Word(s) of caution. I bought the 08 slightly used. It had been lowered using the Muzzy brackets as well as having the forks pushed up about an inch or so....
If you do this....your oil drain plug will take a beating (driveways and speed bumps, etc). Your toes/foot pegs will be close to the ground in turns/curves.
I cover my bike at work, and while on the kickstand, she blew over onto the right side. Unless you shorten your kickstand, the bike will sit VERY upright on the kickstand. The cover acted like a parachute and pulled it right over.
I've returned the bike to stock height- very happy with it.
Hmm, I have been pretty diligent about reading the forums for many months now- yours is the first time I have seen anyone complain about the drain plug hitting due to reasonable lowering (1"). Is there a difference in the oil plug design location between the old C14 and new C14? (I seem to remember reading that). I have 1,000 miles now, and have not had a single issue on my lowered 2011.
Lowering the bike has all sorts of hidden unintended consequences....
^^^Yamaha V-Max.
I did notice that the BMW K16 is a lot lower than most - I can nearly flatfoot it, and I am on my tiptoes with the Concours (30" inseam).
I am short 5'7" now and have to get use to it. I can't Flat Foot the 1400 and won't ride one I can't FF. How do you get a 1400 Concours down to my level? I see that the standard seat height is 31.5"
How low can it go? I would need at least 2"
I like that.....responding to another post in a different thread. Makes things interesting.
I would be real concerned if it was an 08 or 09 due to the oil plug and guard. There's a reason they relocated it to the front of the pan. If it's a 10 on up then no worries there.
Yeah, I was being creative. You know how I hate duplicate threads. And I really, really hate that the board throws out warnings about posting to old threads- all that does is ENCOURAGE duplicate threads. I wonder if that can be turned off???
I have a 34" inseam and never realized how much hell some guys go through just to ride this bike.
I hope it worked out for you.
Maybe the stock windscreen it tall enough for you, it is useless for me.
I also have an FJR that is smaller and lower to the ground and this is why some people choose the FJR over the C14.
I personally like the C14 better but they are both very good bikes....
Btw; The ZX14 seat is lower than the C14 seat, I never measured it but I can tell it is, plus it's not as wide at the front so reaching the ground should be easier for those with shorter legs...
I came across this kit that allows you to lower/raise the bike without having to rip everything back apart, the lowering links are adjustable and so is the side stand... I'm intrigued about giving it a try.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/181030186206?item=181030186206&viewitem=&vxp=mtr
Hmm, that is interesting. Please note that like all the ADJUSTABLE lowering links, it will require persistent removal of the center stand, and that is something I didn't want to do (which is why I went with a fixed one).
Why would you need to remove the center stand? Looks like an open end wrench adjusts it while it's still on the bike right?
Because the stand interferes with the bolt heads (or something like that, if my memory from two years ago is accurate). You can still adjust the height without removing the adjustable links, but they can't exist with a center stand. Sorry.
With the one I posted the link to it looks like you adjust it in the middle of the link though right? Or am I missing something?