Lowering Pros and Cons?

[Tufbusa]

No accusations my friend, just factual! If you truely think your stretched and slammed bike performs better or even "As well as" stock, your skills are far below average. Not a soul alive that understands suspension will argue that point! No matter how much horse power you have or how cool it looks, if your bike has poor suspension it performs poorly.

And I may add, if your only ride is stretched and slammed, you will never improve past an average rider. Not to say you can't learn, it's the fact your machine is extremely limited to what it can do.

Let me give you just one example! Swing arm angle! When you lower your bike, even if it's not stretched, you loose that magical thing that makes a bike hold it's line called "Anti Squat". A lowered bike all of a sudden has a negative angle on chain pull which forces the bike to squat under power (Especially noticeable under the massive power of the busa) this in turn forces the bike to run wide. Now you are taking up three lanes of traffic on corner exits. Unless of course you ride like an old granny with saggy titties floppin in the breeze!

Just think, if you put all that cash you spend on curb appeal into suspension you'd be riding like CharlesBusa in no time at all.

For our friend Pipe, compare your tire to a properly spanked tire on a stock bike in which you can properly apply power and expect it to hold a proper line. This is a BT015 which comes stock on the Busa. Any questions?

 

[Pipefighter248]

No accusations my friend, just factual! If you truely think your stretched and slammed bike performs better or even "As well as" stock, your skills are far below average. Not a soul alive that understands suspension will argue that point! No matter how much horse power you have or how cool it looks, if your bike has poor suspension it performs poorly.

And I may add, if your only ride is stretched and slammed, you will never improve past an average rider. Not to say you can't learn, it's the fact your machine is extremely limited to what it can do.

Let me give you just one example! Swing arm angle! When you lower your bike, even if it's not stretched, you loose that magical thing that makes a bike hold it's line called "Anti Squat". A lowered bike all of a sudden has a negative angle on chain pull which forces the bike to squat under power (Especially noticeable under the massive power of the busa) this in turn forces the bike to run wide. Now you are taking up three lanes of traffic on corner exits. Unless of course you ride like an old granny with saggy titties floppin in the breeze!

Just think, if you put all that cash you spend on curb appeal into suspension you'd be riding like CharlesBusa in no time at all.

For our friend Pipe, compare your tire to a properly spanked tire on a stock bike in which you can properly apply power and expect it to hold a proper line. This is a BT015 which comes stock on the Busa. Any questions?

Let Pipe ask you something then.
Was that tire done on the track or the street?
Picture that Pipe posted is of course from the street, with mainly highway miles and a few twisties thrown in.
Believe Pipe, he is not bragging or saying that he is the best rider. Pipe can handle his own. Could he keep up with you, Charlesbusa, babusa and others that track day; Doubt it, not a chance. Never claimed to.
But saying a lowered bike that is not to the extreme will not be able to handle twisty rodes is BS.
Few years back GMbusa on a fall ride was out riding a few people through the curves and he was on a stretched and lowered bike.
Could a lowered bike keep up on a track day; No. But for everyday safe riding on the streets and not treating it like a track; it would be fine.

Pipe also just got back from a ride. Raised it back to stock height. Finally drug a knee; but he did change his position some more and leaned off a little farther. Took the same curve at same speed; but getting off the bike more helped.
It did handle a little better, but not as drastic as you proclaim.

Remember; Pipe and yourself are just having a discussion; so don't get angry. Be happy.

 

[Tufbusa]

Not to worry Pipe, not an angry bone in my body. I'm just pointing out to those who have not lowered their bike who may be giving it serious thought, no bike peforms well once the suspension has been drasticly altered.

You are absolutely correct. A bike that's been lowered will handle twisty roads. They are just slow and ineffecient no matter who is riding them.

I'm not questioning your ability whatsoever. I've heard many who compliment your skills. However, your skills are EXTREMELY limited on a lowered bike. And, it's difficult to improve one's skills on any machine that performs poorly.

 

[Pipefighter248]

Come on now, you can say whatever you want about Pipe, but don't say his baby performs poorly.

 

[Pipefighter248]

Was that tire from the track or street?
Yours?
Either way
But you'll never see Pipe's tire like that street or track.

Though he did consider doing a track day next year.

 

[Tufbusa]

You should do a track day Pipe! It would be a fun and exciting experience. The track is extremely addictive. So don't be surprised if you end up doing several track days next year. The track will improve your street riding a great deal.

Yes Sir, that is my tire and it was indeed spanked at the track. However, keep in mind a corner at the track is identical to a corner on the streets. It's simply a much safer environment and you get lots of corners in a row. Not many and no sane people ride equally hard on the street.

enjoy your day! I'm about to take my busa out for a little play time. She hasn't been out of the garage in two months. I'm sure she has a little cabin fever.

 

[Pipefighter248]

You should do a track day Pipe! It would be a fun and exciting experience. The track is extremely addictive. So don't be surprised if you end up doing several track days next year. The track will improve your street riding a great deal.

Yes Sir, that is my tire and it was indeed spanked at the track. However, keep in mind a corner at the track is identical to a corner on the streets. It's simply a much safer environment and you get lots of corners in a row. Not many and no sane people ride equally hard on the street.

enjoy your day! I'm about to take my busa out for a little play time. She hasn't been out of the garage in two months. I'm sure she has a little cabin fever.

Right a corners a corner, but Pipe would hate to see a person on the street running a tire that hard.
Pipe wouldn't want to be around them.

Now about your bike. Haven't had her out in 2 months.
You need someone to come up and show you how to ride her?

 

[Tufbusa]

Well you just bring your buns on up Pipe and show me how to ride that big heifer. I haven't had her out in two months, it's true, but I have a number of substitutes to take her place. As a matter of fact I removed the sheet that covers the big girl, rolled her out to check the tire pressure and holy ****z, I found a roofing nail sticking square in the middle of the tread. Funny thing was, the pressure was still up. So thinking the best, I thought it may just be a very short nail that has not penetrated the tire completely. I gently tugged on the nail with a pair of wire dikes and as she slid out an inch or so my hopes quickly faded. I promptly rolled her back in the garage and rolled out one of my gixxers. Had a great afternoon with a friend on a goldwing.

 

[Pipefighter248]

Well you just bring your buns on up Pipe and show me how to ride that big heifer. I haven't had her out in two months, it's true, but I have a number of substitutes to take her place. As a matter of fact I removed the sheet that covers the big girl, rolled her out to check the tire pressure and holy ****z, I found a roofing nail sticking square in the middle of the tread. Funny thing was, the pressure was still up. So thinking the best, I thought it may just be a very short nail that has not penetrated the tire completely. I gently tugged on the nail with a pair of wire dikes and as she slid out an inch or so my hopes quickly faded. I promptly rolled her back in the garage and rolled out one of my gixxers. Had a great afternoon with a friend on a goldwing.

How convenient.
You put a nail in your own tire just so Pipe couldn't show you up?
How desperate.

Sorry to hear about the tire.
Always ride down here with Dad on his Goldwing.

 

[busa2001]

mine is lowered 3/4" front and back no issues yet i did stiffen up the suspension some...

 

[proud dad]

show us a pic of your back tire.... I can assure you that what Busa159 is more than true if you ride the bike around corners at all.... things are a bit short on clearance to start with unless you ride like a little old lady..

a..........wad ya say sonny :hehe:

 

[cipher5791]

I lowered mine 1 inch in the front, and 1 1/2 in the back. I have no problem with the way my bike handles. Maybe I do ride like an old granny.

The thing is, I love riding motorcycles period. Every bike that I have owned has been fun as well as alternate transportation. Now, I have a Busa. I like riding my bike. I have no desire to ride on a track and may never do so. My desires are to get back and forth to work and ride with friends on my off days.

My point is, I say it depends on how you use your busa. Your bike has to fit your purpose no matter what anyone says. If you are gonna ride a track or you like to get down low in corners, well lowering may not be the thing for you to do. Now if you are a street cruiser and your bike never runs past 100mph(like granny riders), than go right ahead. Some people say it handles different, some say they see no difference.

I say you do whatever the heck you see fit to do for whatever purpose you ride your busa. I am a granny rider and probably will be one for the rest of my life. I am a grown man with a family and the last thing I need to do is wrap myself around a telephone post or something like that. I feel no need to drag my knees low to the ground in a curve or two. I do get my busa past 130 every now and then(don't tell my wife). On that note, I lowered my bike and I like the way it handles. If I have a problem in the future, it will come back up.

That is my take on this subject. To each is own.

 

[siebibass]

I can see some of the points here for Busa's lowered more than 2 inches and stretched, but for let's say 1 inch only I don't think it will affect the handling that much. I rode the Busa of a friend, which is lowered 1 inch, and I like the handling way better. The bike feels so much lighter, too.
I got my triple tree and Soupy lowering links about a week ago and will put them on mine over the winter, that's how much I liked the handling of my buddy's Busa...

And if lowering it just a little is that bad, why is the new Busa lowered to improve handling??

 

[jkuek]

No advantage to lowering? What if your foot does not touch the ground properly? Is it safer to ride with a bike too tall for you or one lowered to proper height? I lowered mine 1" front and back and it feels much safer!

 

[ogre]

mine's down an inch and a half, maybe two in the rear. it was down 3 or 4, fook me it was low. two up, no way. this is perfect. and you can still tilt it over pretty well.