Topic: NEED BIKE TO BE A BIT LOWER, ANY HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Short Round]

Hey guys,
  I really need the rear or my bike to be about 1 inch to 1 1/2 inches lower.  I am only about 5 foot 7 inches tall and I would feel much more comfortable on my 1974 CB550 K if it was a bit lower.  I can ger the balls of both of my feet to touch the ground, and if I lean to one side I can plant one foot solid o the ground, but I would like to be able to plant both of them on the groun solid when I am at a stop.  I thought the easiest way to do it would be maybe cutting or heating the rear shock springs, but I dont have a clue really.  I can do engine work alright, and run electrical work on my bike with the rest of them, but this I need some input.  Any help would be great.  Thanks - Chris

[cbjunkie]

get some lowering blocks for your shocks...

you remove the clevis from the swing-arm, mount these suckers on to the empty bolt hole on the swing arm and then slide the clevis back to the new mounting point at the back of the extension.


http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1969-1978-HONDA-CB750-REAR-LOWERING-BLOCKS_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQcategoryZ35583QQihZ006QQitemZ160017607536QQrdZ1QQsspagenameZWDVW

[ProTeal55]

http://HTTP://WWW.CRC2ONLINECATALOG.COM
Look in their chopper catalog, they have 11'' short shocks (13'' is stock) for cheap.
Look much cleaner then lowering blocks - in my opinion...

[seaweb11]

If your bike isn't a stock show piece, which it must not be if you would concider slicing up shocks concider slicing some foam off the seat. 
Keeps the bikes inherent riding configuration correct and can give you a 2" drop with very little work.

If you want a set of shorter shocks I have a set off of one of Cappy's bikes that I bought from him. I didn't like the lowered feel so didn't use them on my project. They provided a 2" drop on my bike.

They were off of a 750 but I think they would work on your 550

$150.00 paypal to dkingram@shaw.ca and they are yours

[oldbiker]

You could also get in touch with forum member "smithrelo" who went through all this on her bike.

[STLrocker]

yeah, short shocks or blocks would be the way to go in the rear. the cut seat foam works as well. it would depend on your bike. if your shocks are worn, might as well replace em with new shorties. if you have a torn up seat, maybe you would want to cut it down. if youre gonna recover it anyway. if neither one is bad, the blocks would work nice.

if you wanna keep the front level with the back, you can drop the tubes through the tripple clamps an inch or two so that the top of the tubes sticks up above the top of the upper clamp, which will lower the front end of your bike.

[golden_child]

I'm 5'6 on a good day with about a 29"-30" inseam and I've done everything mentioned except the lowering blocks and it has worked for me. I'm on a 72 cb750. Still kinda tempted to do the lowering blocks to see how low I can get it without any problems.

This what I have done:
Shorty shocks
different seat
pushed the tubes through the triple tree

[dusterdude]

11 inch shocks,16 inch wheel and still could use about another inch or so.damn it sucks being short.

[ProTeal55]

I was gonna say you could go to smaller diameter wheels to get you more flat footed, but duster beat me too it. A 16'' wheel with some short shocks and a lowered seat is pretty much the only thing you can do to lower the thing, unless you wanna get crazy and "kong" the frame (basically notch/cut/re-weld the seat area to get more "in" the bike, rather that "on" it)

I did the 16'' rear wheel / 11'' short shocks / fork tubes pushed thru the tree's 2'' deal on my scoot.
(Pic has old exhaust on it)

This one has the 4 into 1 on it...

It's prob. as low as you would want to go, without having ground clearance issues, which I only have on real bad bumps/speedbumps.driveways.etc...Never hit once while actually riding...

[dusterdude]

damn,that seat gives me a woodie

[ProTeal55]

Everyone likes the seat, but no-one wants the bike...
I guess it's a sign to keep it...

[ieism]

I would suggest you wait a bit before lowering your bike. You say you reach the ground with the ball of your feet, that sounds like enough to me. My girlfriend is short too and not too strong either, and she drives a much heavier bike than a our cb's (550 lbs bike  --> 101.2 lbs girl)
The balls of her feet (that sounds weird) barely touch the ground when the suspension is compressed.
At first she looked like she was going to fall over all the time, but now things look much more secure and she can even ride with a passenger.

[ProTeal55]

The balls of her feet (that sounds weird) barely touch the ground when the suspension is compressed.

I have always felt that you shouldnt be ona bike that you cant be flat footed on at a stoplight.
Thats just how I feel.

I want the bike Joe. But I'm afraid my coin would only start you on the path to a crate engine for the '55, not purchase it.

Send me a PM with you offer and we will see what happens...

I don't like that seat on that bike (I'm 1 of 1)

Glad to hear SOMEONE doesn't like it.
Good to be different once in awhile...

[dusterdude]

joe,whats up with selling your bike?

[ProTeal55]

Joe,whats up with selling your bike?

Just entertaining the idea.
I will most likely keep it and do a CB550 streetfighter project over the winter.
We shall see...