Newbie with short legs, Lowering Bike Help!
 

I've decided my shortness is not going to hinder my choice on getting a bike. I'm 5'6 on a good day so i really consider myself to be average. Until i sit on a bike. Then the tips of my toes will just barely hold me up. My question is...has anyone ever lowered their bike? Gotten it lowered? How much did you pay? Being a girl i feel like TONS of people take advantage of my lack of knowledge (ha or so they think).

Side story: I looked on craigslist for the perfect bike. All being sold by men and what do you know, they were always asking way over KBB price for them. And they were stock! Thinking they could sell them to me for more. One guy even had the nerve to try and sell me an 07 Ninja 250 for 3,100. MSRP is 3,000. Anyway...i found the perfect gentlemen with a 2001 Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6R. So that is what i will be getting...

Back to my original thought. I just don't want to go into a place and have them charge me up the...wall...just because they can. So i'm just looking for any information on it. I read that you should never lower a bike more than 1.5 inches. Which is perfect because i don't need that much, just enough to feel comfortable on the bike.

Let me know your thoughts! Thanks

RE: Newbie with short legs, Lowering Bike Help!
 

basicly involves "lowering links" for the rear suspension - that involves taking the lower fairings off to support the frame on a stand of some sort, then unbolting the stock links and installing the new ones. the front involves losening the treeclamps and sliding the forks up. its is not that difficult for most handy-persons with tools.

RE: Newbie with short legs, Lowering Bike Help!
 

yup what he said^^^^^^. welcome to KF!:)

RE: Newbie with short legs, Lowering Bike Help!
 

vortex links run you about $50-60 and you could get a guy who knows a little something to put them on in maybe 30 minutes to an hour?.. but yeah, what they said, lol.

RE: Newbie with short legs, Lowering Bike Help!
 

That doesn't sound too bad. Nothing i could do, but definetly not bad. I did find a lowering kit available for it but it was all a bit too confusing for me. At least i know something though before i go in, that way i'm not too stupid. Thanks for the replies!

RE: Newbie with short legs, Lowering Bike Help!
 

My wife spends more time on my 636 than I do so we lowered it. it's a good couple inches. only down side is the fairing under the belly "clearenced" itself as soon as she put a knee down and the turn in is noticably quicker than stock as the wheelbase shortens slightly as the forks are slid up. Only major mod other than the links was the kickstand needed to be cut down and have the foot welded back on so it still had proper lean when parked.

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RE: Newbie with short legs, Lowering Bike Help!
 

i installed lowering links in about an hour with the help of a friend- its a 2 person job. then lower the forks up front and get the kickstand cut. it's actually pretty common for bikes to be lowered - im short as well