honest opinions: lowering a CB1100

[Stichill]

What about an [url=http://www.suzukicycles.com/Product%20Lines/Cycles/Products/SV650/2019/SV650A.aspx]SV650 ABS? 785 mm (30.9 in.) seat height @ 196 kg / 432.0 lb. Pretty painted frame and classic round headlight.

this one is on **my** list of good options for her, but i have yet to convince her that she should consider it. it's another situation where the seat is so thin, that we won't be able to reduce the height at all by changing the seat, so it all has to come out of the suspension.
[/quote]

Don't forget that seat width, especially at the front, gives you extra leg length to touch down because you're not wasting vertical length by spreading out horizontally.

[pekingduck]

Seat height is only one indicator. As many have said, the shape of the front is equally important, as is the shape of the rear of the tank. The Street Twin is pretty narrow and low at the front.
V-twins like the Ducati Scrambler and SV650 are inherently tall in that area due to the vertical rear cylinder.

[misterprofessionality]

that probably explains why she's been so specifically drawn to bonnevilles and other parallel twins like the z400. they're just the right design for her. as far as width, she's well aware of that. we've been looking for things that are especially narrow at the middle, and even checking the aftermarket for flatter side covers in some cases to make it even more narrow.

[pekingduck]

that probably explains why she's been so specifically drawn to bonnevilles and other parallel twins like the z400. they're just the right design for her. as far as width, she's well aware of that. we've been looking for things that are especially narrow at the middle, and even checking the aftermarket for flatter side covers in some cases to make it even more narrow.

Looking at the Kawasaki Z400, how can someone of short stature swing a leg over that rear seat?

[the Ferret]

step on the near side peg when mounting

[pekingduck]

step on the near side peg when mounting

Yes, of course, but really, you should be able to stand on the ground and swing a leg over it. Bad design, as it's all for looks.

I remember the wonderful 2007 Triumph Tiger 1050s, but even standing on the peg, I couldn't swing a leg over it. Ridiculous design.

[the Ferret]

LOL, there are a ton of motorcycles I can't mount standing on the ground and swinging a leg over. I'm a short, stubby legged 69 year old with bad knees and I mount a lot of motorcycles by standing on the near peg. Either that or I approach from the low side and do the karate front kick, and hop through over the front portion of the seat. I prefer the standing on the near peg method as there is no chance I'll Bruce Lee my bike over on it's ride side by not kicking high enough with the latter method.

[gmike_imp]

I remember the wonderful 2007 Triumph Tiger 1050s, but even standing on the peg, I couldn't swing a leg over it. Ridiculous design.
[/quote]

I had a Triumph Tiger 1050 but after a few years and I couldn't throw my leg up like a Dallas cheerleader I tried the stepping on the clutch side peg. That worked for a while but after getting pinned to the ground twice I said this bike is for sale. Might have been my fault but I wont try that again.

[misterprofessionality]

that probably explains why she's been so specifically drawn to bonnevilles and other parallel twins like the z400. they're just the right design for her. as far as width, she's well aware of that. we've been looking for things that are especially narrow at the middle, and even checking the aftermarket for flatter side covers in some cases to make it even more narrow.

Looking at the Kawasaki Z400, how can someone of short stature swing a leg over that rear seat?

actually i can answer this definitively! she has no problem with it at all. she just bends her knee and it doesn't give her any trouble. the z400 is really one of the bikes that's at the very top of the list, because the sitting position on it is *just barely* too tall in its stock configuration. it remains one of the primary contenders for her replacement bike in the future for that reason. that bike is really really friendly to short riders, compared to some others out there.

[Cormanus]

She can manage anything: