Lowering kits

[Remy]

It's likely that if (when!) I pass my test I will need a lowering kit for my Suzuki Gladius to make me more stable handling it. This would probably apply to most bikes except the cruiser types which don't really appeal to me. My problem is these bikes are way heavier than my little YBR and I'm not very strong having arthritic thumb joints and it wouldn't take much for me to overbalance if I'm having to reach to the ground.

How does lowering affect the handling of the bike?

[megawatt]

Not much st low and medium speeds. At higher speeds, will make bike mote stable in s straight line and less stable through tight corners. You will probably not notice. If a problem, drop forks through yokes about 5 or 10mm.

[bex]

it depends on who and how it is dropped, you have to think about hte rake n trail, if you lower the rear without the front it alters them and this alters the handling, as said above droppin the forks thru the yoke alters the trail to make it better but notalter the height of the seat, same as dropping the rear without the front will make it handle like a barge lol.

it is possible but shop around and make sure that the person knows what they are doing

is there no way you can get used to tippytoing? alot of us do and its all about confidence and thigh muscles

[Remy]

is there no way you can get used to tippytoing? alot of us do and its all about confidence and thigh muscles

 

Well yeah but you're all probably way younger than me and don't suffer from arthritis/joint pains/ war wounds . Having said that I am very muscley but these days it's well covered

[megawatt]

I have Osteo Arthritis and a replacement left knee. You will not notice lowering your bike up to 30mm, believe me. I lowered my Bandit 1200 by that much, didn't drop the yokes and still did 90mph corners at 90mph.

Here's a kit for your bike;

ebay number 370250703731

£15 to buy and a dealer will charge you £50 for fitting it. One of us could fit it less than 1/2 hour, for a coffee???

[Boothy]

Here you go

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Suzuki-SFV650-Gla ... 1286wt_648

Boothy

[TC]

I've had lowered CBR's and now a lowered Fazer Thou.

I've found them to handle better. I don't know if its in my mind because i'm more comfy with the bike being lower or that the centre of gravity is lower.

The CBR was done professionally about £200

The Fazer i've done myself. Got longer bones and lowered the bike through the folks. (Just make sure the bike is level) 20 min job. Give me a shout if you want a hand.

If you don't like it lowered 20 mins later its back to normal

[megawatt]

There's a lot of tosh spoken about lowering kits and handling! The main thing is that it gives you the confidence to ride your bike safely at low speeds. What's more important , a slight twitchiness at silly speeds which you probably won't do for a long time or the confidence to manoeuveur your bike at low speeds and not drop it. With my B12 lowered, I could manhandle it AND still hammer it through the bends. If you fit adjustable dogbones, about £60, you can gradually raise the back end and seat as you gain confidence!!!

[eastanglianbiker]

if its any help these guys are g ood ive got there kit on my 1100 suzuki http://www.lustracing.co.uk/

[Guest]

I agree with MW never had a problem with my and it really does help your confidence knowing you can get your foot down comfatably!

I lowered my bike myself, the 'standard' lowering kit for the sv wasn't any good still couldn't touch the floor.

So I had the dogbones made, couldn't tell you how much it's lowered but definatly beyond the norm. The forks are dropped quite a bit also, more than normal!

The handling to me seems fine! But then it's the only way I have ridden it, so I have no idea!!!!

I have also built up my boots and have had the seat scultpterd to within a inch of it's life!