Bike Lowering

Boxerlass · Post by **Boxerlass** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 12:37 pm

Hi All
I have had the bike for 12 months now and I love riding it.
Only...... last Sunday I dropped it in a slow manouver. I thought I was through with dropping the bike having not done it for about 10 months!

Anyway, I dont like the new S much, besides which it has an 830m seat height

which is no good for me standing at 5' 4" - so I need to look at lowering the R1100.

I have had an inch cut out of the seat already so now I can get my tippy toes on the ground. But this just isnt enough to be able to keep the bike shiny side up, if it starts to fall!

Any ideas? Would Ohlins help at all? Anyone know of any method of lowering the bike, regardless of cost?

Help please, I love my bike, but it is just that tad too heavy and high for me.

Pauline

bigblackfalco · Post by **bigblackfalco** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:02 pm

Pauline you need to speak to Hagon.They make lowering shocks for most bikes.Their products aren't expensive;you'll be looking at less than £600 for front and rear units.
Bailey.

Boxerlass · Post by **Boxerlass** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:17 pm

Thanks, I have found Hagon's web site and dropped them an email. Any more ideas are welcome; now I know that we wont be going for the new S, I can afford to spend the money on making the R1100 more comfortable.

Pauline

Boxerlass · Post by **Boxerlass** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 5:28 pm

I intend to keep the bike for some time - would it be worth going the whole hog and getting Ohlins?
If so, where would you recommend I get them from?

Pauline

Desmo904 · Post by **Desmo904** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:55 pm

and have a look at some Daytona Ladystar boots.

The wife's got these and she reckons it's the best £187 she's (I've) ever spent.

Phil

bigblackfalco · Post by **bigblackfalco** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 8:56 pm

I'll be very honest here! Ohlins only really come into their own if you give the bike large pasty.I am talking about riding the arse off it.Knee down antics and all that.
As they are fully adjustable you'd need to know how to set the suspension up to get the most from them.If you don't know much about it,then essentially it will be waisted.
If you lower your bike,you will change the geometry which could give adverse handling.
I'm not sure Ohlins would even contemplate making shorter shocks for you.
I think the Hagon shocks would give similar perfpormance to the stock shocks.
My 0.02p
Bailey.

Boxerlass wrote:I intend to keep the bike for some time - would it be worth going the whole hog and getting Ohlins?
If so, where would you recommend I get them from?

Pauline

macuser · Post by **macuser** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 9:10 pm

stabilisers might help!

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 10:40 pm

HI Boxerlass,
UK Suspensions in Keighley up this way are great when it comes to ride height etc. A mate of mine had a new R6 and the supplying dealers "lowered" it but only at the rear and took too much bias from the front end. Andy at UK Suspensions took the bike and has lowered it properly. It's transformed teh bike and my friend is now so much happier.

Good luck

Boxerlass · Post by **Boxerlass** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:10 pm

macuser wrote:stabilisers might help!

Boxerlass · Post by **Boxerlass** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 11:11 pm

PBBoxer wrote:HI Boxerlass,
UK Suspensions in Keighley up this way are great when it comes to ride height etc. A mate of mine had a new R6 and the supplying dealers "lowered" it but only at the rear and took too much bias from the front end. Andy at UK Suspensions took the bike and has lowered it properly. It's transformed teh bike and my friend is now so much happier.

Good luck

Do UK Suspensions have a web site? I have Googled it but no avail. Sounds like it might be worth getting out my passport and coming over there!

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 1:39 am

Not as far as I know, however if you call directory enquiries they will suplly the number.
I will try and dig it out.

Boxerlass · Post by **Boxerlass** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 12:21 pm

PBBoxer wrote:Not as far as I know, however if you call directory enquiries they will suplly the number.
I will try and dig it out.

I have located it using yell.com thanks. I have also had a quote off Hagon for lowered shocks of £295 (rear only). They can lower by 30mm or 50mm. The problem with them is that myself and my Husband share the bike and our weights differ by nearly 3 stone, so shocks would have to have some adjustment in them.

I will have a word with UK Suspensions first though and see what they recommend we do.

I also intend to go to our local trusty cobbler this week and ask if he can put either very thick, or double soles and heels on my boots.

Are the Ohlin shocks not length adjustable at the rear (46PRCLS)? Does the length adjustment also compress the shocks, or is that a separate adjustment on them? I would still see them as an option; we neither of us are knee down merchants, but we both ride enthusiastically enough to be overtaking more bikes than actually overtake us and I am sure that we would both benifit to a degree from a good set up.

Pauline

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 4:46 pm

You can set the ride height yes, but im not an expert on it. Maybe Wingher (never sure of the spelling

) or someone else would be able to advise?
As I understand it, the ride height is easier to set with the aid of an adjustable arm at the rear. These cost 150-200 normally. The Ohlins shocks do have a height adjustment too but im not sure how much thats affects the bike seat height.
When Alan Jeffries fitted the incorrect arm to my bike after the insurance claim, the bike was significantly lower. Maybe they can advise, otherwise just order an arm from them and they're bound to send the incorrect one and Bob's your uncle.
Ive just bought an adjustable arm off ebay and an ohlins rear shock. Im hoping to raise the rear a bit.

winger · Post by **winger** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:36 pm

Hi Boxerlass

Blimey were to start!!!

The Ohlins are ajustable,from what is the basic height that your S is know, upwards!!!! not the other way,to do that you'll need a shorter damper rod and a spring of the correct length and tension.

Personally if you can hack the cost,i'd go to Maxton,just make sure you've a second mortage in place,their your part of the country as opposed to to Hagon,but i have to say if you can get the S sorted out for you,your other half isn't going to like rideing it,your asking for the impossible either you ride it or he does.

But then thats what make people climb mountains,and while my S may have a long list of bits on it,it certainley has been all plain sailing,i run AP sixpot brakes and calipers which look nice and work very well,the problem being i've just had to order another set of discs,the fourth pair and third different design!!!.

Chris

PBBoxer · Post by **PBBoxer** » Sat Nov 19, 2005 5:42 pm

Chris where did you source the AP brakes please?
Thats my next bit to do