🏍️ Lowering a Motorcycle – The Complete Guide to Lowering Your Seat Height

Why lower your motorcycle?

Many motorcyclists feel unsafe on their motorcycles because of the height. Some have experienced unfortunate incidents of crashes or injuries because they couldn't reach the ground properly. It doesn't have to be that way - most motorcycles can be lowered!

In this guide, we review all solutions for lowering a motorcycle , so you can find the best solution for your motorcycle.

⚠️ Important to know before lowering your motorcycle

Regardless of which method of lowering MC you choose, there are some important factors to consider:

📐 Motorcycle balance and geometry

It is crucial that your motorcycle is lowered equally at the front and rear. This requires that your motorcycle's setup and springs are correct before you get started.

Too much lowering in the front:

• ❌ Risk of wheel spin out of turns (Less weight, reduced grip)
• ❌ Reduced grip in the rear tire (Less weight, reduced grip)
• ❌ Instability when braking (The rear end becomes light and loose very easily)
• ❌ Oversteer (Almost falls into turns)

Too much lowering at the rear:

• ❌ Unstable motorcycle that feels "alive" may have a tendency to wobble
• ❌ Particularly pronounced at highway speeds (did some say death-wobble?)
• ❌ Problems with white stripes on the road (Floating sensation)
• ❌ Tendency to understeer (Your motorcycle may be difficult to get into the line in a turn you want)

📏 Ground clearance after lowering

When you lower your motorcycle, the motorcycle will stand significantly more upright on the side stand. You should be aware of:

• 🔧 Possible need for shorter/shortened side support foot
• 🚧 Reduced clearance at driveways and curbs
• ⚙️ Exposed points: Fore pipe/manifold, oil pan and oil filter

🔧 Motorcycle lowering solutions

1️⃣ Lowering the front fork/front

Passage of fork legs into fork bridges

The most common method for lowering a motorcycle at the front is to run the fork legs further through the fork bridges, but this is not always the best solution.

✅ Benefits:

• 💰 Cheap
• ⚡ Easy and effective
• 🛠️ Can often be done yourself

❌ Disadvantages:

• You maintain the long spring travel in the front fork (very low ground clearance during braking)
• The fork can give as much as before lowering (Read above)
• Creates imbalance and less stability (The walk does not match the rear end)
• Not possible on all motorcycles
• Limited how far the fork legs can be pushed through

Front fork lowering springs

Progressive lowering springs of the same length as the original ones allow the front fork to remain correctly mounted. The lowering springs have a softer first part, which makes the motorcycle "sit" more and become lower. The next part of the spring becomes harder and provides more support.

✅ Benefits:

• ✨ The travel length is maintained in the front fork
• 🎯 The working area in the fork is optimally moved
• 😊 Comfort remains the top priority

2️⃣ Rear Lowering – Linkages/Meat Legs

The most used form of lowering a motorcycle , but unfortunately also the worst solution (if you ask us).

Why is it problematic?
The suspension almost always has some form of progressivity in the linkages. When these are changed, the progressivity of the suspension changes, often resulting in a very harsh and uncomfortable driving experience.

These lowering kits for motorcycles are available for a wide range of motorcycles. Pitboxen only carries them for motorcycles where we have no other lowering options.

✅ Benefits:

• 🔨 Easy to change for the DIYer
• 💵 Financially affordable solution
• 📦 Available for many models

❌ Disadvantages:

• Changed progressivity
• Very rough and uncomfortable driving experience
• Reduced driving pleasure

3️⃣ Lowering spring for rear shock absorber ⭐

Our lowering solution with a different spring on the original rear shock absorber is a really good solution for lowering your motorcycle .

How it works:
The lowering springs should be the same length as the original shock absorber so that the spring is not loose. In an unloaded state, the height will be unchanged, but when you sit on the seat, the motorcycle will be lower than before. The progressive winding means that the spring becomes harder the more it is compressed.

✅ Benefits:

• 💰 Cheap and good solution
• 🎨 Available in black or purple
• ✨ Gives a fresh look
• 🎯 Maintains good driving comfort

❌ Disadvantages:

• Same seat height without load can be difficult for people with very short legs to swing over
• Requires access to special tools (which we also sell)

4️⃣ Lowered rear shock – The best solution! 🏆

The Pitbox can of course also deliver the absolute best solution for lowering motorcycles for many motorcycles.

Hyperpro lowered damper:
As a Hyperpro importer and workshop, we can supply a new Hyperpro shock absorber that has been lowered – in some cases up to 50 mm. This maintains maximum comfort (better than original) while keeping the seat height low in both loaded and unloaded conditions.

✅ Benefits:

• 🌟 Extremely good solution that significantly increases your motorcycle's comfort
• ⚙️ Option to upgrade to fully adjustable damper
• 🎯 Custom setup for your weight
• 💧 Possibility of hydraulic preload adjustment
• 🎨 Choose between black or purple feather
• 🎁 The lowering itself is free when you buy a new Hyperpro shock absorber

❌ Disadvantages:

• 💰 More expensive than other solutions (but the quality is top notch!)

🎯 Conclusion – Which lowering solution should you choose?

Budget solution: Lowering spring for rear shock absorber
Best solution: Hyperpro lowered rear shock
Avoid if possible: Link connections/meat bones

ALWAYS combine lowering at the rear with lowering at the front, and vice versa.

Do you need help finding the right lowering kit for your motorcycle ? Contact Pitboxen – we will help you find the perfect solution for your motorcycle! 🏍️💨