honest opinions: lowering a CB1100

[the Ferret]

Once you lower the bike, the side stand will be prohibitively long and the centerstand will be useless because of what LR said.

and then there are the issues of the front fender hitting the horns or triple tree on a severe bump or hard braking, and the pegs digging in on a decreasing radius turn

Uunfortunately, I know where your wife is coming from, a lot of bike I try and test ride my feet just swing in the air. I have stood beside them, kicked them in gear and let out the clutch while stepping on the near side peg and swinging my leg over, and coming to a halt and jumping off and holding it up. Mostly on Adventure style bikes, which is why I don't own one of those.

I recently lowered my FJR 1/2" in rear with adjustable lowering links and sliding the tubes up 3/8" in the trees in front (as far as I could go). I'm ok with it now, but one of these days I may have another 1/2" taken out of the seat, but I really don't want to mess up the rider triangle. Raise the pegs or lower the seat and the knee and hip bend becomes more acute.(tighter bend)

Funny thing is I fit fineon the CB and my wife and I measured the two bikes the other day. Seat height on the CB was 30 7/8 ". Seat height on the FJR was 30 3/8". The FJR was actually 1/2" lower in seat height than the CB. I was shocked. But it is also 1 1/2" wider at the front of the seat, which is apparently what makes it feel so tall.