Author Topic: Lowering a motorcycle.  (Read 6207 times)

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Offline zekd

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Lowering a motorcycle.
« on: November 29, 2013, 11:09:33 PM »
When lowering a motorcycle do you have to lower the back the same amount as the front??

Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #1 on: November 29, 2013, 11:32:51 PM »
Just a word of advice, when lowering these bikes everything starts to scrape, center stands dig into the road , footpegs hit the road which can be unnerving if you've never done it before, and its hard to find a set of pipes that won't hit down as well, thats unless you ride like an old lady.... ;D ;)
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Offline zekd

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #2 on: November 30, 2013, 12:10:47 AM »
Just a word of advice, when lowering these bikes everything starts to scrape, center stands dig into the road , footpegs hit the road which can be unnerving if you've never done it before, and its hard to find a set of pipes that won't hit down as well, thats unless you ride like an old lady.... ;D ;)

other than that, i'm more talking about the handling aspect of it.

Offline strynboen

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #3 on: November 30, 2013, 02:54:21 AM »
if yours legs are to short... get the seat cut down...and the bike handles as perfekt as only a stock bike can
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Offline KrautKoffin

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #4 on: November 30, 2013, 03:25:42 AM »
When lowering a motorcycle do you have to lower the back the same amount as the front??

You'll realize this forum is full of old timers who will rag on you for doing anything besides restoring your bike back to factory spec.

Lowering a cb is easy, just do some research on trail and rake. Make sure you maintain the same numbers when lowering it. Post pics when you do!
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Online Don R

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #5 on: November 30, 2013, 04:13:20 AM »
Lowering the front only will make it turn in quicker, lowering the back will make the turn radius longer straight line slightly better. My brother and I are old farts and we've been lowering these things since they were invented. That said, take anything to the extreme and there are consequences. A bike with a loose swingarm and /or bad neck bearings won't like being lowered as much as a fresh one.
 When I bought my K0, it had tapered neck bearings but they were dented or something, taking off the lowering blocks cured a bad case of fork wobble. New bearings and bushings in the swing arm cured it.
 Only you know where and how you ride, use good judgement and you will be rewarded with a fun ride.
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #6 on: November 30, 2013, 07:32:39 AM »
zekd, why do you want to lower your bike?  Bikes are not like cars in that they do not benefit from a lowered suspension.  If you are lowering it for looks, have at it and enjoy.  If you want to lower your bike because you are small of stature, I would try to find a way to lower the seat.
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Offline Djfob

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Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #7 on: November 30, 2013, 09:22:51 AM »
The look of a lowered 750k is perfect, I really only built mine for city riding. A cycle x 4-2-1 exhaust gives you the best ground clearance. As for footpegs I use custom dirtbike pegs that don't stick out as far. In this pic I still have the stock pegs.

« Last Edit: November 30, 2013, 09:24:45 AM by Djfob »
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Offline Xnavylfr

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #8 on: November 30, 2013, 11:41:35 AM »
You can change the swing arm to a DOHC and that lowers the rear and extends the swing arm. I believe a CB650 swing arm is a direct fit but the 750 arms need some mods. The frame mods all depends on the LOOK you want!!! and performance. I ride with the Chopper crowd and some of those are barely 5" of the ground and I would challenge some of you to TRY to keep up with them in the twisties. Riding style and EXPERIENCE with YOUR bike makes a difference!!!!



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Offline dusterdude

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #9 on: November 30, 2013, 01:18:44 PM »
Dj,that is a sweet bike


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Offline Mantree

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #10 on: March 11, 2014, 07:37:57 PM »
I'm looking to lower my girlfriends 750 so she can actually touch.  When we bought it the forks were +4 that I swapped for a pair of cb500 forks that are -1 and her grandfather is shaving her seat  (he has done it multiple times for her grand mother).  I am working on a new set of pipes to replace the 4-1 drag pipe because I scraped it after shortening the forks.  This said we need the rear a little lower because she is still not able to flat foot.  I will be modifying or removing the center stand and swapping the kickstand for a shorter one.  Any help with finding blocks or modifying the springs would be great 

Offline Mantree

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #11 on: March 11, 2014, 07:41:55 PM »

Thought I would show the bike (and amazing rider) you can see the mount for the new fairing (still waiting on the bike side wiring from Craig vetter's site so she can ride with me on long trips. 

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #12 on: March 11, 2014, 09:38:56 PM »
 Keep the center stand for maintainance and if you sell it. I have a center stand that was narrowed to fit a bike with a header. It still works fine and I doubt it will drag.
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Offline evanphi

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #13 on: March 12, 2014, 05:33:07 AM »
My bike is lowered about 1.5" front and back, with lowering blocks on the rear and the forks raised in the front. I'm changing it back to stock this spring, and maybe carving my seat if necessary (32" inseam on a good day). You don't need to flat-foot all the time when stopped, just ask a dual-sport rider!
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Offline Mantree

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #14 on: March 12, 2014, 07:52:27 PM »
Very true she is use to cursers like her old rebel that she had when we lived it Hawaii I'm hoping that the cut down seat will give her the last little bit to make it easier due to the fact that it is really wide which I like but I have a lot more back end than her being a foot taller and 100 lb heavier 

Offline Geeto67

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #15 on: March 13, 2014, 07:54:42 AM »
You know, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if you sold the cb750 and used the money to buy her a used stock sportster. I'm pretty sure you can find one for what you can pull out of that 750. Then she gets a thinner bike with a lower seat pan but the same hp and handling characteristics.
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Offline Mr Freeze

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #16 on: March 13, 2014, 04:23:19 PM »
Lowering the 750 is not a big deal. There's a lot of ways to get there. I dropped 1.5 inches in the front using the Honda Chopper method, and 1.5 inches in the rear by installing a good set of progressive style 12" shocks. The handling is the same feeling as stock as far as I'm concerned and I used my bike to go across the country last summer with a decent amount of gear on all kinds of roads. Here she is in the midwest somewhere loaded with my stuff.

Anyone who says you can't ride curvy roads this way probably hasn't ridden a lowered CB750.... I had to try really hard to scrape peg.


« Last Edit: March 13, 2014, 04:26:49 PM by Mr Freeze »

Offline 750K

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #17 on: March 13, 2014, 05:34:10 PM »
You know, it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if you sold the cb750 and used the money to buy her a used stock sportster.

That sounds like the worst thing in the world in my opinion, trade a cb750 for a Hardly able son. No thanks lol
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Offline Retro Rocket

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #18 on: March 13, 2014, 06:28:35 PM »


Anyone who says you can't ride curvy roads this way probably hasn't ridden a lowered CB750.... I had to try really hard to scrape peg.


Thats all good but some of us can scrape the pegs easily on a stock height bike, I have had to replace pegs that were almost worn in half, nearly been thrown down the road a couple of times because of the center stands too, its the 1st thing i pull off the 750's. I have ridden a lowered 750 {owned 20 odd 750's} and hated it, it hit down so easily it was dangerous, even a 16 inch rear wheel reduces cornering clearance...... Of course you can ride curvy roads, just not to the bikes full potential, anyone that says otherwise doesn't know how to ride properly.... 8)
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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #19 on: March 13, 2014, 06:43:10 PM »
The look of a lowered 750k is perfect, I really only built mine for city riding. A cycle x 4-2-1 exhaust gives you the best ground clearance. As for footpegs I use custom dirtbike pegs that don't stick out as far. In this pic I still have the stock pegs.



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Offline Stev-o

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #20 on: March 13, 2014, 07:52:39 PM »
zekd, why do you want to lower your bike?  Bikes are not like cars...

You must be an old timer that only restores bikes to factory specs.....ha!
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Offline seanbarney41

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #21 on: March 13, 2014, 08:06:29 PM »
zekd, why do you want to lower your bike?  Bikes are not like cars...

You must be an old timer that only restores bikes to factory specs.....ha!
sure, why not
If it works good, it looks good...

Offline Mr Freeze

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #22 on: March 14, 2014, 08:46:53 AM »
Quote
Thats all good but some of us can scrape the pegs easily on a stock height bike, I have had to replace pegs that were almost worn in half, nearly been thrown down the road a couple of times because of the center stands too, its the 1st thing i pull off the 750's. I have ridden a lowered 750 {owned 20 odd 750's} and hated it, it hit down so easily it was dangerous, even a 16 inch rear wheel reduces cornering clearance...... Of course you can ride curvy roads, just not to the bikes full potential, anyone that says otherwise doesn't know how to ride properly.... 8)

I removed my centerstand too. It really depends on a number of factors like your height for example. I'm 5' 9" so I built the bike around my characteristics, handlebar height and pullback, etc. For someone else it might be lousy.  I happen to be rolling on a 17" rear. The only time the pegs would scrape was on a steep incline hairpin turn occasionally. I love my ride more now compared to stock.

Offline Duanob

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #23 on: March 14, 2014, 10:49:00 AM »
Just get her some stilletto boots she would look awesome in those and she could touch no problem.  ;)
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Offline Djfob

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Re: Lowering a motorcycle.
« Reply #24 on: March 14, 2014, 09:46:52 PM »

The look of a lowered 750k is perfect, I really only built mine for city riding. A cycle x 4-2-1 exhaust gives you the best ground clearance. As for footpegs I use custom dirtbike pegs that don't stick out as far. In this pic I still have the stock pegs.



What did that bucket come off of?

It's carpys bucket from cb750cafe.com. Pricey but I think it was worth it.
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