Hesitation on lowering my bike/customizing to my fit

1934 Views 7 Replies 6 Participants Last post by Junpower, Oct 12, 2015

Vince

Discussion Starter · Oct 10, 2015 (Edited)

Hesitation on lowering my bike

Given that I'm 5'5" with only 28-29inseam(riding boot helped a bit). After riding for my bike for almost two months, I've been getting used to the height of the bike.

The only issue of feeling annoyed while stopping abruptly exiting an exit with some aggressive/careless drivers and cause me drop my bike twice for the past month.

I am certain that this will not be my last bike and most likely I will get more sports bike in the future(probably a cruiser too once I own a place with garage). This bike comes with pretty low height that only cruisers will get lower than this. Most sports bike are close to 33" seat height instead of 30.9". Should I lower the bike for another inch for suit for my better need(sense of more control) or leave it alone?

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Aufitt

· #2 · Oct 10, 2015

Nobody I know over 5"0" has ever said they'd lower a sportsbike bike again.
I know Girls that ride 675 Daytonas, R6's and 1000's that are shorter and can ride circles around most ppl.

You don't ride with your feet down,
Practice stopping and keeping feet on pegs, or slow speed riding.
Ride a dirtbike and you'll see.
lowering seriously upsets the geometry handling and clearance, even a 10mm suspension change is drastic.
Kinda makes the whole idea of buying a sportsbike a moot point when a Virago 250 would do better if its that bad.

*Flame suit on, im from a different rider training culture.

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Stirz

· #3 · Oct 10, 2015

It can be lowered - there's an entire thread on just that, but a 5' 5" you should be OK. Panic stops are hard to get good at - often ending with the wrong side of bike and rider down (been there). Practice in a parking lot - you can stop quickly and predictably with repetition. The other key skill is to 'expand your bubble', be in the moment, increase situational awareness - pick one - the goal being to not get in tight situations in the first place.

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Jay Joe

· #4 · Oct 10, 2015 (Edited)

Lowering the bike where you can flat foot it won't necessarily make you better at keeping the bike up in emergency stop situations.

Honestly only the people who absolutely need their bike lowered due to stature should lower their bike, everyone else needs to stay far far away from the idea of lowering their bike.

I ride a motorcycle with a higher seat height, I have the same inseam as you and I'm light as **** so the bike doesn't sag much when I'm on it, in other words, I have it worse than you when it comes to putting both feet down, when I had to do a few sudden stops I can recall 2 very specific moments where I would've dropped the bike but didn't. And I know someone who has been riding over 5 years and they still drop their bike on occasion.

I don't know, maybe its a dexterity thing or whatever, some people just have bad balance, posture, leg strength whatever and can't help dropping their bike. I guess I can try to give you a tip, when you put your feet down, have your feet at an angle, toes pointing away from the bike. Do not stand with your feet parallel to the bike. Having your feet out at an angle (toes further away from the bike, heel closer to the bike) gives you more leverage keeping the bike up. Try to always do this and form a habit so the next time your front end dives and quickly springs back up (which is what may usually give you imbalance) you will put you foot out at an angle to keep the bike up.

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Jem24x

· #5 · Oct 10, 2015

I'm 4'11 and a girl, and this being my 3rd bike I've never lowered any of the others (Ninja 250 sold, Ninja 300 totaled).

I think the key to emergency stops is straightening the handle bars as you are slamming the breaks. The handle bars being turned in any way even slightly will cause it to go down hard on an emergency stop. Try practicing in an empty parking lot.

Being short all my life I've had to learn to adapt and accommodate myself to everything, and with riding I've always put one foot down (left foot) on a stop (emergency or otherwise) to balance myself.

If I can do it, you can do it.

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Junpower

· #6 · Oct 11, 2015

When I was 15 and started riding my cousins FZR600 I was able to tip-pee-toe one side at stops being 5'6". Just made sure when you stop you are going to lean to one side or anticipate which side you are going to lean and put your foot down on, you should be fast enough to switch feet but if your coordination is not that good practice makes perfect ey?

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Vince

Discussion Starter · #7 · Oct 12, 2015

yea with regular road i seem to be fine with it and felt some difficulty with the crowned road. most obvious is probably backing up the bike into parking
just the lack the sense of be in control completely makes me feel like the need of it

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Junpower

· #8 · Oct 12, 2015

There is always this..........:laugh:

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