Ride Height and Handlebar Height

Hi all, as I am getting older, I am beginning to suffer from wrist and neck aches after long rides. I also feel that the standard height seat is a little to high for confident stops.
The bike is a 1998 800 with 13000 miles and having read many of the posts on the forums, I am thinking of combining several of the suggested mods.
Lowering the back end 20mm by "flipping" the suspension plates.
Lowering the front by 18/19mm and inserting bar riser spacers, which would also allow the bars to be fully on the forks.
This would achieve both my aims - lower seat/higher bars.
My days of scraping footrests have long gone, don't think I've been within 1/2 inch of the tyre edges for a few years.
Any comments/suggestions/encouragement would be welcome.
I really don't want to think about changing the bike as I love the way the viffer goes and handles.
Many thanks in advance, Geoff

 

The VFR will accomodate just about anyone for a variety of different reasons. Rider height is no problem, some owners range from 5'4'' to 6'5" so the height is really adjustable. The mods you mentioned are fine, you can also lower the rear more by getting a different dog bone link that they sell on ebay for some generations. I have helibars, sargent seat and lowered footpegs (1.5 inches). I am 5'11" and this makes a very comfortable and upright riding position for me.
Tom

 

Being an older (60) rider I feel your pain (Har). I installed the Helibars and love the results...most of the time. On my last trip to The Gap I would have preferred the lower stock bars, but for most of my riding the Helibars are great. They move you up and back enough to make the bike more comfortable for extended straight line riding, of which there is entirely too much of around here. I'm about 5'8" so the bike is a bit tall for me at stops too, but I'm used to bikes being too tall for me. LOL

 

Hi there, thanks for the suggestions, I am also 5'8" and have learned to plan stopping in advance Ha Ha. I would love to try the helibars but they are ridiculously priced over here, £ for $. May just try the risers first, can always look at lowering later, or get the seat customised.
I think the aches are the bikes way of telling you that your getting older (i'm 56) and need to adapt LOL.
Thanks again, Geoff