Weight of bikes...

[Thani-B]

PM Lula, she had a Gladius for a while as a test bike, very dependable and reliable bike from what she said. Her profile pick even has a picture of her and it, the seat looks very thin already and not much room for trimming, maybe google lowering links for it.

Have you had any help with the picking up your bike technique yet?

Im not really into the idea of lowering it, mainly because thats not how it was manufactured and therefore not as safe as it was before it was modified. IMHO. But my views on that may change as time goes on.

And am waiting for monkeymsea to drop his bike so I can try the technique in that video but he seems to be getting better at riding (and moving it around) so it doesn't look like it will happen any time soon lol. No point me lying mine down to pick it up because I already know I can, his is heavier.

[Starky307]

Im not really into the idea of lowering it, mainly because thats not how it was manufactured and therefore not as safe as it was before it was modified. IMHO. But my views on that may change as time goes on.

And am waiting for monkeymsea to drop his bike so I can try the technique in that video but he seems to be getting better at riding (and moving it around) so it doesn't look like it will happen any time soon lol. No point me lying mine down to pick it up because I already know I can, his is heavier.

I wouldn't be worried about the mod affecting the handling of the bike by any real noticeable amount.

The two of you will be able to gracefully lay his bike down on the grass, then practice picking it up, no harm done.

[Thani-B]

The two of you will be able to gracefully lay his bike down on the grass, then practice picking it up, no harm done.

Thats if I can convince him to let me. Course I could always do it when he wasnt home. Might be hard to explain it if I cant pick it up by myself though.

[James Deuce]

I wouldn't be worried about the mod affecting the handling of the bike by any real noticeable amount.

It can turn a lovely bike into an evil handling bucket of crap. It changes rake and trail, and the rear linkage is really important in terms of how the rear shock works. We have a couple of people on this site who've had their bike "professionally lowered" by their retailer and have ended up ditching their bikes and having their confidence wrecked.

Mods front and rear need to be made in tandem with careful thought (and a bit of science) as to how they affect each other. Often bikes get lowered when all that is needed is to reshape the front of the seat to make it easier to get feet on the ground.

[Ixion]

If you are going to alter the seat you probably should look at the width of it as much as the height of it. Even reducing the width of the seat will make a huge difference in your ability to reach the ground. As far as raised boots go, be careful. You need to be able to get your foot under the gear lever to change gears, raise them too much and that wont be possible. High heels?

As one of natures short arses (bloody Igor, why can't he learn to keep the bits in matched sets ), I have given some consideration to all the "make me taller, bike shorter" options.

Boots don't really get very far. To make any significant difference you end up with something so cumbersome that it's impractical.

Some bikes can be lowered a bit, by manufacturers design. Even if the manufacturer designed the lowering kit, it will affect handling. That may be an issues, or may not. Depending on hall sorts of unpredictable factors.

Lowering a bike not designed to be lowered is more dodgy (probably technically illegal , too). The handling will be affected. Maybe badly. Might pay to ask around and see if anyone else has done it? Or find out if the operation is reversible?

Trimming seats, I done that. Can be very useful. Depends on how wide the front of the seat is, and how wide the other bike bits are. And how wide your bits are. For some incomprehensible reason manufacturers now seem to fit square seats. Which is stupid. Older bikes had them pointed at the front.

Turning the square into a point means your legs are less spread out , therefore the downward length is longer. PROVIDED that you don't end up having to splay them anyway to get past sticking out crankcases or cylinder blocks. Works better for guys than gals, because of the wider pelvic arch on females. Works best , obviously, on single cylinders.

Some bikes have lower seats available , others a seat upholsterer can remove an inch or so .

All in all, I've concluded the best solution is just to put up with it. So long as you can get one foot down tippy toe. And just accept an occasional stationary drop as part of life.

[Headbanger]

Let some air out of the tires.......

[disturbed]

Wrong. My mum is that weight and probably the same height, my sister would be pushing it at 50kg. There are some small woman out there!

my mum weighs about that too, and she used to ride a herritage softail springer (harley) if your worried about the weight of a bike then concentrate on the centre of gravity, a heavy bike with a low centre of gravity will be so solid on the road

[Hitcher]

Does a bike still have a dry weight when it's out in the rain?

[James Deuce]

Does a bike still have a dry weight when it's out in the rain?

Get a hobby!

[Thani-B]

It can turn a lovely bike into an evil handling bucket of crap. It changes rake and trail, and the rear linkage is really important in terms of how the rear shock works. We have a couple of people on this site who've had their bike "professionally lowered" by their retailer and have ended up ditching their bikes and having their confidence wrecked.

Mods front and rear need to be made in tandem with careful thought (and a bit of science) as to how they affect each other. Often bikes get lowered when all that is needed is to reshape the front of the seat to make it easier to get feet on the ground.

And that's why Id rather not get it lowered. Having the seat reshaped sounds like the best option.

Thanks Ixion - lots of good points.

[Hitcher]

How many roads must a bike ride down before you can call it a bike?

How much deeper would the ocean be if there were no sponges?

[MarkH]

And that's why Id rather not get it lowered. Having the seat reshaped sounds like the best option.

That would probably work well on the Gladius since you say that it is not far from the right height anyway. You would have a problem making a bike that is much too tall for you work - but a close one could probably be made to be 'just right'.

The important thing is to get the bike, get it right for you, ride it and enjoy it!

[pritch]

Lowering a bike not designed to be lowered is more dodgy (probably technically illegal , too).

Not sure about that latter bit. There was an item in the HRCNZ magazine a while back about somebody lowering dirt bikes for ladies. The Rider Seats website also refered to an item for lowering ride hight on sprot bikes.

I guess an idiot could make the bike unsafe but done properly it should be fine.

The OP's lack of height would be exaggerated by her weight being so much less than the standard 82kgs or whatever, causing the bike to sit higher than normal...

There was a website that listed bikes according to ride height, lowest to highest. It may be a bit out of date but it could be a place to start, the link was posted on KB previously.

Good bike salesmen should know which bikes will suit the vertically challenged. The really good ones even know about the opposition's models.

[Starky307]

It can turn a lovely bike into an evil handling bucket of crap. It changes rake and trail, and the rear linkage is really important in terms of how the rear shock works. We have a couple of people on this site who've had their bike "professionally lowered" by their retailer and have ended up ditching their bikes and having their confidence wrecked.

Mods front and rear need to be made in tandem with careful thought (and a bit of science) as to how they affect each other. Often bikes get lowered when all that is needed is to reshape the front of the seat to make it easier to get feet on the ground.

I agree with you completely about handling being altered dramatically if poor lowing is carried out, but when done properly it can also make a bike that was not an option fit like a glove. I did not want to get into specifics about all the in and outs of lowering bikes as I was planning to discuss it personally if I meet the OP at an upcoming SATNR (note to Thani-B, keep an eye out for a nice thursday night and come along so we can discuss this more if you wish).

Please note I also discussed the mods to the seat of the Gladius that was being spoken about and my thoughts from what I've seen is there isn't enough "meat" in the seat to shave it enough to matter so I suggested the lowering as well to help gain a little more footing and self confidence. I also recommended speaking to someone (a female as well) who has ridden the bike in my particular discussion to help with the decision making process.

[Thani-B]

I did not want to get into specifics about all the in and outs of lowering bikes as I was planning to discuss it personally if I meet the OP at an upcoming SATNR (note to Thani-B, keep an eye out for a nice thursday night and come along so we can discuss this more if you wish).

I think I will wait until I have my full (next month hopefully) and then go and test ride one to see how I am on it. I will talk to Lula, perhaps next time I go on SATNR (when its not cold or wet) and can discuss lowering and such with you if you are there.