Well that was fun...

[TheRose]

I dropped my bike in the parking lot taking it out for a ride. @#%!@# Luckily the only thing I broke (I think) was a little piece of windshield...hardly noticeable.

I know exactly what I did too...I was coming down a grade (out of a parking garage) and stopped while still on the grade...put my right foot down but the wheel was pointed to the left and...yea, pretty embarrassing.

A serious question though...I'm a short guy...5'4" maybe, and this is the first time back on my bike since my MSF course and...I don't know, maybe because I learned on a smaller bike or different peg positioning but my FZR feels taller now than I thought it was, and I seem to want to put my legs right where the pegs are. Any other shorter riders on here have any tips for me? I'm sure its just a time thing...as in, I just need more time on the bike...as it was, after I picked my bike up and started to ride it back up the parking area, it started to feel more and more comfortable. That said, any tips would be appreciated.

[YAM93]

do you have "lowering dogbones" or have you dropped your fork in your triple clamp any to lower the bike ?

if not, maybe ThatKid or Haunter could make you a pair of (longer than stock) dogbones for around $35 to lower the bike... would make it a lot more comfortable for you.

[TheRose]

do you have "lowering dogbones" or have you dropped your fork in your triple clamp any to lower the bike ?

if not, maybe ThatKid or Haunter could make you a pair of (longer than stock) dogbones for around $35 to lower the bike... would make it a lot more comfortable for you.

Thanks for the reply Yam. I haven't done anything myself...don't really know what the previous owner did. I think I would be interested, though. Does lowering the bike change the handling characteristics at all? And, is it hard to install dogbones?

[95FZR600]

Very easy to install the dogbones. Thats what short people do.

[jeremy]

Sorry you dropped the bike

[old_school]

Very easy to install the dogbones. Thats what short people do.

i know this was meant to sound better than it looks.. I just got an r6 and have a 35inch inseam i am 6' 2" the bike feels a bit tall for me i'm thinking about swapping dogbones to lower the stance.. It does change riding properties somewhat but as a new rider it's not something you would notice. Especially it it lets you stand flat footed when on the seat.

Ps glad you and the bike are OK... We have all have our stories of the most embassing time we dropped a bike..

[TomGun]

Dude I'm sorry too, I dropped mine in the driveway last night rolling it off the rear stand. Scratched my brand new stator cover. Then I put my back out slightly picking it back up!! I'm sure it has happened to a "good many of us" here.

[95FZR600]

Since swapping over to the R6 tail and seats mine sits up a little higher but I like it and the feel.

[TheRose]

Thanks everyone for the replies...I was doing a bit more research on dog bones...it seems like there are some people out there (including an article on sportrider.com) that warn against just changing the dogbones...some people here mentioned changing the riding properties...is it really noticeable? I mean, I don't think Id know any better now, I'm just worried down the line when I get comfortable with the bike having something I did now come back to haunt me. Also do I need to do anything to the front if I change my dogbones? Has anyone shaved their seat in lieu of changing suspension parts?

Thanks for bearing with me, all

[PIMPMYFZR]

dude get some adjustable dogbones that way if it isnt low enough you got an extra hole to go one setting lower .. then drop you forks through the tripples about <somone can chime in here .. > and then if that dosnt fancy you , you can drop them some more and you be chillin and youll feel more comfortable on your bike also .. unless your puttin in some serious track time and taking corner at 75 mph i dont think it will be that much noticable ..

[tommyj27]

Sorry to hear about the bike dude, I'm convinced that it happens to everyone sooner or later.

[YAM93]

yeah, don't feel bad, i dropped mine in the driveway back in like 1997 picking up my goddamn sunglasses.

...beware of wet grass also, although that wasn't my fault.

drop the forks in the triples by 5mm at a time. you'll probably end up at around 25mm (1 inch) down for your height
(just guessing here)

Or start at 1 inch down then raise them up if you need to. Do the dogbone thing at the same time though. Send ThatKid and Haunter a PM and they can tell you stock numbers and length suggestions for lowering it.

[haunter]

do you have "lowering dogbones" or have you dropped your fork in your triple clamp any to lower the bike ?

if not, maybe ThatKid or Haunter could make you a pair of (longer than stock) dogbones for around $35 to lower the bike... would make it a lot more comfortable for you.

I sure could

[docrider]

i dropped an dropped an 06 ninja 650r pullin into a bike shop to order a part for the fzr because the from wheel was on some pea gravel and slide away from me even tho i was holding the brake and fighting to keep from it falling over

[megaloxana]

Yeah dude definatly get that thing lowered. I had to lower my gf's ninja cuz she is 5'2. The dogbones we got for it had 5 settings. She liked the 3rd from lowest the best mostly because she thought the bike looked goofy really low. It definatly helped her gain more confidence in riding. Made me worry a tiny less too.