Short rider, ride height change advice

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Dazzpowder

Joined
Aug 18, 2012
Messages
30
Location
Essex
Hi all, I'm just under 5'4" and can ride my 796 fine but hav some concerns about a 1299s purchase. Test ride one Saturday loved every moment. I'm told the 1299s can mechanically (manually reduced by 15mm) if the front and rear are dropped equally am I correct to assume the handling should be no different?

Thanks
 
rake and trail will be effected and handling then will suffer... its not going to upset the bike crazily but the bike wont turn in as sharp.. and how the bike handles the suspension changes will change, my wife is 5'3" and rides my 1199 with no problems by peg legging it when needed... after she rode a lowered bike for many years she switched to stock height and immediately noticed the difference.. and will never low a bike again
her current rides are a 08 cbr600rr she has to peg leg no matter what. and an 13 848evo.. it depends on the stop..
 
Find the lowest seat possible and use that. Otherwise go find a seat specialist to customize your seat by shaving it down. You will lose comfort, but may benefit from being able to touch the ground. Good luck. Lowering ride height can be used as a last resort.
 
it's a very, very narrow bike. so even with the same seat height as other sportbikes, you'll get more of your foot down on the ground.

to be honest, if your test ride went fine, you will get used to a higher seat. When I got my Multistrada Granturismo, the first couple of weeks were nothing short of harrowing, as I've never owned a bike that tall. Now, it's second nature.

this topic (lowering Panigales) has come up in discussion at the dinner table in my house before. My wife (5 feet even) rides a 796 that has gone through a lot of work to get it lowered - 696 clevis pin and sidestand, forks pulled through, low seat that was shaved down even further. She's a scenic cruiser kind of rider but is in love with the Panigale's "artistic" lines. Good thing she isn't my height; she'd be borrowing my bike all the time!
 
Thanks guys, admittedly I had the same reservations with the 796 had that lowered using rear link from 696 only to have it jacked back up to standard. Thanks Twiztedrabbit, that does actually make sense the rake would change, good to know I'm not the only shorty on a panigale.
 
Dazzpowder said:
Thanks guys, admittedly I had the same reservations with the 796 had that lowered using rear link from 696 only to have it jacked back up to standard. Thanks Twiztedrabbit, that does actually make sense the rake would change, good to know I'm not the only shorty on a panigale.
Click to expand...
How much do you weigh? If you are on the lighter side, you should change out the springs to suit your weight and then set the sag at the softer end of the spectrum.. Say 40mm front and 30mm rear. That way, when you sit on the bike, it will be quite a bit lower than with springs that are too stiff.

Cheers.
 
Dazzpowder said:
Thanks guys, admittedly I had the same reservations with the 796 had that lowered using rear link from 696 only to have it jacked back up to standard. Thanks Twiztedrabbit, that does actually make sense the rake would change, good to know I'm not the only shorty on a panigale.
Click to expand...

Buy a Luminoto seat cover and the gold gel which will make the seat grippier and softer. You can do it yourself just need a good stapler.

Then take out the rubber bungs under the seat which removes about 1 cm of height.
 
Hey 80, I weigh 65kg, I'm not sure what you mean by "change out the springs" isn't the 129s electronics setup for the springs fitted?

Thanks Brad will check out the luminoto seat.

Kismet, good to know there are shorter riders than me. On proper bikes Thought I might get flamed on hear and given the safety "two flat feet on the ground" lecture stop signs aren't an issue least not on the standard 1299 want to see what's it's like on the 1299s in the event I put my left foot down as it has the suspension cans on that side that stick out. I just won't look as cool dismounting the thing if I have back it up,, but not as stupid as dropping it and ending up on YouTube
 
https://commondatastorage.googleapi...es-Platform-Mens-(Texas-Oil-.....)-010602.jpg
 
Dazzpowder said:
Hey 80, I weigh 65kg, I'm not sure what you mean by "change out the springs" isn't the 129s electronics setup for the springs fitted?

Thanks Brad will check out the luminoto seat.

Kismet, good to know there are shorter riders than me. On proper bikes Thought I might get flamed on hear and given the safety "two flat feet on the ground" lecture stop signs aren't an issue least not on the standard 1299 want to see what's it's like on the 1299s in the event I put my left foot down as it has the suspension cans on that side that stick out. I just won't look as cool dismounting the thing if I have back it up,, but not as stupid as dropping it and ending up on YouTube
Click to expand...

search my posts and I think you will find some photos i put up in 2012. the gold gel lumimoto sell is a godsend for comfort and you can do it all yourself its easy
they provide quite good instructions
 
I'm also only 5'4. I have shaved the foam out of the seat and that helped some. I have also taken the cover off the rear shock. The biggest gain i got was to soften up the the rear shock. Its doesn't float the front tire as much under hard acceleration but i can also back the bike into a parking stall. Be careful not to take to much out of the seat. Riding on the sub frame is not fun. ha ha ha
 
Dazzpowder said:
Hey 80, I weigh 65kg, I'm not sure what you mean by "change out the springs" isn't the 129s electronics setup for the springs fitted?

Thanks Brad will check out the luminoto seat.

Kismet, good to know there are shorter riders than me. On proper bikes Thought I might get flamed on hear and given the safety "two flat feet on the ground" lecture stop signs aren't an issue least not on the standard 1299 want to see what's it's like on the 1299s in the event I put my left foot down as it has the suspension cans on that side that stick out. I just won't look as cool dismounting the thing if I have back it up,, but not as stupid as dropping it and ending up on YouTube
Click to expand...
The springs need to be the correct rate for your weight. If you are 143 lbs, it means the springs the bike shipped with are too stiff for your weight; new springs for your weight, will cost about $200 and will make the bike work better for you. The stock springs are for a 180-190 lb person 80-85 kilos.

The correct springs for your weight mean that the bike can reach the correct sag figures, will work better and will also be lower than the bike with springs that are too stiff.

All the electronics do, is change the damping; the springs are not affected by the electronics at all. Our bikes require that you set the spring sag manually, using good old fashioned wrenches.
 
if you need new springs hit me up, have some from when i bought my 1199S, as the rider was 140lbs... half of me..
 
That's what I do as well with large KTM adventure bikes. Those are a mile high compared to the Panigale especially when you have a more comfortable "tall" seat.

I just slide over to the right and put my right foot down. You can lean the bike a little as well. That's a whole lot more effective than 15mm! And won't mess up your handling.

Setting two feet down is for newbs LOlz.

To get onto a big bike, squeeze the front brake hard, and yank yourself up and across by the bars. Some people will even stand on the left peg as they swing their right leg over.
 

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