Motorcycle Maintenance, Repair, Changes: Lowering a Motorcycle

Bike Lower 2008

Bike Lower 2007

Bike Lower 2006

Bike Lower 2005

Bike Lower 2004

Bike Lower 2003

Bike Lower 2002

Lower the bike or raise the boot sole height? (Adobe Acrobat PDF file)

Progressive Suspension
Enter your make, model and year and see if they have something. If they do, then use the Dealer Finder to see where you can get it!

Adjustment Tech Racing
Ninja lowering solutions were found here and there are a variety of solutions for Metric bikes

Skull Enterprises
A Colorado company that can shorten existing shocks as well as offering custom shocks . . . just ignore the women in bikinis (geez!)

Articles on lowering a bike:
Lower Your VStar 650 for Free with the "Julio Slam"! (this is an Adobe Acrobat PDF file)
Lower Your Sportster: An Interesting Alternative

2009

Thursday, January 8

Dear VTwin Mama,
I just started riding a Yamaha VStar 250 in Sept '08 and I recently purchased a '04 Suzuki Volusia 800. I am short and the bike is big. I really want to get the bike lowered 2-3 inches, but I worry about scraping the frame of the bike or the pipes in turns. Is this classic newbie paranoia or do I have a valid fear? – Holly

Dear Holly,
Congrats on both bikes! Any time a motorcycle is lowered one has to consider the overall impact. Usually it's the ends of the footpegs that would scrap first but in looking at a picture of a stock '04 Volusia I can see that the lower exhaust pipe is darn close to the height of the peg.

I'm wondering if you couldn't choose a less aggressive lowering (less inches) and make up some of the difference by shaving out some of the stock seat foam (there looks to be plenty of wiggle room there) and finding a pair of boots with a thicker sole. Keep in mind that in lowering a bike, it's good to lower both the back (shorter shock or lowering link) and the front (fork lowering kit) in order to keep the aspect ratio from front to back more in line with the original design (i.e. lower the back and front equally). I hope these ideas give you food for thought. – Mama

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Friday, January 9

For Holly who is looking at lowering her "new to her" Volusia 800:

I've never posted here before, but have stopped by and lurked many times. I saw the link to share thoughts, so thought I would. : )

This is for Holly who just got a Volusia. First congrats on your recent purchase! I have a '06 Boulevard C50, which as near as I can tell is a Volusia with a new name.

I couldn't stand flat footed when I first got the bike so I lowered her 3 inches. It took a few months, but I eventually scraped a floor board once. When my husband rides my bike he seems to scrape on every corner. Well, he scraped even before lowering, so I guess it just depends on your riding style. I scraped the bottom of the frame going over a speed bump once, but most of the time it's not a problem.

I gotta say the bike looks very nice lowered, but I may go back to stock height if I start scraping a lot. It wouldn't bother me now if I wasn't flat footed. – Kari (note from Mama: yes, the Volusia was renamed the Boulevard C50. Thanks for sharing your real world experiences on a 3" lowering ... this is sure to help Holly decide what she would like to do!)

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Tuesday, March 24

Dear VTwin Mama,
I have a Suzuki VL800 that is still a bit high ... I did have the seat lowered but it's still a challenge. Anyone have a better idea? – Marie I. from Virginia

Dear Marie,
When one says that they have had the seat lowered, it could mean that a lowering kit was installed to bring the whole bike down or the seat was opened up, shaved out, and redone. I'm guessing you had the actual seat modified. If that's the case, you could look for a lowering kit/link or shorter shocks (check with your dealer). For many people, the answer lies in the riding boot. You could look for a new pair with more heel/sole that still won't interfere with your foot controls, or, if you really love your current pair and they are of good quality where the upper leather is stitched to the lower, a good shoe repair shop can add an inch or so. That might be the best solution, but give it all some thought. – Mama

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Monday, March 30

Dear VTwin Mama,
I would like to share some bike lowering tips with your short riders that are having troubled getting flat-footed. Being not quite 5' 0" and unable to reach the ground, I was able to achieve my goal with the expertise and mechanical knowledge of my "devoted" husband. I started out with a brand new 2008 1200 Low Sportster. He changed the shocks out to 10 1/2", changed the 19" front wheel to a smaller 17" custom wheel, which made a big difference, and last, but not least, after trying out many seats, changed it to a Nightster seat, which is much thinner and narrower, but still comfortable.

Needless to say, after putting 5,200 miles on it within 5 months, I moved up this year to a 2009 Dyna Low Rider, which again he lowered to my advantage. He used the same 10 1/2" shocks, lowered the front forks with new springs, and changed the seat to a LePera "silhouette solo" seat, and it is just awesome!! So please tell all those riders that are having difficulties not to give up. Surely, there is always someone that knows a little trick that just may be the answer. Please feel free to give my email to those in need. Truly, – Chrome Girl

Dear Chrome Girl,
Thanks for sharing the specific steps you and hubby dearest took to modify both bikes to your satisfaction. I agree, in most cases, there are solutions ... and it can take some research and head-butting at times, but by-and-large something can be noodeled out! – Mama

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Tuesday, April 7

Dear VTwin Mama,
I have a 1994 Honda CB250 Nighthawk that I am customizing into my own type of cruiser. I want to lower the back end of the bike by about 2 inches or so and have decided to go the lowering shock route....what I am finding is most of the lowering shocks are made for standard applications and my bike is metric of course....so can you or some of your contacts maybe give me a little insight as to just what I will have to do to make the standard sized shock fit my metric bike? My stock shocks are currently 12" center of hole to center of hole, and the shocks I am looking to purchase are 10.5" center to center...should give me about a 2" drop. – Anita B.

Dear Anita,
Modifying an older motorcycle can present challenges in research. I certainly found a bunch of conflicting information, so let's noodle things through. I first checked BikeBandit for the original OEM parts drawing of the shock, which indicates its an eye-to-eye shock (rather than having a clevis on one end ... a clevis looking like a horseshoe where a bolt would slip through the two ends). Take a look at your shock and double check that as I found other evidence that older Hondas use eye-to-clevis shocks.

The drawing however does not call out the eye dimensions, although I found what looks like the standard shock with a 5/8" eye. I would call your local Honda dealer's parts department and have them look up your specific bike and they should be able to tell you what the original dimensions are. Even metric bikes in the U.S. use English measurement shocks.

Once you know the end configuration and the eye size, you may find a shock company. I did a search on "5/8 inch eye to eye motorcycle shock" and found this 11" shock (scroll down to see it). The Honda dealer may be able to point you to aftermarket companies.

I have to admit that my standard places for older bikes didn't cough up anything ... the CB250 Nighthawk didn't even make their list for searching except at Old Bike Barn (which is useful should you need other types of parts). – Mama

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