I'm just too short to be comfortable on the bike. I can ride it but I'm almost on my tip toes when I stop. It's not comfortable. Is there an easy solution to lower the bike?

You can drop the front end about 1/2" or a little more, and there are shocks that are shorter by about 3/4".  I just had a Works Performance rear shock rebuilt and lengthened from a short rod version.  If you have a Works shock, give them a call.  They can do stuff to other makes of shocks too.

Thicker boot soles help as well.

You can also use tires with a lower aspect ratio.  Won't buy you much though but if every mm counts....

duck wrote:You can also use tires with a lower aspect ratio.  Won't buy you much though but if every mm counts....

Maybe not but changing a rear tyre from an 80 to a 70 can be worth 12-15mm at the rear and on front you might be able to get 10-12mm.

I would seriously look at getting an extra 12-25mm on the boots soles too.

I just changed the seat on my RT and now I find it's a small bit higher than I like but comfortable. I just got new tyres in November and haven't used the bike since so they are new. Next time I will get lower tyres and am now going to bring the fork stanchions up about 15mm.

In addition to the fork adjustment and shorter rear shock, I had my seat rebuilt to be lower. Also much more comfortable and a big improvement on the bodgy work done on it by the previous owner. Done by a specialist bike seat upholsterer who also happens to be local to me.

Bill

What about a low seat option? Is there one for the k1100? 

I got this Reynolds Day long for the K100LT. I didn't use it in the end.



A low seat conversion might be a way to go. Someone who knows more about the K11 LT layout will be along shortly most likely!

88KE wrote:What about a low seat option? Is there one for the k1100? 

I got this Reynolds Day long for the K100LT. I didn't use it in the end.



A low seat conversion might be a way to go. Someone who knows more about the K11 LT layout will be along shortly most likely!

'I didn't use it in the end?.....course not =, it doesn't fit. You use it under the end.......

I remember looking at that one close up......its nice.

Our good friend Rosskko has fitted a BMW low seat option onto his K1100RS.

The bike is the Smurfette and here it is on our way to the Alpine Rally last year.



I believe the K1100RS & K1100LT are the same in the seat mounting area of the frame so Rosskko's mod should work on an LT. I'm sure Rosskko would help with details if contacted.

Of course, if you try to lower the back end too much (shorter shock, lower profile tyres etc.), you will quickly find that you can no longer get her up (easily) on the centre stand and will have to resort to using the side stand all the time. Using the side stand is fine, most of the time, but even that is affected by lowering the back end and you will find the bike is much more upright (and less stable) when on the side stand.

I speak from recent experience:

• Last Aug while on the camping week with the Irish Eccentrics, I noticed my bike was sitting much more upright than the other bikes when on the side stand - and was getting difficult to put on the centre stand at all. At one time, when it was blowing a hoolie, I was concerned that the bike would actually blow over. I put it down to the heavier than usual load of camping gear, but on getting home, I found that the rear shock had come to the end of it's natural days. A new (Realm) RAM shock soon fixed that issue and once again the bike hops easily onto the centre stand and sits over at a stable and jaunty angle on the side stand again.
  

• Then, a few weeks back, when out for a "Let's Play Tag" photo op ride into Wales, I picked up a screw in the rear tyre followed by a fairly rapid deflation (at 70mph). My puncture repair kit failed (I've since replaced the glue and grommet version with a glue-less mushroom variety which seems much better) so I injected the back-up tyre weld repair gunk into the tyre. Rode for the stipulated 6 miles+ to allow the gunk to go off and seal the hole, but the tyre would not hold any pressure and I had to pull over and call for help. With the rear flat, I could not get the bike up onto the centre stand at all (need more spinach perhaps?) and, by quirk of fate, the road and the lay-by (roadside parking area/pull off) where I stopped was cambered/sloping towards the middle of the road rather than the more usual camber towards the kerb. This meant that, with a low back end, I couldn't even get the bike onto the side stand (stand bottomed out with the bike still upright). My only option was to turn the bike 180 deg to face in the direction of the on coming traffic and only then could I get her on the side stand. It would have been a very long wait for the breakdown man if I had to hold the bike up throughout.
  

So long story short, some adjustment of rear shock will help you, but don't over do it or you'll cause yourself more problems. Best bet - go for a lower seat option and/or get some platform boots.

Reducing the seat height (not the seat-to-ground height) introduces a follow-on problem; your knees are suddenly at a much tighter angle and that's gonna cripple you on long runs. I've spent way to long trying to figure out how to drop the footpeg height but the exhaust system always gets in the way (literally). I haven't given up on that one just yet.

G'day Diveshadow , just how short are you ( if you don't mind me asking ) ? . On a good day I'm only 5'6" but have never had problems with my KRS , my technique is that I only ever put my right foot down when stopped ( sliding my bum off the seat slightly ) this way my foot is virtually flat on the ground , left foot is on the peg ready to select 1st & go . I've done this my whole riding life & with all my bikes not just the K , try it

John Re

JR_K100RS wrote:G'day Diveshadow , just how short are you ( if you don't mind me asking ) ? . On a good day I'm only 5'6" but have never had problems with my KRS , my technique is that I only ever put my right foot down when stopped ( sliding my bum off the seat slightly ) this way my foot is virtually flat on the ground , left foot is on the peg ready to select 1st & go . I've done this my whole riding life & with all my bikes not just the K , try it

John Re

That's pretty much how I get by. Its always been like that for me and never been able to get both feet flat on the ground at the same time.

 But the key is the inside leg measurement and that can vary significantly. Seat height at 810mm is 32.5 inches and doesn't leave a lot of room.

Another thing I forgot to mention is that having the seat reshaped to cut down the foam in the sides of the thigh area can also help for those with shorter lower appendages. A shorter friend of mine with a K75 Corbin said that really helped.

And I've never understood why a country with a bunch of short fat people would make such a bike.

duck wrote:Another thing I forgot to mention is that having the seat reshaped to cut down the foam in the sides of the thigh area can also help for those with shorter lower appendages. A shorter friend of mine with a K75 Corbin said that really helped.

And I've never understood why a country with a bunch of short fat people would make such a bike.

Seat re-shaping certainly helped for me.

Its not just the country with short fat people (You're talking about Oz and me, right? ) that make such bikes.
I think far too many bikes are made far too tall these days. Doesn't matter the brand or country of origin.

Bill

Nah, I was just poking fun at the Germans.

For a visual idea on heights look at this post.

Seat Heights

duck wrote:Nah, I was just poking fun at the Germans.

Quite appropriate. (Notwithstanding I have some good German friends.)

Bill

Thanks for all of your input.
I did adjust the front forks down about 3/4 of an inch and also set my rear shock to its lowest setting. 
I'm 5'8" so I guess I'm not that short, thanks for the advise John Re. My Uncle who gave me the bike was shorter than I and I wondered how he was able to ride the bike.
Although I must admit I do enjoy the extra height while riding down the rode. I'm used to riding the Suzuki and Yamaha cruiser bikes so at a stop you are flat footed with your knees bent. Now I'm barely flat footed as long as the ground is even. So yes I'm learning to adjust my stopping and feeling a little more comfortable with the bike. I have put my first hundred miles on it. Yeh!!

All good ! , I've had my K for 29 years with 270,000 k's travelled , it still feels great & very comfortable

John Re