Do you have difficulty reaching the ground with your feet when you sit on your race bike? For smaller motorcyclists, the idea of “lowering your motorbike” can be reassuring. But is lowering your race bike really such a good idea? We provide you with insight.
As a track day rider and/or racer, you constantly look for control and stability in your motorbike. Because we want to go as fast as possible. And those two things are essential for achieving those fast lap times.
Controlling your race bike starts in the paddock. Perhaps even on public roads, if your race bike is also your road bike. Being able to put your feet on the ground while sitting on your bike gives many motorcyclists a feeling of confidence. And we get that.
After all, it’s incredibly handy. You can stand still and relax, roll your motorbike forwards or backwards with ease, and get on and off with ease. If you’re not blessed with long legs, we understand why the idea of “lowering your motorbike” might appeal to you.
However, there are also many small and young motorcyclists who do not lower their motorbike. Why don’t they? We will go through all the pros and cons with you.
Lowering your motorbike – whether it’s your road bike that you take to the track sometimes, or your race bike – can feel great. As a smaller rider, you’ll be closer to the ground, which often gives you an extra dose of confidence. For some, it also gives them more control over the bike when stopping or riding at low speeds.
To be honest, that’s where the advantages of lowering your motorbike end.
You may already see it coming, but this list is considerably longer. Lowering your motorbike also has quite a few disadvantages that you may not immediately consider.
If you think, “Nah, I don’t feel that…”, just for fun, try sticking your front forks by an extra ring. So lower the front. Or move them up a ring. Then you will definitely notice the difference. If you only lower the rear, the bike will be less responsive. Was it already leaning forward a lot? Then it might be a good idea.
But changes in the geometry of the motorbike always have an impact on the steering and handling on the bike. Have you lowered your motorbike and suddenly it’s not steering as well? Then you know where the problem might be coming from.
Suspension and its correct adjustment are an essential part of riding fast laps. Sacrificing the optimal adjustment so that you can reach the ground with your feet sooner is, in our opinion, always a bad choice.
Lowering your motorbike as a whole by adjusting the suspension is therefore something we would never recommend. Does that mean there are no options at all? No. If you really want to lower your motorbike, there are other options.
1. Lower/narrow your saddle or seat: have a custom seat made or make a racing seat from thinner foam. If necessary, simply stick it onto your race fairing. Or cut parts out of the side of the foam of your seat.
This will make the motorbike “lower” without affecting the suspension or geometry. You can often gain a maximum of 2 cm this way. You will be sitting lower, which may require you to adjust your footpegs or your clutch and brake levers too.
2. Put a narrower rear end on your motorbike. This is not always an option, especially if your subframe is also wider than average. A practical example: the Yamaha R6 has a relatively wide rear fairing, especially when you’ve added race fairings to the bike. You can put a different rear fairing on it.
The same applies to a Suzuki SV650. This bike has a slightly wider rear fairing. The rear of an Aprilia RSV4, for example, which is relatively narrow, would fit on this bike. A narrower rear fairing means you can reach the ground more easily. It may take some time to find a fairing that fits, but the option is there.
3. Develop the right technique: learn how to handle your motorbike. This won’t make your motorbike any lower, we know that. But learn to ride with that lack of height. A little reminder: Dani Pedrosa, who is 1.58 m tall, Andrea Dovizioso, who is 1.65 m tall, Álvaro Bautista, who is 1.67 m tall, and Marc Marquez, who is 1.68 m tall, are all faster than us. And they are also small in stature.
So get over the fact that you’re small and learn to deal with it. You can also ride a smaller motorbike. But that doesn’t mean you’re limited to those smaller or lighter bikes. Learn to deal with one foot on the ground if you want to stand still. Do you want to turn around in the paddock? And can’t do that because you can’t put your feet on the ground? Then just get off the bike and turn your motorbike around while walking it.
Lowering your race bike – or road bike, because the same standards and consequences apply – can be useful. At least, if you really can’t get over the fact that you can’t reach the ground properly. Lowering your motorbike by using shorter or softer springs or even shorter front forks can give you more confidence and control.
But we would never recommend this without careful consideration. In fact, it has more disadvantages than advantages. We advise you to lower the seat slightly by cutting out or thinning the foam, or by putting a different seat on the motorbike.
And the most effective thing you can do is learn to deal with the height of your motorbike, or your lack of height. Develop the right technique and skills to deal with this. Ultimately, that works much better than lowering your motorbike.
