Lowering a 1999 M900

[motorcycles]

Hey everbody-

I'm looking to lower my 1999 M900 to achieve something closer to flat foot, as it is I'm tiptoe-ing borderlining on a one foot dangle.  Anybody able to point me in the right directions for mods to get me closer to the ground?  lowering links? modified seats? other suspension changes?

any info appreciated, thanks!

[Duck-Stew]

Modified seat is nice b/c it leaves the suspension geometry alone.  But, sometimes that’s not enough...  How much lower are you looking to achieve? 

[ducpainter]

What do you figure a seat mod is worth Stu...about an inch?

[stopintime]

The 400/600 cc bikes have a lower seat (, I think)

[Duck-Stew]

What do you figure a seat mod is worth Stu...about an inch?

An inch to inch and a quarter can be had out of the seat if you’re willing to have the upholsterer put in some sort of gel insert.  (From my experience, it was way worth it.)

The 400/600 cc bikes have a lower seat (, I think)

I think the lower seats from the factory were only an option on the 2002-2008 bikes.  The seats changed from 1993-2001 & 2002-2008.

[Howie]

The small motor bikes were a little lower out of the factory.  before I did any modifications I would check that ride height and sag are correct.  A woman who traded her Buell Lightning for a Monster 696 complained the Monster was too tall.  Adjusting the preload on the shock fixed that.

[Pinion]

Adjustment in the wishbone

[Duck-Stew]

Adjustment in the wishbone

There is some adjustment there, but from the factory, the heim joints are nearly bottomed out.  So, to lower further beyond that requires thinner jamb nuts, NO jamb nuts (not recommended) or a modified hoop.  I’ve seen all those...

The small motor bikes were a little lower out of the factory.  before I did any modifications I would check that ride height and sag are correct.  A woman who traded her Buell Lightning for a Monster 696 complained the Monster was too tall.  Adjusting the preload on the shock fixed that.

True.  Also, the smaller engine bikes had smaller OD tires on them back in ‘99.

[ducpainter]

I'd find a spare hoop and have it cut down.

The OP should know that he'd have to lower the front the same amount, or lose the handling characteristics.

[S21FOLGORE]

Hey everbody-

I'm looking to lower my 1999 M900 to achieve something closer to flat foot, as it is I'm tiptoe-ing borderlining on a one foot dangle.  <SNIP>

How tall are you, and how much do you weigh?
Also, how long have you been riding motorcycles?

There's absolutely no need to " flat foot " both feet, to ride a motorcycle.

I'm only 5'5", 125 lb. WITH street clothes on (with knives and flashlight, all kind of crap in the pockets), and
I have never felt the need to lower the seat on any bike I owned.
(And some of them came with rather tall seat, such as ...

1988 Africa Twin


1987 RM125


1984 RH250


1982 CB900F (Not crazy tall seat like RH or Africa Twin, but not a low seat at all


(With CB, it was more of the shape of the seat that was problem.
It's wide, and it's square, so your legs are forced to spread wide apart near the joint.)
Never had to lower any of them.
And yes, I took that Africa Twin for real off road riding.)

... anyhow, unless you are two inches (or more) shorter than I am, there's no need to lower the seat.

[ducpainter]

...not a Monster in sight...

[S21FOLGORE]

Well, my point is, unless the OP is shorter than 5'3", under 100lb, there's no need to lower the seat.

If you lower the seat by modifying the suspension components, you'd screw up the geometry and ruin the handling.

If you don't touch the suspension and just lower the seat, you still ruing the handling.
(It is a simple matter of physics. The greater the distance between the seat and foot peg, the quicker (requires less effort) to lean the bike in. But, on a sport bike / racing bike, foot pegs can't be set really low (for obvious reason), so, in order to keep the reasonable amount of distance between the sitting point and foot peg(s), seat needs to be at certain height.)

[koko64]

I think lowering the seat is a good idea. I did that on my Hyper and it improved the handling because I was no longer wobbling about on it  . It lowered, centralized and stabilized the rider mass. If your legs are short you will still have leverage on relatively higher pegs. Im top heavy at 5'8" and 200 with a long torso and stumpy legs, my GSXR 750 track bike has high race pegs but a seat pad only 10mm thick. If a low seat gives confidence, then that will help immensely. It really depends on the individual.

[Duck-Stew]

I think lowering the seat is a good idea. I did that on my Hyper and it improved the handling because I was no longer wobbling about on it  . It lowered, centralized and stabilized the rider mass. If your legs are short you will still have leverage on relatively higher pegs. Im top heavy at 5'8" and 200 with a long torso and stumpy legs, my GSXR 750 track bike has high race pegs but a seat pad only 10mm thick. If a low seat gives confidence, then that will help immensely. It really depends on the individual.

+1