Short legs

**Mom** · 10th October 2010, 15:42

I ride a 1988 Yamaha Radian 600. Lovely old bike, that fits me. A bit on the heavy side but I can cope. The sidestand has a kink in it and leans her over quite a long way, so it can be tricky to pick her back up off the stand, especially if there is a bit of a camber on the surface. I have to look where I park to maximise any slope to my benefit. I can touch the ground balls of feet or one foot flat, one balls.

Actually I should have said I used to be able to touch the ground etc. I put a new tyre on the rear, completely different profile and what a huge difference to the way she handles, zooms around corners smoothly, instead of leaning, leaning and then she falls intot he corner all of a sudden. Horrible way to go round corners. So the tyre profile has improved the handling out of sight, but it has also raised the bikes overall height and I cant touch the ground. Well I can, absolute tippy toes, and very precariously. I dropped her last weekend in a carpark attempting to stop, put my foot down how I used to and hit fresh air, and over she went

Now when I heave her up off the side stand I almost go over the other side as my foot does not hold much on tip toes

So, this is a problem and I thought someone on here would have a fix for me. Is there a way to sucessfully lower a bike of this vintage? I can probably get some of the foam removed from the seat, it is already quite narrow, so I cant do that. I really dont want to put training wheels on her, or wear platform boots, so anyone got any bright ideas?

**Edbear** · 10th October 2010, 15:49

You've come to the right place for "bright ideas"...

Unfortunately I'm right out of them at the mo. I know someone who can reupholster the seat, but apart from that and backing off the rear suspension a notch or two - which may not help the handling - I'll have to put my thinking cap on...

**Kickaha** · 10th October 2010, 15:58

Shorter rear shocks and drop the forks through the triple clamps to match

Its a matter of finding the right shock with the right spring rate and the handle bars may not let you push the forks through the triple clamps very much

Reupholstering the set will help but you are also removing padding

**Mom** · 10th October 2010, 15:59

Originally Posted by Edbear

You've come to the right place for "bright ideas"...

Unfortunately I'm right out of them at the mo. I know someone who can reupholster the seat, but apart from that and backing off the rear suspension a notch or two - which may not help the handling - I'll have to put my thinking cap on...

I dont think the rear shocks have any adjustment in them

The worst of doing the seat is it has just been recovered, it looks beauiful and now I want to hack into it

**Kickaha** · 10th October 2010, 16:00

Originally Posted by Mom

I dont think the rear shocks have any adjustment in them

The worst of doing the seat is it has just been recovered, it looks beauiful and now I want to hack into it

The only adjustment the rear shocks are likely to have is preload which wont really do anything

**Mom** · 10th October 2010, 16:02

Originally Posted by Kickaha

Shorter rear shocks and drop the forks through the triple clamps to match

Its a matter of finding the right shock with the right spring rate and the handle bars may not let you push the forks through the triple clamps very much

Reupholstering the set will help but you are also removing padding

You are a hunny. Thanks for this. i will go and hunt down some shorter shocks. I just checked and I can lower the front a good inch

That will put me back to where I was before changing the tyre.

Now to get hold of me old mate _stain_

**Edbear** · 10th October 2010, 16:03

The latest craze in Japan is to lengthen one's legs...

**Mom** · 10th October 2010, 16:33

Originally Posted by Edbear

The latest craze in Japan is to lengthen one's legs...

Pick me - NOT!

**CHUNKY MONKEY** · 10th October 2010, 16:36

Mr Minute can add an extra soul on your riding boots which will help

**Mom** · 10th October 2010, 17:35

Originally Posted by CHUNKY MONKEY

Mr Minute can add an extra soul on your riding boots which will help

I dont want an extra soul though, I have enough troube containing the one I have now

I might investigate getting an extra layer of sole fitted to the boots I have though, if I cant get my BB lowered to suit.

**CHUNKY MONKEY** · 10th October 2010, 17:37

Originally Posted by Mom

I dont want an extra soul though, I have enough troube containing the one I have now

I might investigate getting an extra layer of sole fitted to the boots I have though, if I cant get my BB lowered to suit.

My laughing was out loud!
What is a BB?

**Mom** · 10th October 2010, 18:00

Originally Posted by CHUNKY MONKEY

My laughing was out loud!
What is a BB?

Tee hee

BB? Is what I ride. Once upon a time she used to be known as the Blue Lovely. That was because she was blue, and behaved. Then she became unruley and did some terrible things to frustrate and annoy me and she sometimes caused me to use small short words, still I called her the Blue Lovely. Then I decided to fix her up a bit. Obviously she did not like what I did (no bling, just overhaul and repair stuff) so she decided to show me her displeasure once again, she earned the name Blue Bitch (BB) have a hunt around the forum you will understand why I called her that (it is a compliment).

A bike I never want to part with despite her foibles...

BB, BL, wonder what she will be next time I take her out?

**Edbear** · 10th October 2010, 18:01

Originally Posted by CHUNKY MONKEY

My laughing was out loud!
What is a BB?

Bra size..?

**LBD** · 10th October 2010, 18:04

Suggest you read the attached from the latest Rapid bike mag....issue #60

www.rapidbike.com.au

work done by www.shocktreatment.com.au

You may need to zoom in a little to read the text.

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