| Author | Message | ||
     Drkside79 |
So i was reading on another site about someone wanting to lower their 9. Can any one provide a good reason to do this or is it simply to look ghetto fab? | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
it would be goof for short people...other then that I see no other reason. all you have to do is switch to the sl/sg forks and rear shock to lower any short frame xb bikes. | ||
| Froggy |
There is no real reason for it. Some shorter riders think it is better for them if they have difficulty reaching the ground, but that is really only an issue if you are stopped, and that can be easily worked around with technique. I am on the short side and can manage a full height Ulysses without issue, but it is nice to ride my 1125r and be able to flat foot it on both sides. I did dump the Uly a few times due to losing my footing from trying to tripod on gravel and other slick surfaces. | ||
| Henshao |
Yep, it's a technique thing riding a bike too tall for you. Have to always come to a stop with the rear brake and try to fall to the left, instinctively/automatically/ritually. Probably don't hurt to summarize in your mind where you're sticking your foot as you're rolling to a stop, either. Lowering a bike in general is not a great idea beyond an inch, from what I understand. It can reduce your lean angle dangerously low, but then again this is an XB we're talking about. Never ridden one but people tell me you can lay the XB's over so far you can use them to empty change out of your pockets. Here are two excellent reads on the subject. http://www.ridemyown.com/articles/riding/BTB-bikef itrider.shtml http://www.ridemyown.com/articles/riding/BTB-timid rider.shtml | ||
| Froggy |
Yep they sure do lean! If you get a nice banked turn, it is very possible to get the bike nearly horizontal, and it will scare the crap out of you  | ||
| Chessm |
i think he's thinking of lowering an XB like people lower a hayabusa - just for looks. all i can say is keep in mind that buells arent exactly a bike you buy for looks or to impress other people. if you want a lowered blingy bike there are much better bikes out there to start out with. | ||
| Froggy |
Lower bikes look better? Explains why the Uly is so ugly! | ||
| Chessm |
buells = ugly but thats why we love it  ok one of the reasons lol | ||
| Greg_e |
Lower center of gravity for better turning, less resistance to air. But also less corning clearance which certainly hinders the first and possibly negates the second. | ||
| Syonyk |
Short riders, lower CG. I've looked into this - I have an XB9SX, and my girlfriend has been riding it recently. She's about 5'3, and can't flatfoot it, but with the lowest seat option, she can ride it comfortably. The lowering kit doesn't reduce the lean angle terribly much, and it gets you another half inch or inch closer to the ground, which means most short riders *can* flatfoot it. If the goal is "Slam it to the ground for looks," screw that - don't ruin a Buell that way. But a lowered XB with the low seat is low enough for the vast majority of shorter riders, which is pretty cool. It's so nice having her able to keep up comfortably on high mountain roads... the Blast really struggled up there. | ||
| Blaylock1988 |
wat? My XB9SX is beautiful, thank you... | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I don't recall seeing many ugly buells unless an owner made it ugly...In that case I have seen some hideous ones... | ||
| Syonyk |
Oh, Buells are hideous bikes, aesthetically. I won't argue there. But the beauty is in the engineering that makes them that way - they don't look goofy just to look goofy, they look goofy because they've got that giant stiff frame, goofy light brakes, and a slightly funky drive geometry to allow the belt to remain at a constant tension. And given that, they're awesome. Plus, when I'm riding, I'm not looking at it. I'm just grinning. | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I donno I think buells are sexy bikes with the exception of a few of them. I don't think the x1 is ugly how ever I don't find it all that sexy in stock form. I don't find the uly all that sexy either but I still want one because of what it can do but then again I don't find its competition sexy either. and the blast is kind of a boring design but still it is a very practical bike. | ||
| Syonyk |
The Blast is a boring design, but it's a very, very nice bike for a new rider, especially shorter ones. With the lowered seat, a 5'3" rider can flatfoot it. Said rider can touch both toes down on an XB9SX with the low seat, but can't get more than one foot firmly on the ground. I'm actually looking into lowering mine for this reason. | ||
| Natexlh1000 |
Thank god I grew a foot when I hit 16. When I was 14.5, I was almost 5' and my RM125 was a real bear to deal with. I understand lowering a bike so it's easy to deal with at low speeds. Having a bike that's hard to cope with in heavy traffic can be very miserable. I mean the traffic is bad enough by itself, right? The bike should be on "your team". |
