New bike can I drop the suspension or something?

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strohS · #1 Unread post by **strohS** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 4:53 pm

I am soon to be a rider

Super exited! , I am getting my first bike, My dad has a chopper and a harley but i've always fancied them "rice burners"

.

I test drove a 2000 r6 and it was nice; the guy was a dick and he didn't have the title so I just left.

I found a 2002 R6 which I love and I'm pretty sure I'm going to buy it. I haven't test drove it yet but I'm assuming it's the same height if not taller then the 2000 r6. And when I rode the 2000 I could barely reach the ground. I was on my tippy toes and when I had to stop it was difficult to keep the bike up. I was able to do it by leaning to the left when I came to a stop but I'm afraid I'll drop it sooner or later..

I am 16 years old, 5' 4''. I am getting this bike tomorrow, is it possible for me to get the suspension lowered, or anything else that will drop it, If so, roughly how much would it cost and maximum how much can I lower it, assuming if I go too low it will cause problems.

Or, is it better not to lower it, man up, and just get use to the tippy toe thing?

Thanks a lot,

Anthony

nate1714 · #2 Unread post by **nate1714** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:30 pm

Hmm honestly i dont think u are picking the right bike....that being said i will fuel ur fire...Yes u can "lower" ur bike...my friend and i did it to his cb400 and all we did was drill a new hole about a 1inch back...and then it worked well...we also know what we are doing...but also note that now when he rides 2 on it it bottoms out the shocks (not good).....so think about it and then if u want then get a drill or something...

Scott58 · #3 Unread post by **Scott58** » Wed Jul 11, 2007 6:32 pm

Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

strohS · #4 Unread post by **strohS** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 12:54 am

Scott58 wrote:Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.

Not exactly the kind of comments I was hoping for... How do you figure this?

I've been riding a yz85 for almost 2 and a half years now... I'm not like any other teenager, I'm not an idiot. I think I'll be fine.

Thanks for the drilling tip nate.

jstark47 · #5 Unread post by **jstark47** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 1:54 am

Anthony wrote:
Scott58 wrote:Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
Not exactly the kind of comments I was hoping for... How do you figure this?

You're 16, how much experience street driving in traffic do you have? None? You're stepping up to a race replica bike that has almost 500% more horsepower than your YZ85, you say that it's too tall for you, and you have (I'm assuming) no prior street driving experience. Sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Everybody says they're "not like every other teenager, guy, whatever" In all due respect, that line doesn't carry much cred around here, heard it way too many times before.

Lookit, there's a pretty decent post stickied near the top of this forum called "You are a Beginner and want a 600cc+ sportbike?". Did you read it? I know you're not a beginner, but there's good info in there, so read it anyway, please.

Scott and Nate and I are not trying to "pee" on your parade, we're trying to tell you that we think you're tilting the balance between risk and safety further towards "risk" than you realize. You'll get your R6, but there's a step or two between a YZ85 and a R6 you should probably stop at first.

Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:10 am

A sport bike is the worst bike to lower. Everything was designed to such precision that the change in steering geometry, ground clearance etc isn't worth the risk.

Find a bike that you can sit on and enjoy that for a few years until you finish growing.

Riding dirt bikes for a few years is helpful because you know the basics in controls. However, there are many fundamental differences between them that in some ways put you at a disadvantage. There are many ways that dirt bike habits can lead to serious accidents and injury. In other words, riding a few years in the dirt doesn't make you any less of a newb when it comes to street riding and thus a 600cc race replica is a bad idea.

If you don't believe me, look at the insurance rates.

Sev · #7 Unread post by **Sev** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 2:37 am

storysunfolding wrote:A sport bike is the worst bike to lower. Everything was designed to such precision that the change in steering geometry, ground clearance etc isn't worth the risk.

Psht, you can drop the bike about an inch by fitting longer dogbones in the back and dropping the triple trees down the forks by the same amount. This will maintain the original steering geometry... but it'll reduce your cornering clearance and straight line running clearance. I'm of the opinion you should just learn to ride a bike as is, but I'm fortunate in being able to flatfoot the bikes I want to ride.

Personally, I'd hesitate to lower a cruiser myself. Reducing an already crappy cornering clearance sounds like a great way to highside yourself.

Thu Jul 12, 2007 3:38 am

Sev- Won't that still lead to a shorter wheelbase?

strohS · #9 Unread post by **strohS** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:10 am

jstark47 wrote:
Anthony wrote:
Scott58 wrote:Sounds like an accident waiting to happen.
Not exactly the kind of comments I was hoping for... How do you figure this?
You're 16, how much experience street driving in traffic do you have? None? You're stepping up to a race replica bike that has almost 500% more horsepower than your YZ85, you say that it's too tall for you, and you have (I'm assuming) no prior street driving experience. Sounds like an accident waiting to happen. Everybody says they're "not like every other teenager, guy, whatever" In all due respect, that line doesn't carry much cred around here, heard it way too many times before.

Lookit, there's a pretty decent post stickied near the top of this forum called "You are a Beginner and want a 600cc+ sportbike?". Did you read it? I know you're not a beginner, but there's good info in there, so read it anyway, please.

Scott and Nate and I are not trying to "pee" on your parade, we're trying to tell you that we think you're tilting the balance between risk and safety further towards "risk" than you realize. You'll get your R6, but there's a step or two between a YZ85 and a R6 you should probably stop at first.

Well, i'll be 17 monday, i've been driving for a while now, and I catch on to things very quickly. After about a month of my 85, I was debating trading it in and getting a 125. I learn quickly, and i'm not just like every other kid, that being said, I know means nothing to you. But I know it's true, and that's all that matters.

I got some helpful tips here, and some as exspected not helpful tips, and apriciate the concern. If that's what that is..

Now, I'm going to go buy my R6, and prove to the world I can do it. See ya out there.

halouis · #10 Unread post by **halouis** » Thu Jul 12, 2007 4:23 am

just be careful man. seems like you've made up your mind.

you say "i've been driving for a while now", but at almost 17 yrs of age, unless you've been driving since you were 12, I don;t think i'd consider that "a while now." the roads with traffic, TERRIBLE drivers, wildlife and road debris is much more of a peril to you on a bike than in a car. so take it slow. I would DEFINITELY not recommend a first road bike which you can't stand flat footed at stops. this is all coming from a noob MC rider who been driving a car on every type of road imaginable for over 20 yrs.