Hello, I am looking for an easy way to slightly lower my seat height. I'm about 5 10 and cannot touch flat foot. I've read that the 650 seats sit lower and that is the easiest, cheapest way to lower the seat height. I have a Sargent seat installed and have the stock seat also, which I've never used. Just curious if the 650 seat will make any difference and how to find sale items on this forum. I've searched seats for sale with no luck. Thanks....
There are rubber bumpers on the bottom of the seat that can be removed, shaved down, etc.
But...
There's no need to flat foot the bike with both feet. You bought a bike with higher ground clearance. At stops you lean the bike to the left a bit and put your left foot down (yea flat down!). The right foot stays on the peg and brake pedal.
If you ride in traffic at all, not being able to flat foot a bike gets old real quick. I dropped my 2004 3/4" with the adventuretech lowering kit so that I could stand flat foot and get my butt off the seat a little at a stop. I'm 6ft, but it is a different generation bike than a 2014.
I lowered my bike (2014 V 1000) using the links from member, Richlandrick http://www.adventuretech.biz/ I'm a couple of inches taller than you but still it was too tall to be able to spread my feet on the ground enough to be really stable when stopped. Walking it backwards while on the bike was ify, at best. Like a lot of folks I don't use it as a proper dirt bike, just fire roads etc.
The lowering links from Rick are high quality, moderately priced and the installation is easy and comes with comprehensive instructions.
Beyond the convenience of ground handling, the slightly lowered center of gravity has made a better canyon carver and on the fire roads it is happy to broad slide in a steady arch. I haven't bothered to lower the seat but if I did I would shave an inch off the -bottom- of the stock seat foam so that the cover still fits.
The newer model 650 and 1000 seats are not interchangeable. Only early versions.
Lowering links and dropping the forks in the triple clamps is your best bet. 3/4" should do.
Well, since you asked for advice (it's the magic step like invited a vampire into your home), check this method of determining how much lowering you need.
5'8" here and I'm managing the '18 1000. Would I like the inch back from my 650, yes! I can't put my sit n' fly cover on because it makes the bike too high for comfort.
Called the dealer today and they have a “low” and “high” OEM seat replacement. Low brings the seat height down 1.3 inches. $200 though. But I get to keep the funky suzi yellow seat look. Something to consider.
I have the low seat. My 14 came with it. I’m 5’ 6” about 29” inseam. I tippy toe with it. I’d still like to lower it more.
I’ve never seen the regular seat so can’t comment. I found the low to be very comfortable. I have to admit that after 20,000 miles it’s a bit flat and could probably use new foam. I recently got new tires which improved the cushion of the ride and I’m sure my suspension is probably shot by now as well. It’s not unbearable but it’s not like it was when new.
I think a lowering kit is in the future. Maybe this winter.
Mjlfz1
I put in one of Rick's 1" lowering link and slid the forks up about 3/4". Reset the sag and found the handling to be very neutral. I did not put a skid plate on the bike and was riding an some easy piece of the NEBDR and ended up breaking the housing around the shift shaft with a kicked up rock. Needless to say the next add on is a Happy Trails skid plate. On highway I do scrape pegs more with the lowering kit. I'm 5'8" with the 30" inseam with standard 2014 Vee2 seat and I can't flat foot bith feet at the same time but it did help with pushing the bike back into a parking spot etc.
Good riding,
Ben
Thanks for all the input guys, very appreciated! I'm fine with not being able to totally flat foot but it gets a little sketchy for me when I'm on uneven ground and can't quite touch as much as I'd like to. Maybe lowering links in the future but for now I think I'll check the rubber bumpers on the the seat. Don't feel like spending any money. I do like riding on a higher bike though, I feel like people can see me easier in traffic.
Lowering the front is free an a lot of guys do it just to sharpen up handling, so I would not be afraid of raising the fork tubes 3/4" if it would help whether or not you lower the back.
jeez I'm 5'2" with 26" inseam riding my weestrom. don't need flat feet on the ground because its almost impossible for me at least. however if going off road then it helps greatly but I almost never do. I think its mostly a confidence issue for those people, but if you're short like me you grow confident with being on your tippy toes and its all about finding the center of gravity of your bike. I've seen guys my height ride a super tenere which is a much taller bike. also, I prefer being on my tip toes than one foot flat because that puts a lot of pressure on one knee.
I didn’t think tippy toeing would be an issue either. Two sets of handlebars, brake levers, scratched tank protector later I know otherwise. I’ve been in two situations where I had to put my foot down on a very low spot making the bike angle too heavy for me to prevent it from dropping. The bike is inherently top heavy especially with a full tank of fuel. It’s not really lack of strength, it’s just the geometry of ending up in a low spot that the bike is already leaning towards and the inertia of the direction it’s heading. For me it’s really time to lower.
I'm 6ft tall and dropped mine in the yard once because I stepped in a low spot unexpectedly - and yeah these things are crazy top heavy. Can't imagine this tippy toe thing. I'd buy a shorter bike if I was a shorter person. My wife is 5ft 2, I'm curious now to have her sit on my bike and see how much of an angle it would have to be at for her to get one foot on the ground.
Rick, not sure if lowering was a factor. The suspension (stock) compressed pretty good when I went through the rocky spot so it may have happened regardless of the lowering. Suzuki OEM lower fairing and no skid plate was definitely a factor. Exhaust took a major hit. Thank goodness for collision insurance.
My son-in-law is has a short inseam and he rides a 2014 Moto Guzzi California touring. Rich's Custom Seats in Kingston WA has done several of my Goldwing seats, and I convinced him to do the same. Rich took the OEM foam out and put a 3/4 inch gel pad in as the rider seat. He has toured with the Guzzi and has had no seat issues. Something else to consider. Cheers
5'8" and can't flat foot either but don't find it a problem. In any case I would be reluctant to lower this bike because I have already decked footrests and centrestand solo on bumpy bends and lowering would certainly exacerbate that. Is there not an accessory lower seat for this model ?
I picked up the lower Suzuki OEM seat for under $200 taxes in. 1.3 inches lower helps with stability and I'm happy enough with the results that I don't need to do anything else.
I can't imagine flat footing on anything but a low cruiser.
Buffeting has changed now... time to focus on that.
Congrats on the seat, Webfors!
I'd much rather go the lower seat route than futz with the suspension, change steering geometry, and possibly bash the under-carriage when you least expect it.
A "height-challenged" friend of mine recently went a totally different direction trying to flat-foot bikes: He took his boots to a cobler and had an extra 1" sole installed between the shoe body and the oem sole/heel assembly.
He's delighted with the result, it looks fine, and was cheaper than suspension or seat mods.
If you lower the bike, you might have to shorten the side stand (and center stand, if you have one). Otherwise the bike will stand too upright and be too tippy to get off when you park on the side of a crowned road (or shoulder). I shortened both of these stands on my bike. Without the mod to the center stand, I could not get the bike onto it unless I slipped a 2x4 under the rear wheel. Carrying around an 8' 2x was not an option. (just kidding).
Being 6' 2", I went the other way and lowered the pegs, raised the bars.....and put in a raising link. The latter is only good for raising seat height - not for increasing distance between seat and pegs - would need the high seat for that......which would like to get one day. Stiffer springs helps too - less sag.
I am also 5 10 and I have to lean over at lights to be flat foot. Here's the big problem--I probably run a shit ton more stop signs and yellow lights than most of you, simply because I don't want to "go there" and put my foot down. It really isn't safe but? It is a reality with the DL1000 and many other big ADV style bikes.
And, yes, I had to do the opposite with side and centre stands - make them longer. Thank god for mig welders!!
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