Please save me from the cruisers [Archive]

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neats

11th April 2006, 17:24

Hi Guys and Gals :spudwave: , joined KB last week and been having fun looking around :yeah: .

Currenty riding an old (ancient) GN 250 for my license but prefer my FXR 150 . So what's the prob ... I'm only 5 ft (150 cm)tall :argh: . Yep, that's 5 ft, not 5'1, 5'2 or 5'3. And for all those who are 5'4 and consider themselves short ... I am soooo envious!! I have a leg lenth of 69.5 cm minus a few cm for the seat width :eek5: .

I would like to know if I can lower my FXR 150 so that I can get my feet flat on the ground. Don't get me wrong, i can ride the thing. It's just the occassional stopping and waiting at intersections that are a bit difficult :crazy: .

Love some suggestions as balancing a bike on the top of my big toe is NOT one of my numerous skills.:wacko:

Two Smoker

11th April 2006, 17:28

Being on your toes is fine, but i can understand the big toe problem... You can try get the set re moulded and covered (PM Cajun) and that might be able to lower it a bit...

crashe

11th April 2006, 17:28

Neats - Welcome to KB.....

I am only 4 foot 12 inches tall.... and I would like to point out that there is nothing wrong with owning a cruiser....

I ride a Yamaha VIRAGO 250cc cruiser...
and that is really ideal for us shorties...
I reach the ground on it perfectly...

Yep I also highly recommend a VIRAGO....

They even survive crashes well, when the rider highsides it.. and the bike falls to the ground.. The VIRAGO is a solid and a hardy bike...

MSTRS

11th April 2006, 17:29

Are you saying that a GN is a cruiser??? Crashe will be along shortly to set you straight. Pun INtended
EDIT: Damn she's quick

Bonez

11th April 2006, 18:09

They even survive crashes well, when the rider highsides it.. and the bike falls to the ground.. The VIRAGO is a solid and a hardy bike...
What other neat tricks does it do?

Waylander

11th April 2006, 18:11

They even survive crashes well, when the rider highsides it.. and the bike falls to the ground.. The VIRAGO is a solid and a hardy bike...
Even when upside down in a ditch worthy of being called a bog they still start right up once set upright again.

crash harry

11th April 2006, 18:58

Hi neats,

I'd suggest that if you're short you should possibly keep off Suzukis. A friend of mine is about your height, she found that Honda seem to make the most "short person friendly" small sportbikes. CBR250s and CBR400s were the only bikes she found comfortable.

It is certainly possible to lower the FXR though. Not being familiar with the model outside having seen them around, I couldn't tell you exactly how to go about it, but usually the front can come down through the triple clamps a bit, and the rear can be lowered by firking with the shock mounts. You could probably lose up to 2" out of a commuter like that without too much bother.

Your local bike shop may be able to help you, although they might not have done this kind of stuff much or at all, so it might be a better idea to talk to an engineering shop about modifying the shock mounts.

Caveat: if you lower the bike then you WILL lose ground clearance. That means less lean angle available to you and less clearance over judder bars and kerbs. I would advise only lowering it far enough to get the balls of your feet on the ground. That's all a lot of riders manage on bigger machines anyway, it's not necessary to have your feet flat.

Waylander

11th April 2006, 19:00

Need to get a video of Blackbird2 mounting his bike lol. He has to hop up to get on but he rides it verywell. Just what you get comfortable with.

Rosie

11th April 2006, 19:11

Hi Neats! :spudwave: :spudwave:

stanko

11th April 2006, 19:20

Hi Neats, if it helps Ive got a spare FXR150 seat. You can have it. Cut it open and remove some of the faom that should get you a bit closer to the ground. then maybe start looking at droping the forks a bit. maybe try letting off some of the preload on the shock (Im guessing you arent in the 100 kg catergory)so it will squat down a bit when you hop on. PM me if you want the seat.

BEAMER89

11th April 2006, 20:24

:wari: Welcome to KB Neats, l hope you enjoy the site. Good luck on the bike lowering project.:2thumbsup

cowpoos

11th April 2006, 20:48

Ixion

11th April 2006, 20:53

There was one on Messrs Gremlin and Weasel's learners' ride, and I was quite impressed with how it went. For a 250 it is quite respectable.

And when I looked over Ms Crashe's I was also impressed with the build and sizing of the components. They're not at all cheap and nasty.

Not my style, but nothing wrong with them.

neats

11th April 2006, 22:19

Thanks, no offence intended. I like the Virago's. They go all the way up to about 1100. Their seat height is about 68.5 - around the same height as the Suzuki Boulevard range. That means I can ride them witout any adjustment. I just like sport bikes.

kiwifruit

12th April 2006, 09:23

if its only a few cm in it, id chop the seat.
Cajun could help with a custom made seat if you want it done to a very high standard :)

inlinefour

12th April 2006, 09:32

seat is a good cheaper option. Also can the syspension be adjusted or will that stuff up the handling of the bike. Also, can you put lower profile tyres on the bike? Hope this helps:ride:

neats

14th April 2006, 23:42

Hi guys, thanks for the excellant advice. :niceone:

Had a little sit on the bike today to see if i was just being a drama queen but alas, i really am short.

I've got a seat coming out next week which is going to be remoulded. Cranked the shocks but will need to replace them. Got some good advice about that and i'm looking into it ... hear it might be a bit expensive so saving up more dilero.

Gutted I didn't find out about this place four years ago. The money I spent buying a new bike would've paid for the alterations +$$$ towards the next one.

Will post some pics + details when it's all finished for anyone else who's short and wants to go sport!:Punk:

moko

14th April 2006, 23:49

V-Max is nice and low,bit of a step up from a GN though.

neats

16th April 2006, 00:17

Hi, just riding the GN250 through my license. Had the learners for a few years and never bothered to go and sit the restricted. Now, i'm gettng all nervous about it :confused: There are a lot of bikes around that I can fit on and go for all the glory. Just like sport bikes. :yes:

The Pastor

16th April 2006, 07:40

On monster garage once they just tilted the front forks so the wheel is futher out that what is should be, therfore lowering the bike..... Not sure how expensive it is but on tv it was done in less than 30 seconds ;) - not sure how the handleing would be affected but I think they do that for drag bikes so they dont wheelie so easy.

terbang

16th April 2006, 07:42

Sports bikes you like, so its sport bikes you should own. No use getting something you don't like unless you want to moor your boat with it. A combination of a lowered seat, lowered suspension and a little technique from you (and some bucks) and we will see ya out there on what YOU want..
On monoshock Suzukis you can easily fab up some new dog bone linkages to lower the rear and drop the forks in the triple clamps.
Cheers