What's involved in lowering foot pegs?

[Tigadee]

Say I have a bike that I really like, fits my wants in every way except that the foot pegs feel high for me, so my legs are bent too much for my liking/comfort.

I could raise my seat (pad it to make it thicker/higher) but what's involved in lowering the foot pegs? Is it a mechanical impossibility? A financial black hole?

Anyone had experience doing this? Care to share? Specifically to list out what needs to be done to what...

Thanks.

[nzspokes]

Depends on what bike it is.

[ducatilover]

Custom rear-sets.

Or get used to it?

My CB400 had an odd seat-to-peg distance and I can understand what you mean, I found it horrible on anything more than a 100km trip.

[Blackbird]

Yep, it does depend on what bike you have. I fitted a lowering kit to my old Blackbird which was inexpensive (around $80) and have attached the instructions so you can see what's involved in case you can do anything similar. Some other motorcycle pegs (e.g some model Buells) have a cranked design already and a fewBlackbird owners fitted Buell pegs to get the same effect. Maybe it's been covered on any forum for your bike. Whatever you do, you'll almost certainly have to adjust the gear change and rear brake positions too.

[Tigadee]

Let's say it's a Yamaha FZX250 Zeal.

[ducatilover]

An engineer can make adapters.
But, you'll have to get your shift linkage set up for the new geometry.
I managed to change the position of the shift lever on the 600, had to due to different riding position and lower bars.
It's do-able. But, is it uncomfy because you're uber tall, or because you're not used to it?

[Tigadee]

I'm 6' 1" and have thick legs, so they get squished up real good with sports-style bikes (not that the Zeal is so much towards the extreme end of the sports style of bikes)... When I get off those kind of bikes, I can feel the blood rushing back down into my legs!

[blackdog]

Keep your Scorpio and get your 6F. In 11 months when LAMS come in the Zeal will only be worth tuppence.

[ducatilover]

Keep your Scorpio and get your 6F. In 11 months when LAMS come in the Zeal will only be worth tuppence.

This is a very fair point.

The ZXR250 and Hyoflungdung seem to be the most accommodating of the smaller bikes and their value will be screwed when LAMS is in play.

[p.dath]

Keep your Scorpio and get your 6F. In 11 months when LAMS come in the Zeal will only be worth tuppence.

This is a very fair point.

The ZXR250 and Hyoflungdung seem to be the most accommodating of the smaller bikes and their value will be screwed when LAMS is in play.

Why do you two think that current 250cc (and under) bikes will suddenly change downwards in price because of LAMs? A sudden price drop would indicate a change in consumer demand, and just because there are suddenly bigger engined bikes - of similar power - doesn't explain it to me.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Let's say it's a Yamaha FZX250 Zeal.

Looks like it has 8mm footpeg pins? Get yourself some Buell XB12SS footpegs which drop an inch. Sorted, and they're cheap as chips.

[nzspokes]

Keep your Scorpio and get your 6F. In 11 months when LAMS come in the Zeal will only be worth tuppence.

Thats what ive said before as well. Just ride what you have and enjoy.

[Mental Trousers]

You'll end up having about 4 goes at getting the peg positions right so the best bet is some fully adjustable rear sets. You can't get them right without actually riding the bike so you'd need to make multiple adjuster plates.

[ducatilover]

Why do you two think that current 250cc (and under) bikes will suddenly change downwards in price because of LAMs? A sudden price drop would indicate a change in consumer demand, and just because there are suddenly bigger engined bikes - of similar power - doesn't explain it to me.

More later model bikes with prettier options, versus the already declining value of CBR/ZXR/FZR/GSXR older bikes. As much as I liek the older bikes over the newer ones, I think the introduction of many newer bikes to the market will see a drop in value.
A ZXR is (in theory) not as good as a restricted Hyo 650 is it? The Hyo is newer (for those that like that) and more user friendly as it has more than twice the torque, all over the rev range.
The Bros650 is in the same bucket, although, arguably not as good an all round package as the Hyo, which has fairings, pretty USD forks and more pep/bigger brakes.

Many new riders are already opting for the Hyosung 250 models and the EX250 Ninja. Those bikes will drop in value when the bigger ones are available as the bigger ones are simply better in every way and also cheap.

[Tigadee]

Looks like it has 8mm footpeg pins? Get yourself some Buell XB12SS footpegs which drop an inch. Sorted, and they're cheap as chips.

Thanks, I'll look into that...

Keep your Scorpio and get your 6F. In 11 months when LAMS come in the Zeal will only be worth tuppence.

Maybe but I think I am happy enough to be a commuter, so a 250cc will serve me well enough, even if I have the 6F. Family obligations prevent me from touring anyway in the near to medium future...

And perhaps once the craze of buying larger-than-250cc once LAMs kicks in is eventually over, prices will stablise, all the junk mid-range bikes will have been snapped up and the good ones will start coming into the market.