Topic: Lowering ride height

[mtbbear]

Hi everyone, new the forum. I just picked up a '77 CB750K as a fixer- upper. I am 5'6" and want to bring the height down a bit. I am planning to shave down the stock seat and recover it. Then the rear end. I'd like to lower it, but not too low. Seems like the only shocks I can get are 11". Thats a bit much, I don't want to drag anything. Can't seem to find 12" shocks. Has anyone used the lowering blocks from JC Whitney? Opinions? I work in a machine shop and am thinking of making as custom set, that would have half the offset as the ones from JC. A bit of comprimise. Anyone else ever tried this? With just a little drop in the rear I could just slide the fork in the trees to compensate. I am also wanting to install swing-arm buttons for a rear stand, and lose the center stand.

[phil71]

Lowering blocks are a bad idea.. it puts stresses in the wrong places. There's got to be a better way..
The front fork is a totally different story. If you're considering going to clip-ons, it's slightly easier to drop the front height, but some geometry issues come into play. A little research will give you a better idea of what the compromises and pitfalls are with the different methods of lowering.
Good luck with it!

[Jaydem]

http://www.cyclexchange.net/index%20pics/Honda_Cafe_Lower_Kit.JPG


Cycle X lowering Kit

[754]

 Lowering blocks are fine, ran them for years.. big PLUS with them is , its reversible in 15 minutes and cheap...

[Goofaroo]

Have you ridden the bike like it is?  Do you have any riding experience?

I am a taller guy but these bikes aren't exactly giants. At 5'6" and with a slight bit of motorcycle riding prowess I would think that you would do just fine at stock height and it would allow you to retain proper handling and your center stand. If you are a bit nervous with the stock height, I would start by shaving your seat and you may be able to correct the problem that way. If it still is too tall for you, then there is plenty of info to be had on this forum about lowering the suspension.

[thelowmax]

I purchased my 78 cb750k  with 6 inch fork extensions and extenders (are these "lowering blocks?) on the swingarm that move the shock mounts about 3 inches back. This lowers the bike about an inch (maybe more, though I've never measured before and after) with plenty of room for wheel clearance. When I removed the extenders from the rear, my feet just made it to the ground, even with the shaved seat. I put them back on, and noticed an improvement to the handling of the bike. Keep in mind though that due to its long front end, the bike had funky handling initially. Simply lowing the rear of a stock bike, I'm sure will have less severe of an outcome, but in a good way.

http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee518/thelowmax/?action=view&current=100_3896.jpg#!oZZ3QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee518%2Fthelowmax%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D100_3899.jpg

http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee518/thelowmax/?action=view&current=100_3896.jpg#!oZZ7QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee518%2Fthelowmax%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D100_3906.jpg

http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee518/thelowmax/?action=view&current=100_3896.jpg#!oZZ6QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee518%2Fthelowmax%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D100_3922.jpg

http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee518/thelowmax/?action=view&current=100_3896.jpg#!oZZ6QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee518%2Fthelowmax%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D100_3922.jpg

http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee518/thelowmax/?action=view&current=100_3896.jpg#!oZZ6QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee518%2Fthelowmax%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D100_3922.jpg

http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee518/thelowmax/?action=view&current=100_3896.jpg#!oZZ3QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee518%2Fthelowmax%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D100_3899.jpg

http://s1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee518/thelowmax/?action=view&current=100_3896.jpg#!oZZ2QQcurrentZZhttp%3A%2F%2Fs1231.photobucket.com%2Falbums%2Fee518%2Fthelowmax%2F%3Faction%3Dview%26current%3D100_3898.jpg

Here's some pictures of the bike before and after, and close ups of the extenders themselves. When I first got it, I was highly suspicious of these extenders and quickly removed them. But after realizing I couldn't comfortably reach the ground they seemed like a quick, inexpensive, and easily removed solution.

In my opinion, unless you are racing or putting your bike through severe workouts, these would be the cheapest and easiest way to solve the problem. Good luck.

[bluezboy]

 Naaah, you can ride that bike without shaving the seat or lowering it, I'm the same height you are and I have no problem riding my 750. Go back there and turn those shock settings a little lower and buy yourself a nice pair of steel-toe boots from Walmart and that's all you need to ride it. It's all in your head, take it from this vertically challenged old man.

[thelowmax]

  Go back there and turn those shock settings a little lower

That's so obvious. No wonder I didn't think of it.