I'm interested to know if you have ever actually lowered a bike and extensively tested its handling in real world situations (not race track doing 120+ around curves, but everyday streets in city/rural roads)? What empirical data did you record from consistent testing of N1k with and without lowering? Did you have multiple participants all observing the same handling quality difference? What metrics were based off of a regular N1k and tested in the same exact scenario (rider, street, speed, temperature, etc) to deduce the handling was subpar?
I spoke to two kawasaki dealerships (one which sold me the N1k and ordered the lowering link to put on it after their service mgr and salesrep both told me it was safe and wouldn't effect the handling). I asked a former car/motorcycle mechanic and a John Deere engineer about the possibility of poor handling due to lowering a bike. The mechanic and engineer actually told me technically it should make handling better because of the lower center of gravity.
I've reached out to a couple of folks of other forums who also wrote something like "don't do it, it will cause handling problems" and the generally admission was "no I have never actually rode a lowered bike, but...". I also found a lot of people over 6' and 32' inseam consistently telling short riders not to lower there bikes. A little suspicious given that many people buy/trade used motorcycles and taller riders would naturally not want to buy a lowered bike.
Not trying to start an argument, I just want to know if there is any science behind this statement or not. Point is I did a lot of research because I started asking the simple question... is there actually any empirical evidence of poor handling with lowering a bike an inch or two? My general search over other forums have found all riders that have declared to 1. have a short inseam and are in need of lowering 2. actually ride a lowered bike have reported it did not effect handling and they are delighted to ride now, even at low speeds.
LOL LOL
Yes, guys that flat foot always are the ones that say we should not lower the bike and that we need to learn to balance the bike. Also they say, you should learn to ride at slow speeds (with rear brakes), like if we are learning to ride.
"Motorbikes are manufactured with the average user in mind. This would be suitable as long as you are the average user.
You will probably recognize… stopping at a slope… the trail in front of the traffic lights… will I be able to put my feet on the ground? Will I be able to keep the bike straight? The present feeling of no comfort and no trust in yourself and the bike. When riding the bike it’s all about confidence" (from lowering springs website)
Compared to my previous bike, a 650R, the N1K is super heavy, so trying to move it backwards is extremely difficult.Also if you park at an incline, is almost impossible to start it up as you need to get the stand up with the same foot you are trying to push the bike straight.
In good weather, sometimes at a stop, you misplace or slip the foot a bit and almost drop the bike. I cant imagine on bad weather.
The mechanic in my race shop said no problem lowering it. I tried by myself but couldn't (my jack was not precise enough and lowered it like 4 inches, I did ride it like that around the block it was fun, but returned to stock, it felt too low).
So an inch or so would be perfect.
