Lowering VFR by turning the plates around

I Lowered My 2000 VFR 3/4" by turning the suspension plates around with the arrows facing back instead of front as I had seen on another thread and it worked fine. Does anyone know if this will cause any problems? I can now stand flat footed, I don't think I am going to lower the front though. The only dissadvantage I have seen so far is it is a little harder to get it up on the centerstand. Sure was cheaper than the lowering links. Lighter.

 

Two uneducated thoughts on this...
1. Anytime you lower/raise one end and not the other, you will more than
likely have issues with suspension and handling characteristics.
2. I'm thinkin that if it has arrows... it's NOT meant to go the other way, hence
the arrow.

some things are worth paying for.
just my .02 on that

 

Ya I know, But what fun is it if you just leave it the way it is supposed to be. I really can't tell any difference in the way it handles or function of the suspension. I'm also no canyon carver either.

 

Well, if nothing else, lowering just the back would seemingly increase the rake angle of the front forks, thereby slowing the steering response. Most of the poeople I have heard of that mess with the ride height tend to drop the front more than the back.
Personally, I wouldn't monkey around with the suspension unless I knew exactly what I was doing....finding things out the hard way on a motorcycle can be awfully unforgiving, ya know?
Anyway, good luck and let us know how you like the adjustments after you've had a chance to ride it for a while.

Mike

 

You should also lower the front end by raising the forks in the triple clamps to maintain proper geometry.

Many have rotated the linkage triangles to lower the rear. Works great for vertically challenged riders and is totally free and reversible.

So far the sky has not fallen on any Viffer pilot who has done this.

 

When you lower the bike 3/4" by spinning the suspension plates,does this render your sidestand useless without modifications????

 

lowering

I have dont this mod and lowered the front .33in. At first I lowered it to match the back .75 but the bike just dove into turns. All I had to do was tinker with it to where I like it. the bike handles BETTER then before I did the MOD. The centersatnd is alittle tricky just have to put a little muscle and foot power into it. Side stand can be cut down some but I didn't I jus find a hill or just put it on the centerstand. I had this for about 6-7months and to no ill affect to the bike as I know it. Now can anyone tell me if I can take the left peg off without removing the whole back swingarm bolt?
Greg
N.J.

 

I flipped my linkage plates dropping the rear 3/4" at the same time dropping the forks 3/4" with mixed results. The positive: ride height allowed better footing,stock-length kickstand still works fine,centerstand still very usable. The negative: decreased cornering clearance,rear suspension feels awful,overall ride and feel definitely compromised. Definitely switching linkage plates back to stock while leaving front lowered 1/2" for more sporty steering.

 

Well I've been ridding My VFR allmost every day to work and a little hiway ridding and I really like the loweredness a lot! I'm not lowering the front though cause I really don't feel I need to. The side stand works fine with the front wheel turned left or right, but the center stand it a little harder to get up on but not nearly as difficult as other bikes I have owned even for my 150lbs. I'm not really worried about messing with the ride heighth as I have done this before on other bikes I have owned and have seen others do the same with greater amounts than 3/4" and have enjoyed there modifications!

 

Lighter, you sound alot like me. i am a small frame guy (5'6", 155lbs.)who barely has his heels off the ground when stopped at a light. I have not adjusted my ride but feel that the cornering on my bike is a bit off.

I commute every day that I can and do only a little highway travel too.

 

lowering

You might want to measure the sage. Aslo adjust if need to stock set up before you re adjust for your ride height. As stated in my post by turning the plates and lowering the front I kept the same angle and the bike handles better now then it did before plus i can touch the ground.
greg

 

Hi All, Well lotsa cool theories.I figure I should add mine.I have a VFR 700 Interceptor and are 5-6" 75kgs.I lowered the front 10mm and put a 140-70-18 pirelli tyre on the rear.I also took the seat covering of and removed about 15mm from the padding.The bike handles great on the twisty roads around home.I have run it up around 200kph(private road !!!! Honest) and no adverse handling.I did have the clamp that conects the front pipes with the 2into 1 scrape until I moved it around the tube out of the road.
Cheers.Have fun and stay happy.

 

Ocasio, I was wondering what you mean by the corning is a bit off?
I really like the way mine corners and goes in a straight line. I have never scraped anything though and I don't intend to. It's been a little icy now (dang weather) so I'll have to wait a little while till I get to ride again. Lighter.

 

I've always wondered why people think they need to be able to put both feet flat. You only need to be able to touch with the balls of your feet. When I want a foot flat, I slide off the one side just a bit at a stop. I am 5' 7" so I am not tall.

Is this just a confidence issue? And if so, why does it give people confidence? Because you feel unbalanced?

 

Hmmm, side stand now is useless, unless as noted, you find that prefect spot I'd lower the front 10mm as well. then go set the sag. you'll be glad you did. As far as center stand goes, I've seen where riding up on a small piece of 3/4" thick board say 6" X 8' will aid in getting it up, thing is it will be hard to pack around. I'm more incline to think towards the real issue of why you believe you need to be flat footed. I'm 6'1" and I still only use my toes. works better IMO in fact sometimes I play how long can I balance at a light before I put a foot down.

 

Hi Again.I found sliding of the side and keeping my leg over the bike if I was at lights and was like it for a while I got cramp in my thigh.I had to get of and stand by the bike.It also has a lot to do with the weight.A trail bike is no prob but once they are up over 200kgs it is different.Mind you I could just touch with my toes before making adjustments.I'm that short I have to stand up twice to make a shadow.Cheers.

 

Myself...I'd like to lower the front just for looks. I think the bike tends to sit a bit too low out back. Not noticable to me while riding of course but when I see other VFR's being ridden that's what I notice.

 

2 days ago i lowered my 99 by turning the rear plates around & lowered the front about the same distance. side stand is still very usable but be a little more cautious if ur on even the slightest slope.
Did a 70kms ride today & bike didnt feel much different to normal. I dont race or ride hard at all, i just like to cruise.
is a little harder to get on centerstand but just make sure you push down with your foot more so you dont have to lift as much & its all good.

 

backing the bike onto a piece of 4x2 makes getting the bike on to the centerstand a doddle.