I got a new bike, I have a question

[uniquenvygrl]

I just got a 2002 HONDA VFR 800:yahoo:. The owner told me he thinks it was lowered 1.5 to 2 inches. When I test drove it I didn't see a problem, but when I rode it home I scraped a foot peg turning a corner. I wasn't even leaning that far! I'm trying to figure out if I should spend money on a lifting kit(I have know idea how much that would cost) or should I just get use to taking wider turns. What do you girls think? http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/297317_10150340407182713_514762712_8115756_1755201 098_n.jpg

[phoenix63]

Are you comfortable on the bike? Can you flat foot the bike at a stop? I would think that comfort and your ability to control the bike (which it seems like you can do just fine) matter more than whether you're scraping the foot pegs on turns. But, I'm a new rider, so I have no clue.

Depending on how tall you are, and where you like the seat height, you may want to consider taking the bike back to stock condition.

Its a beautiful bike! Congrats!

[MissusJ]

Is it worth giving him a shout to ask how it was lowered? It could be just suspension adjustment, but at that sort of figure I do have to say I doubt it.

If you are regularly scraping the footpeg and you are comfortable with the ride a bit higher then you could get it put back to stock, this is how the bike was designed to be ridden after all and Honda dealers are generally quite insistent in the UK that lowering kits spoil handling.

If you are getting it raised then consider both front and rear will probably need raising and your kickstand will also likely have been altered so you will need to replace that too. There is also a chance that the bars may have been altered to suit the newer geometry of the bike so something else to check.

The most important thing is that you are comfortable on the bike and only you know just how far you are really putting the bike over?? Personally I rather have a bit more space with the footpegs as it leaves the bike a bit nimbler on some of the tighter roads we have over here.

Whatever you decide to do, enjoy her, she looks lovely and Viffers (especially of that kind of age) have a fantastic reputation. :D:

[uniquenvygrl]

It sounds like if I lift it again it would cost a few hundred. I took it to the honda dealers for a oil change and safety check today. They said they aren't allowed to mess with lowering and lifting it so I will have to find someone else to give me a price range. I am comfortable on it, I'm 5'7 so I think I can lift it and still flat foot it. I don't think I would be able to do twisties with it this way. Good thing it's mostly straight highway where I live.
You should see what I had to do to my license plate to get it barely legal but on the stock plate holder. It also needs mirrors and a new shield, which the previous owner said he already ordered. The previous owner must have flipped it, but she is still beautiful.

[opaque_machete]

I agree, check with the PO to see how it was lowered and set it back to stock. Engineers worked to get the aerodynamics, etc, correct on that bike from the factory. Lowering it may have changed more than scraping the pegs, but the ultimate decision is yours. I would say, keep riding it for a while, then decide. Only time and riding can tell you what you really need to know. :D: VERY nice bike.

[ImaSoftT]

:congrats: Unique, she sure is a beauty. The previous owner of my bike had lower it also, and I too scraped what I believe was my kickstand bracket when I first started riding it. However I haven't scraped it in quite some time because I have learned to adjust my riding style to fit the bike. I'm a more easy going sort of rider and don't take the twisty at top speed, but I can and do still ride them when I can find them. Like others have already said, you decide what you are comfortable with, and what type of riding you want to do and then decide if you need to take the bike back to the factory height. I will caution you that scraping your pegs in a curve or turn may cause you miss your intended line, so be careful until you get to know your new baby.

[ridingAK]

She's a beauty! Hopefully you get a reasonable quote on lifting her so the decision can be based on performance rather than cost.

[uniquenvygrl]

You're right, I should ride it more. I think it just scared me a little when I scraped it like that. It made me jerk the handle bar a bit. I guess I thought I would end up wrecking because of it. I've been more cautious on it and will see how it rides as I gain more experience on it. I didn't expect to get so many responses so fast. Thanks everyone on your input so far.

[BlueLghtning]

That bike is definitely lowered a pretty good amount just from the pic. Most likely it was just longer dog bones which is pretty cheap and easy to reverse. You just put the normal dog bones back on.

Are the front forks slid up in the triple tree's? If so, that is how they lowered the front and is just a matter of putting them back to the stock location. It might be the angle of the picture, but the rear definitely looks lower then the rear what is not a good combination. That really can affect the handling in a negative way.

If you are scraping pegs, that can definitely be a safety issue too. If you have height to raise it back to stop, that would probably be your best option for safety and handling.

Congrats on the bike and I hope you enjoy it!

[KansasKawboy]

That bike is definitely lowered a pretty good amount just from the pic. Most likely it was just longer dog bones which is pretty cheap and easy to reverse. You just put the normal dog bones back on.

Are the front forks slid up in the triple tree's? If so, that is how they lowered the front and is just a matter of putting them back to the stock location. It might be the angle of the picture, but the rear definitely looks lower then the rear what is not a good combination. That really can affect the handling in a negative way.

If you are scraping pegs, that can definitely be a safety issue too. If you have height to raise it back to stop, that would probably be your best option for safety and handling.

Congrats on the bike and I hope you enjoy it!
I agree! I zoomed in and can see the forks are moved up above the handle bars, so that wound be pretty easy. If you click on this link it will show you what the forks should look like.

http://www.sportrider.com/bikes/146_0204_2002_honda_vrf800_interceptor/photo_09.html

Like has been said the side stand has most likely been shortened so will need to be replaced.

[Astir]

Congrats on the bike! Pretty snazzy .:thumbsup:

[theWolfTamer]

Lovely bike! I'd put it back to stock height and have the suspension set up.

[Pawprint2104]

If/when you do. Post a pic, please, so we can compare the two set ups.

[Luna Tique]

Raising the bike back up is something you could maybe do yourself.
With a little help and a few tools I lowered my KLR (http://www.twowheelfemales.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4208) with Soupy's lowering links (http://www.twowheelfemales.com/forum/showthread.php?t=4306)They are fully adjustable so you can decide how much to raise the bike and we get a discount :wootrock:

As Blue lighting (aka BL) and KansasKawboy ( aka KK) said it is very important do the front forks the same amount to keep the bike's geometry correct and with the amount it is lowered now I agree you will most likely need to replace the kickstand.

Beautiful bike. Now it is time to get your hands a little dirty. :lol:

[BlueLghtning]

A good side effect you'll notice from raising the bike back up is how much better the suspension works. I bet right now if you pay attention to it, every little bump you hit is probably jarring your back teeth out and can be down right uncomfortable on bumpy roads. Lowering a bike with links tends to make the suspension more harsh and less forgiving over bumps since you are changing the angle of the rear swing arm pivot.

[uniquenvygrl]

Yes I went to biketoberfest and I felt every little bump, I didn't scrape my pegs again this ride. My battery died during a 5 min stop though. Don't honda dealers check battery levels during safety inspections? I got one yesterday. Anyway got a jump and rode back home. So much easier to break the speed limit on this thing. I will need to control myself.

[demenshea]

Hello, this is a friend of mine riding her VFR on the track for a track day with Reg Pridmore.

The one thing you don't want compromised is your suspension. I'd get that bike back to its former/normal settings and then get in to a suspension specialist and get 'er tweaked for you. That is an AWESOME machine!!! :thumbsup:

http://www.pashnit.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=123229&stc=1&d=1316822192

[Unforgiven]

That bike looks pretty slammed. If you can raise it you should. Look underneath at the rear shock and you will see some links that BL referred to above. See if one end has extra holes. If so, I'm betting they are in the last hole which is probably a 2 or 2 1/2" drop. If it is multiple holes, the hole at the shortest position is usually stock. You can move the link up to that hole and drop the forks back through the trees and you will be stock again. You will have to go back to a stock kick stand which you can probably pick up off ebay for $20 or so.

You may have to mess with the rear shock also. Usually when lowered that much, the rear will become very spongy as the longer link makes for leverage. To overcome that, they will usually stiffen the rear shock and turn it up to full dampening to get rid of the bounce.

[TheDove]

what a beautiful bike!:worthy:

[BlueLghtning]

Hello, this is a friend of mine riding her VFR on the track for a track day with Reg Pridmore.

The one thing you don't want compromised is your suspension. I'd get that bike back to its former/normal settings and then get in to a suspension specialist and get 'er tweaked for you. That is an AWESOME machine!!! :thumbsup:


Great Pic! :thumbup: A stock height VFR actually has pretty decent lean angle and really are great bikes!

[BlueLghtning]

That bike looks pretty slammed. If you can raise it you should. Look underneath at the rear shock and you will see some links that BL referred to above. See if one end has extra holes. If so, I'm betting they are in the last hole which is probably a 2 or 2 1/2" drop. If it is multiple holes, the hole at the shortest position is usually stock. You can move the link up to that hole and drop the forks back through the trees and you will be stock again. You will have to go back to a stock kick stand which you can probably pick up off ebay for $20 or so.

You may have to mess with the rear shock also. Usually when lowered that much, the rear will become very spongy as the longer link makes for leverage. To overcome that, they will usually stiffen the rear shock and turn it up to full dampening to get rid of the bounce.

+1

Here is what Unforgiven is referring to.

You might see links like this on the bottom of your bike where your rear shock attaches to the swing arm.

The farthest out hole is the lowest position the bike can go. The most inward of the 3 holes is generally stock height or close to it.

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/675171146_anEd8-L.jpg

http://bluelghtning.smugmug.com/photos/675170264_zghFG-L.jpg