motorcycle lowering kit

[impmyers]

Hey Guys,

I see all these responses concerning seats that aren't low enough, and at other forums lowering kits are discussed. I too am vertically challenged. Are there no mods for lowering the bike an inch or so? Is this not feaseable on the 1300?

[Bahbay]

Good luck!!

My wife looked at a works shock which would lower the rear 1 inch max for 800+ bux + labor.
We finally settled on a local shock/tire guy (KC Enineering) cutting the stock shock and combining it with the lower (clevis) of an NT 650 to get an overall 1.75 inches lowering to the rear. Cost was 450 bux.

No change to the front.

This means it is easier to drag pegs, but not to an appreciable extent according to Gary Ann. But she will not go into the annals of motorcycling as one of the all time great corner mechanics.

What it _DID_ do is make it possible for her to flat foot the bike now which means she has a real sense that it's not always gonna tip over on her when she is backing it or moving it around the garage or on hillsides.

Actually, since slamming it, I can't get her off of it. Great problem to have, huh?

Anyway, deplending on how low you need to go, those are 2 ideas we worked through. YMMV

Good luck and best wishes,

Bob and Gary Ann
Los dos treces

[rocky17]

I've had a Works short shock that lowered the rear 1 inch installed for over a year now. Nothing was done to the front end. It has allowed me to be flat footed with the bike. I have a 30 inch inseam. There has been no noticable difference (at least to me) in handling or cornering in the 12,000 miles I put on the bike with the new shock. I called Works on the phone told them what I wanted and they built the shock for me. I think that it was about $700 but well worth it to me. :D
Ken

[maginter]

I put a Wilber Shock on mine about a year and a half ago and it is great! I cut my side kick stand down 3/4" to get the right lean and built a ramp for the center stand.

Let me know if you want detailss. I think the cost of the shock was between $400 and $500.

[maginter]

No, they reccommended because of the set up of the bike not to get it. It works well. They take some information on riding style weight, loading, etc. and calculate the shock to the middle of the band. This allows you to have some adjustment.

[maginter]

How easy is it to change the pre-load? I know how to do it I'm wondering how easy it is to do. Does the right side panel need to be removed?
It is common for me to load up and put a couple of turns in, get to where I'm going unload and take the turns out.

Paul


Paul -

They give you a spanner wrench to make the adjustment. I had to grind my wrench down, but it works without removing anything.

[Redeye]

I've not had any experience with lowering a Pan, but on the Varadero forum I run we have a lowering kit that the vertically challenged can fit that lowers the rear either 1" or 1.5". It works by fitting to the lower link, replacing the original hardware. I would think that one of the specialist accessory/engineering companies could do a similar job for the Pan.
See photo:-

http://www.honda-varadero-uk.org/images/lower_kit.jpg