Modifying frame

[Slide]

Has anyone seen, or made modifications to their frame to lower the seat? My legs are too short (hahaha) to really touch ground.
Thanks!

[NOMAD]

Slide,

I didn't modify the frame, but I did shorten the shocks. I went with 11" Progressive's ( 1 1/2" shorter than stock ) and it lowered mine just right. Plus I had the seat redone, added a gel pad and took another 1" out of the heighth. Rides and handles just great, and I can put both feet on the ground with my knees bent.

NOMAD (aka Randy )

[Slide]

Thanks NOMAD...
That might work. I'm only 5'7 and I look like an ant sitting one the seat with one leg touching ground at a stop.
Why me?

[NOMAD]

Slide,

Well I'm 5'11" but my youngest son is about 5'6" and he can reach the ground just fine since I've lowered it.

NOMAD

[puttman]

I will want to do that also as soon as I find out if this bike will run.

[Slide]

Hey Randy...
Would you happen to have a pic of your bike?
Dan

[Ken Talbot]

On emore thing you could consider for lowering a standard is swapping in a 16" rear wheel from a special in place of the stock 17". By the time you do all of this, you will have to remove the centrestand because it hangs too low, and you also willl have to shorten the sidestand. In this shot of SWMBO's 'H you can just see how the sidestand was cut off and rewelded just below the spting attachment point. Compare that to a regular sidestand and you'll get an idea how huch lower it is.

[Slide]

That looks like it would work too, but Mine is a XS1100 Special. Is that what you are talking about with the rear wheel, or am I sounding like an dumby now?
Thanks

[Ken Talbot]

Yes, that's what I was talking about - I wasn't sure what your ride was.

[cuda_phish1]

Hey Ken...

Had a question for you ken( or anyone with the same bars). On the rear crash bars do you have rubber foot pads that are attached to it for your passenger? If so any clue where to get replacements?

Mine had them and I accidently ripped one off when I got too close to a flower pot (OUCH! it almost took my foot too).

thanks,
Dan

[Ken Talbot]

They don't show on the photo I posted the other day, but I just installed a set of regular passenger footpegs on SWMBO's 'H this past weekend. I'll blix off a shot tonight after work to show the attachment point I used and the bit of grinding it took to fit them the way I wanted them.

[cuda_phish1]

thanks

Thanks for putting that up when you can.

I just took another look at the H and noticed your seat. it doesn't look stock. It does look comfy though. Can you share alittle info on it please?!

thanks again,
Dan

[Ken Talbot]

Here's the way I mounted the stock passenger pegs onto SWMBO's 'H Notice that one of the saddlebag mounts is now bolted to where the footpeg used to be. I set her pegs at an angle because they will only be used by her for a change in foot position during longer rides, not for a passenger.

[IMG]/forum/images/tips/20030909-dsc02239.jpg[/IMG]

And here's a shot of a similar footpeg installation on Tsunami. Here, the peg is set at a normal flat alignment. I use it for a change of pace during longer rides, too. I've also carried passengers, and although it does work, having the passenger peg this far forward does cause a bit of crowding.

[IMG]/forum/images/tips/20030909-dsc02240.jpg[/IMG]

As for the seat on SWMBO's 'H, there's not much I can tell. It is obviously a custom job done by an upholstery shop, but it was like that when we bought the bike. And yes, it is quite comfortable!

[Buckb]

frame modification

We have 2 xs1100s, a 79 special and a 79 satndard. We cut the frame on the standard between the main and the rear shock area, lowered the area over the battery about 2 inches, went to a smaller battery. You will have to make a customized seat pan/seat once you do this. We also cut all the rear fender supports off just behind the top shock mount, installed a HD Fat Boy rear fender, this makes for a cleaner look but you have to really be doing a lot of chopping and customizing to go this route.

We agree with acquiring shorter shocks and getting a 16 inch rear wheel. We did this also as we are looking for a really low profile on the bike we're working on for my wife.

[Slide]

Wow... That's what I'm really looking for. Do you have a pic of it and maybe plans on how you did it?
Thanks!