Whats up guys.. i was thinking about lowering my 954 an inch or 2. I'm 5'8 about 180lbs and the bike is a little high for my liking.. I'm pretty much on my tippy toes while sitting on it. What do you guys think about lowering the bike an inch for 2 so i could get a firm footing while at a light or just walking it out of my driveway. What are the pros/cons of doing this also?

 

My woman is 5'1" and rides hers at stock height.

Lowering it will take away some of the handling and turning ability of the bike. It wont be unrideable by any means, but not as good in the corners. The only pro's would be easier straight line acceleration, the front wont come up so easy.

 

My bike came with a lowering link. The front isn't lowered, and the back is in the middle hole. I hate it. It makes the bike very easy to tip over off the stand if you brush against it because it stands almost straight up. I usually park it with the kickstand downhill if at all possible. Next week, hopefully I'll be doing a tire, and while I have it up on the stand, I am going to put it in the bottom hole, If I can figure our how to lift it and make this happen. I also have some 4t and a filter for an oil change at the same time.

 

u dont need to have your feet cemented to the ground when you are stopped. i can get about half of my feet on the ground and my heels kind of hover right above the ground, but i rarely even put both feet down. you just lean to one side and get a firm footing on one foot. you must have short legs, im like an inch or two shorter and 15lbs lighter than you and im not on my tippy toes lol

 

I wonder if the OP is a pro athlete 5-8 size. I am 5-9, not an athlete, and I have never had a problem on any motorcycle. The reason I am saying "pro athlete size" is because guys like Shane Robinson of the St Louis Cardinals are listed at 5-9, and there is no way that guy is 5-9. He's barely taller than the catcher in full crouch at the plate, plus I am taller than he is, and I did NOT get my grandrather or mother's height.

 

You shouldn't need lower it. I know plenty of people shorter than you ride at stock height. Why mess with it.

 

one thing you can do is lower the preload a bit, I'm 5'9" 180 and I've got all the factory settings dialed stock, Honda sets up their bikes initially at + or - for 180 pounds so it's all good -
Lowest setting rear shock and maybe 5 turns for the front preload should give you around and inch lower but you may bottom out on hard turns or braking