Since I have nothing better to do than buy parts to fix up my bike while I have a busted ankle I'm looking at stuff.

One of the things with the f4i is height. I do ok on it, I can get toes on the ground while fully seated (I'm 5'3" with an under-30" inseam). Of course this means anytime I get over a storm gutter, making a turn from a dead stop, or backing it up, it's a bit more work.

Is lowering worth it for this? Or will simply more experience help? I try to lean on one foot and keep the other on the pegs at stop lights and such. Obviously I need more experience with low-speed manuevering too.

 

all depends on you. This is the only reason I would lower a bike tho. You maybe able to get the suspension set up for you and set the preload on the low side which will drop the bike a lil esp with you on it.

 

Yeah, we set sag already, which is why I can get toes on the ground at all in the first place. Feels pretty good, I just keep going back and forth on whether more foot on the ground would be worth it or not.

 

Im 5-6 and Im not flat footed on my F2. I do the same thing I just keep one foot on the ground.

 

As an aside, I love your icon me and my boyfriend both have VWs.

 

FWIW- I dont like a soft seat so I had an upolstery shop trim the foam down. It also *lowers* your body position by an inch or two. Your mileage may vary. Along with your butt.

 

My wife is 5'3". I lowered her Ninja 636 1 inch in the front and 2 inches in the rear, then took out about 1.5 inches out of the seats foam. the ninja had about 4 inches of foam, so she still has a little cushion. So basically she has a 3.5 inch drop in seat height. She can now flatfoot without any issues. She had a real problem before I lowered it. She could barely lift it off the kickstand, then if we were on an incline, such as a driveway, she would loose her footing where the two angles of the road met. Now, she has no problem backing it up, picking it off the kickstand or even holding it. She can flatfoot it no problem.

If you dont corner aggressively, (she doesnt) then I would suggest lowering it. It only cost us 40 bucks for the rear lowering links and the forks just drop through the triple clamp.

here is a pic of her on it after it was lowered.

 

Just to let you know,it depends on skill,I.E. my kid rides in the beginner/class 2 mx class she rides a kx 65 and she uses a milk crate for take-offs,but if she does crash sumtimes a corner worker will help.....and she's a good 6"-8" from touchin......So if you fell uneasy yes otherwise no......

 

Im 5'5 an i lowered my 929rr 2" in the back and 1.5" in the front. I can now get both my feet just about flat foot. I just like it that low cuz it makes backing up easier and i feel better if im on a hill or gunna be stoping on dirt and or gravel. Ive had to lower almost every bike ive ever owned if i wanted to be able to touch good but ive never had any real problems with bottoming out or cornering.

 

I say lower it. it does not cost much, will give you a better footing and can be undone easily in the future if you need the clearance back.