks as I don't see a need to and it drives and handles better in my opion. The only downside to that was that the shock was only $29 but after shipping and handling to Cambridge Ontario it came out to about $95. Which is still a really good price 
I'm so glad I can now finally ride it and touch ! Hope you are all as satisfied!
I'm so glad I can now finally ride it and touch ! Hope you are all as satisfied!Attachments
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I'm guessing he cut it below the spring mount, so spring tension is still good? $20 is more than fair for the work.
Sorry we've been quite busy......
But yes this shock works well. Its the one from JP cycle for $30. It works perfect for her. I have even ridden it and it works pretty good. I'm 6' 155lbs.....however it rub a few times.
I will try to get pictures for you guys and gals
But yes this shock works well. Its the one from JP cycle for $30. It works perfect for her. I have even ridden it and it works pretty good. I'm 6' 155lbs.....however it rub a few times.
I will try to get pictures for you guys and gals
Kooztune lowering kit
HI,
Krooztune in Australia are just developing this kit at the moment. They are offering a lowering kit that includes a shorter shock and fork lowering kit. I am waiting on mine due this week! They have something for the sidestand too. Around $440 for this kit
HI,
Krooztune in Australia are just developing this kit at the moment. They are offering a lowering kit that includes a shorter shock and fork lowering kit. I am waiting on mine due this week! They have something for the sidestand too. Around $440 for this kit
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Must be! Guess I've got some catching up to do....
Gotta say, though, at $440 (that would be $322 USD if the price mentioned was in Aussie Dollars) vs. $30 for that JPCycles shock, there wouldn't be a contest between them as to which to buy.
Unless, of course, the rider is heavier than about 140-150 lbs. since it appears weighing more than that can make the rear tire rub unless you crank up the pre-load.
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Me and the wife lowered the R3 Yesterday, check it out here. ~ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk6ZqOSfhQc ~
Front and Rear, might as well do the front also it only takes 10 mins and sets the bike level. Went down 1" in the front and
turned out great. Need to stiffen the rear shock more because it bottomed out when I test rode it, was fine with my wife riding though.
Front and Rear, might as well do the front also it only takes 10 mins and sets the bike level. Went down 1" in the front and
turned out great. Need to stiffen the rear shock more because it bottomed out when I test rode it, was fine with my wife riding though.
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Great video!
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So I finally installed the shock/spring today. I'll post some pictures and show some details of the installation perhaps tomorrow, but I just wanted to post to confirm that yes - this is a viable option to get the R3 pretty low. I also dropped the front forks by an inch, and almost maxed out the preload to make it ride a bit more like it should. I'm 5' 6" 130-ish pounds... not even close to having rear tire rub - but I haven't had a passenger on it yet. One major downer of the day is when it came to the kickstand I took 1" out of the stand. This is not enough. I didn't figure that out until I got it all welded up and installed on the bike. I does not put enough lean on the bike to feel very secure when you walk away from it. I'm going to have to cut it and re-weld it :-(
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Thanks
Ok so I'm too lazy to read every single **** post in this thread....
BUT let me just throw this out there....
I AM 4'11...98lbs....and ride the bike just fine...so the gal that's saying she can't do it..You've got 3 inches on me girl!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!
Anyways...it works like a tripod. You can support the bike with just one foot on the ground like I do....and for me, just the tips of my toe on my left foot. I literally slide my left booty cheek off the seat and plant my left foot on the ground. Keep in mind the bike DOES NOT lean to one side at all, so it stays completely upright and weighs next to nothing. This is accomplished by stopping SLOWLY so I have time to slide my cheek off and get a foot on the ground. I have yet to drop my bike.
Also, keep in mind this is my second bike after wrecking my Ninja 300. The ninja 300 was actually taller for me because of the wider tank and I did not lower that bike either. I wrecked it because an SUV decided to cut me off at a light and I swerved into the middle divider to avoid collision. Ninja 300 was totaled and I got the R3 cuz it is in fact smaller yet faster (better torque, HP, etc).
Being short all your life you learn to accomodate quickly to things.
Soooooo....girls....if I can do it...YOU CAN DO IT! Take some time in an empty parking lot and practice slow stops and sliding a cheek off to get your a foot down. One foot firmly planted is better than two that are not. Also, once you take off and get going the bike will stay upright because of physics and centrifugal forces.
cheers
BUT let me just throw this out there....
I AM 4'11...98lbs....and ride the bike just fine...so the gal that's saying she can't do it..You've got 3 inches on me girl!!! YOU CAN DO IT!!
Anyways...it works like a tripod. You can support the bike with just one foot on the ground like I do....and for me, just the tips of my toe on my left foot. I literally slide my left booty cheek off the seat and plant my left foot on the ground. Keep in mind the bike DOES NOT lean to one side at all, so it stays completely upright and weighs next to nothing. This is accomplished by stopping SLOWLY so I have time to slide my cheek off and get a foot on the ground. I have yet to drop my bike.
Also, keep in mind this is my second bike after wrecking my Ninja 300. The ninja 300 was actually taller for me because of the wider tank and I did not lower that bike either. I wrecked it because an SUV decided to cut me off at a light and I swerved into the middle divider to avoid collision. Ninja 300 was totaled and I got the R3 cuz it is in fact smaller yet faster (better torque, HP, etc).
Being short all your life you learn to accomodate quickly to things.
Soooooo....girls....if I can do it...YOU CAN DO IT! Take some time in an empty parking lot and practice slow stops and sliding a cheek off to get your a foot down. One foot firmly planted is better than two that are not. Also, once you take off and get going the bike will stay upright because of physics and centrifugal forces.
cheers
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I think you might be going about this the wrong way. I don't think a different bike is going to change much. I do think you've learned quite a bit in the times you have dropped your R3. I read ahead and you said something about sneakers. Don't do that. I realize you don't want to limit yourself to one pair of shoes but start with some boots that will give you a few inches and some confidence.....along with ankle support. Don't ever park downhill....and practice supporting and walking your bike on your hip with the sidestand down if you ever do get caught in that situation. Keep your gas tank half full for awhile and while you're practicing. It may not seem like much but gas is 6.8lbs a gal give or take at the highest point on your bike and once it starts moving it may be difficult to stop if your strength is limited. Shave the seat for 1/2 inch.....and really practice dropping your ass off the seat as you come to a stop...really really practice...do hundreds of reps and I'm sure you'll be fine if you add everything up. And...the R3 is pretty new, parts are coming out almost daily and I'm sure a kit will be available pretty soon.
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They must be for another model Yamaha. Those appear to be lowering links and the R3 isn't a link type suspension.
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Posting this again since the original post about it is way up the thread.
This is a very inexpensive ($30 on closeout sale) fix that other Forum members have installed and have given great reviews of.
Simple replacement that lowers the bike around 2", which will allow nearly all members who had issues with stock height to either flat foot the R3 or get close to doing that.
No needing to slide a butt cheek off the side or buy platform boots, etc.
Why get complicated. Buy this shock while they still have them in stock and then watch Mattwho777's how-to video to install, and read Maven's comments plus photos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk6ZqOSfhQc
OR have it installed by someone. That should be under $100, I would think.
Then, it would be best to lower the forks in the triple clamp to level the bike so as not to disrupt handling characteristics (mentioned in video).
And shorten the side stand about 1 1/2" or so. $20- $30 at a welding shop.
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/990-310
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Easy Peasy, Cheap fix. Boom!
This is a very inexpensive ($30 on closeout sale) fix that other Forum members have installed and have given great reviews of.
Simple replacement that lowers the bike around 2", which will allow nearly all members who had issues with stock height to either flat foot the R3 or get close to doing that.
No needing to slide a butt cheek off the side or buy platform boots, etc.
Why get complicated. Buy this shock while they still have them in stock and then watch Mattwho777's how-to video to install, and read Maven's comments plus photos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zk6ZqOSfhQc
OR have it installed by someone. That should be under $100, I would think.
Then, it would be best to lower the forks in the triple clamp to level the bike so as not to disrupt handling characteristics (mentioned in video).
And shorten the side stand about 1 1/2" or so. $20- $30 at a welding shop.
http://www.jpcycles.com/product/990-310
Easy Peasy, Cheap fix. Boom!
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67 Posts
As FangShui said... really no reason NOT to do this if you want the bike lower. I've had mine installed for a week now...
1. Handles great...
2. SOOOOOOOO Much more comfortable for me to ride and I'm a pretty tall gal, so I can only imagine what this would do for a shorter woman. Is it needed for me to ride the bike? No, absolutely not. But for so little money and time to be able to stop at stop lights and not ever feel like i'm gonna drop it or have to be on my tippy toes?? Yeah.. this is a no brainer. My enjoyment of the bike went up quite a bit due to this shock/spring. Add to that I'm finally able to start teaching my girlfriend how to ride as before it was simply too intimidating for her to be on one tippy toed foot all the time.
3. No rubbing even with two of us on it
4. Fairly easy to install.. I don't have spools/stand or a motorcycle lift... just a regular automotive floor jack.
5. It looks so much better...
I didn't really take notes or pictures during the install but I used aluminum to make the spacers .. I think I needed about 13 or 16mm on each side of the shock at the bottom eye... and about 3.5mm on each side at the top eye of the shock. Reused stock bolts, naturally.
When it comes to shortening the kickstand - just take out material until the little tab for the spring is just about to hit the ground - that is pretty much the sweet spot.
I slid the forks in the triple trees exactly 1 inch to level it out...
If on the fence about doing it - just do it...
1. Handles great...
2. SOOOOOOOO Much more comfortable for me to ride and I'm a pretty tall gal, so I can only imagine what this would do for a shorter woman. Is it needed for me to ride the bike? No, absolutely not. But for so little money and time to be able to stop at stop lights and not ever feel like i'm gonna drop it or have to be on my tippy toes?? Yeah.. this is a no brainer. My enjoyment of the bike went up quite a bit due to this shock/spring. Add to that I'm finally able to start teaching my girlfriend how to ride as before it was simply too intimidating for her to be on one tippy toed foot all the time.
3. No rubbing even with two of us on it
4. Fairly easy to install.. I don't have spools/stand or a motorcycle lift... just a regular automotive floor jack.
5. It looks so much better...
I didn't really take notes or pictures during the install but I used aluminum to make the spacers .. I think I needed about 13 or 16mm on each side of the shock at the bottom eye... and about 3.5mm on each side at the top eye of the shock. Reused stock bolts, naturally.
When it comes to shortening the kickstand - just take out material until the little tab for the spring is just about to hit the ground - that is pretty much the sweet spot.
I slid the forks in the triple trees exactly 1 inch to level it out...
If on the fence about doing it - just do it...
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Nice fabrication! Looks professional.
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