honest opinions: lowering a CB1100

[the Ferret]

Lol I've done that too, but stop signs, traffic lights and stop and go traffic are a real bite with that method.

[misterprofessionality]

not to mention that method is straight up dangerous and assumes an expert rider and probably requires ABS to be safe. i'd like to see him make an emergency stop with the rear tire locking up with that tomfoolery...he'd be on the pavement.

nah. it's much safer to have good footing.

[Frulk_imp]

I read MOST of the responses....You know, there's a limit to what the CB1100 can be for riders and who it can accommodate. Discounting Cormanus' video to the contrary demonstrating what can be overcome by a short statured rider with highly refined bike handling skills your wife is at a significant disadvantage from the git-go with this particular bike due to its 540-560 wet weight and her 5.2 height. Between those two factors it doesn't leave a lot of room for error on inclined driveways, moving the bike at awkward angles in the garage, when putting your foot or feet down and losing traction in unexpected gravel/rocks under you feet, backing bike into a parking spot etc. Any of those occurrences will require immediate and significant upper body strength to rectify the bike wanting to go down once that process starts. You want your wife to enjoy riding and not worry about her safety or the bike every time she gets on or off or while riding it at slow speed. I hope it doesn't come across as 'mansplaining'. I think there are probably more suitable platforms out there to accommodate her. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them provide better performance.

[Cormanus]

Quite right to discount the video I posted. It was meant for amusement.

I’d seen it before and went to YouTube to track it down. Searching for “short people and motorcycles” threw up a few videos that may be of interest, a couple of them by shorter women. On the only one I watched there was a focus on smaller capacity sport bikes which I suspect is of limited interest to MrsP; however, there were others.

[GoldOxide_imp]

Quite right to discount the video I posted. It was meant for amusement.

I’d seen it before and went to YouTube to track it down. Searching for “short people and motorcycles” threw up a few videos that may be of interest, a couple of them by shorter women. On the only one I watched there was a focus on smaller capacity sport bikes which I suspect is of limited interest to MrsP; however, there were others.

I liked the video Cormanus. Prior to your posting, I thought anyone can mount a m/c like a horse - simply set-up and swing da leg - side stand, center stand, or on-the-move.

As said before, I think the larger issue is managing the top-heavy weight when the static CB leans a bit too far left or right.

- - -

Hmm, maybe I am too tall for the CB.

Who is the tallest here at the CB1100 Forum? Still have and liking your lump?

[gmike_imp]

Don't know but at 5'10" , 31" inseam and a very healthy ab this bike is perfect for me. Just perfect. Probably not the tallest though.

[Django]

Quite right to discount the video I posted. It was meant for amusement.

I’d seen it before and went to YouTube to track it down. Searching for “short people and motorcycles” threw up a few videos that may be of interest, a couple of them by shorter women. On the only one I watched there was a focus on smaller capacity sport bikes which I suspect is of limited interest to MrsP; however, there were others.

I liked the video Cormanus. Prior to your posting, I thought anyone can mount a m/c like a horse - simply set-up and swing da leg - side stand, center stand, or on-the-move.

As said before, I think the larger issue is managing the top-heavy weight when the static CB leans a bit too far left or right.

- - -

Hmm, maybe I am too tall for the CB.

Who is the tallest here at the CB1100 Forum? Still have and liking your lump?

Well, I guess the difference is, a horse can maintain its balance actively by itself, no matter how awkward the rider tries to get into the saddle...

[alprider]

or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDlG4cu0HzY

[FLYTYM_imp]

I’ve got a 2014 Standard that I lowered a lot,purely for aesthetics. You basically throw out the window all the engineering that went into the development of the the thing but lowering the bike was in the plans even before I got it. I’m in the process of sending the shocks back because the bike isn’t low enough,the front is stock height. I shortened the side stand and use a small ramp to get the bike on the center stand. My philosophy is,I wouldn’t own something if I couldn’t screw it up. I’d post a picture but like a complete moron I forgot how. There’s a few pictures of my bike floating around here in other threads.

[Cormanus]

FLYTM, I'm sure we're all keen to see what you did, so have a look at [url=http://cb1100forum.com/forum/showthread.php?tid=12717]this thread for some help on posting pictures.