1997 VFR for my Girl Friend, lowering ideas?

Hello all!!! I got a like new one owner 1997 VFR with 28K mi on it, perfect plastic all stock except gen-mars and rectifier. I had new fluids and tires done. It is for my GF and she is like 5'2" tall so I want to lower it. My thoughts are to;
First send the seat to Spencer's Seats and have him lower the seat. This would run about $50.
Second would be to drop the front forks (actually raise the tubes in the triple tree), how much can I do this without upsetting the bikes handling maybe 1/2"? This would be free.
Third would be to order the 929 shock and have it built for her size and weight, maybe an inch lower. This would be about $450. I don't like the idea of a different triangle.

I think I would go down this list until she is "happy" with it.

Are there any other ideas that would help?

 

Id say shave the seat and drop the forks a 1/2 should make for a fun bike with the tallest boots she can find. Anything more and you will be making the bike handle worse, not better. How tall is she? Also if you put the bike on a diet, it will make the bike feel lighter and be slightly easy to manage and again, handle better, not worse.

 

She is 5' 2", thanks.

 

Oh man, this is a tough one. Me personally I say she best have her A game. I wouldn't lower it, other than shaving the seat. suspension mods on a vfr are a touchy subject. But all things said when you get right down to it, it's her bike and you can do what ever, but? When and if you do, make sure you rework, cut off, can't believe i said that, the side stand, once you lower the bike the side stand will be for the most part useless. not to mention might as take off the center stand while you're at it. I'd recommend she build up her riding confidence. it's just a balancing act. I've seen a lot of gals 5' a little, and they have the skills to where ride height isn't an issue. just saying lowering the bike Fs up the ride and handling. GL.

 

Agree with RVFR above.

Gotta face one possible fact: the bike may be TOO BIG for her. A nice NT650 Hawk would be a perfect ride for her, eh ??




Urging someone to ride a bike too large for them to handle easily aND COMPETANTLY can result in life-long frustration, self-doubt and rashed plastic. :disturbed:

 

Is she an experienced rider?

Also, you may want to consider a stock F4i shock, since it will already be shorter and more lightly sprung.

 

She currently also has a Harley Switchback, and she's had other bikes in the past 2 BMW's, another HD and a 95 VFR. Her 95 fit her fine, it did have a Corbin seat, but no shock or spring changes. Maybe doing just the seat will work.

 

There's a gal here a couple months back that just got a vfr and she got away with the seat shaving, she had a post on here how she did it and how it worked for here, now where is it...

 

The Corbin seat is taller and much wider than the stock seat (on the 6th gen, at least) so I don't see how she could manage her old VFR better than this one.

 

Yup, shave the seat between the thighs and a little off the top will help big time...trust me...first day I had my bike I took my seat to a local upholstery shop, think it cost me like 25 bucks.

 

On the 4th Gen the corbin seat was only about 1/2 tall and hard as a rock. I tried it a few times and had to put the stock seat back on it.

 

How much height difference is there between having the preload set all the way up to having it all the way down? It was set about 2/3 to max (I got it from a big guy) when I bought it and took most of the preload out and she did say it was better and didn't notice and ride difference.

 

I doubt your girl friend weighs enough to have it where it compresses a bit more when sat on. But I would set it on the lowest setting for starters and see how it works. Shock spring preload adjustment is more for when you are out riding.

 

While there is some very sound advise here from some very astute member contributors, I believe that they have overlooked the most important and obvious question..........where is the picture of said bike? ( must have claimed girlfriend in the picture) :glee:

 

well, true that

 

Who's been reading my diary?

 

Well I sent the seat off to get cut down. I have a pic of the bike but not with her on it, when I get the seat back I'll try and post up the after pic.

 

:cheer2:

:cheer2:

 

Fingers crossed, Jev style....that was asking a little to much... she can wear minimal clothes.
Good luck, I'm sure she will like it , hopefully they do it right, between the thighs made a huge difference for me at 5'6

 

OP here. Sorry I never got back to this thread. Spencer's Seats did a great job on the seat, lowered it (placed a honeycomb base and thin foam on top) and shaved the sides. My GF was on the tips of her boot soles before now she is on the balls of her feet, also the bike had genmar risers when I bought it, she says that now the weight on her wrists is gone due to sitting lower. No need for any suspension changes now!!!