I am going to just put this out there.

[XS1100 Newbie]

I have been looking for some 11 inch shocks to lower my MNS for quite some time now. On my limited budget, i have been unable to find something in my financial range. (cheap) I now am putting the front end back together with the new correct triple tree, and new bearings. I am going to pull the shocks off, and see if i can flat foot this bike with no shocks. If i can't then i am going to give up on the 11 inch shocks, as they wouldn't do what i needed. Now here is the thing, I am thinking if i can't flat foot this thing then i just don't feel good. I have dropped it three times allready. I am thinking of selling it, or trading it for an 850 or something similar. I have a person i have to offer it to first if i sell it, but i would welcome the opinions of the group here. I love this bike, but i can't and won't put my wife on the back, if i can not flat foot it. Thanks for listening.

[crazy steve]

There's more than one way to lower the bike, or get you lower on the bike.

Besides shorter shocks, you can go to a shorter rear tire, you can alter the seat foam to get you lower, and it's not that hard to lower the front of bike either.

Super-short 11" shocks aren't easy to find (for most bikes), but 11.5" or 12" shocks are pretty common. Now, if your 'budget' is basically 'free', you may have a problem; this will undoubtably cost something, but still shouldn't be a budget-breaker. Reworking the seat foam should be worth at least an inch, maybe more. You may not get all that you need from one mod, but may be able to get enough from multiple mods.

With that said, if you need the bike lowered more than about 2", you may be better off getting something else as going much lower may detrimentially affect handling and ground clearance too much.

[tom clisham]

Hey Steve

How about posting some pix of your Jag/chev here.

I've always liked that conversion.

....Thanks Tom

[DenyP]

I have been looking for some 11 inch shocks to lower my MNS for quite some time now. On my limited budget, i have been unable to find something in my financial range. (cheap) I now am putting the front end back together with the new correct triple tree, and new bearings. I am going to pull the shocks off, and see if i can flat foot this bike with no shocks. If i can't then i am going to give up on the 11 inch shocks, as they wouldn't do what i needed. Now here is the thing, I am thinking if i can't flat foot this thing then i just don't feel good. I have dropped it three times allready. I am thinking of selling it, or trading it for an 850 or something similar. I have a person i have to offer it to first if i sell it, but i would welcome the opinions of the group here. I love this bike, but i can't and won't put my wife on the back, if i can not flat foot it. Thanks for listening.

I can appreciate how you feel. My 78 standard was a little to tall for my likes. Not as strong as I use to be. I could touch down just on my toes. I was able to get that little bit giving me a flat foot on the ground by going with a lower profile seat. I wouldn't have believed how much more I would like the bike. Like a new machine to me!

Deny

[fredintoon]

Now here is the thing, I am thinking if i can't flat foot this thing then i just don't feel good. I have dropped it three times already. I am thinking of selling it, or trading it for an 850 or something similar. I have a person i have to offer it to first if i sell it, but i would welcome the opinions of the group here. I love this bike, but i can't and won't put my wife on the back, if i can not flat foot it. Thanks for listening.

Hi Newbie,
FWIW, while the XS850 may not weigh as much as the XS11 there ain't much difference in the seat height.
If seat sculpting &/or lowering don't get your feet on the ground, there is another way:-

[cowboybob998]

11" shocks

I put some 11" shocks on the xs i am working on now,not because of flat footing it, i am 6'3" and 200 pounds, but wanted it to look good, but i tell you it rides like hell, bottems out when i hit a dip in the road, now my boy has the same shocks on his bike and he does ok, he only weights abot 140 or so and i am going to put it back stock.
you can buy the shocks for about 80 bucks off of ebay, but i bet if you are going to ride the ol lady on the back they aint gona work very good.

[DGXSER]

Dependning on what seat you have, it can make ALL the difference as well. MY first XS11 Special was also an 81. It came with one of those king/queen seats on it. And while the seat was very comfy, at 5'-10" with a 29" in seam, I could barely get the balls of both feet on the ground. So I was always needing to lean it to one side only.

Then I got a stock seat, now I would not say I can flat foot it completely, but I get ALOT better contact and feel much more in control.

[XS1100 Newbie]

Thanks guys. I may attempt to cut my seat down, and see what that does.
Fred: I think the side car may hinder my ability to carve the twisties.
Cowboy: It makes a difference what 11 inch shocks you use, and that is why i am having such a hard time finding the right ones.

[CatatonicBug]

I agree with Fred. The 850 really isn't any shorter - Just a little skinnier. I'm 5'10", and with the stock Special setup, I can't completely flat-foot it. Both feet can touch, but not both heels. I never feel the need to though. When I stop, my left foot hits the ground and my right stays on the brake pedal. If SWMBO is on the back, the bike drops considerably, and I can flat-foot it, with my knees bent!. No problem with bottoming out though. The idea wth riding a pillion is you MUST be able to adjust the rear suspension for the extra weight.

[jwhughes3]

try Honda Shadow shocks

I would search for Honda Shadow shocks because I saw awhile back someone converted to them to lower the bike and worked fine as a bolt on.

John in San Antonio

[planedick]

Flat foot

Even if you get to the flat foot position, these things are heavy and hard to handle. Once it starts to fall you can't stop it anyway and with the wife on the back it's even more so. I'm like you, only can reach with the toes, but with practice you can learn to handle it good.

[fredintoon]

"It ain't a bike no more, it only looks like one"

- - - Fred: I think the side car may hinder my ability to carve the twisties. - - -

Hi Newbie,
not so, you just gotta learn a completely different riding technique.
And it won't fall over at stop signs or when it skids on wet leaves/oil spills/gravel/ice or other highway traction defect.
Mind you, lane splitting is no longer a viable option.

[jetmechmarty]

If you decide on a different bike, the 1100 Virago can be flat footed by someone five feet tall!

[Crusty Snippets]

Ducks disease.

I am five foot six and a little bit, but built like gorilla, my inseam is 28 inches, and I am 64.
I can only get the front part of my boot on the ground.
I slide my butt over if I am sitting for a while to get more of my foot on the ground or use both feet. Both feet down is the most stable.
On my Suzuki I cut an inch or more out of the seat.
On Yami I have a seat from an 81? the foam is a bit softer than what I had with the old seat, that gets me a bit lower.
I also dropped the front forks about 5/16 inch.
When loading and unloading Mrs Snippets I have the side stand down. She gives me a nudge when she is seated.
Another option I saw from a Harley guy with severe ducks disease was platformed boots. He had about two inches of lift.
Two up riding is a bit more technical and does take practice. Mrs Sippets is 110 pounds and that helps.
I met a couple who were both 250 plus and short, on a V strom Suzuki.
It had something like Kenworth shocks on it.

Unkle Crusty

[XS1100 Newbie]

I definately have ducks disease. I am 5' 6" tall, with a 28 or less inseam. I do support the bike with my left foot at a stop, but there are times when i forget like on a tilted road where the ground may be 3 inches or so farther, and boom. I guess i am just getting tired of hurting the bike. I am going to get through this riding season, and then make a decision on it. I could hard tail it, but that would be against everything i like.