Did you know?

[cosmicknome]

Did you know that if you suffer from from under length legs like my self, the rear shock top mounting bracket on the M696 fits the M1100 and S version and shorten's the shock by 10mm thus lowering the seat.
I haven't done this yet as i've fitted the lower seat but if i'am not happy with the hieght i will do it to my bike.

[He11cat]

:) id need more then 10mm... I need inches myself :(

[big pete]

:) id need more then 10mm... I need inches myself :(

Wink Wink Nudge Nudge!;)

[He11cat]

ooops chance would be a fine thing :)

[CK & AK]

Take care, if you shorten up the shock height, then you are changing the angle of the swing arm which in turn will cause a problem with handling. At best it will make the bike go wide out of corners.....
Less knowledgable people may not notice if they are at novice rider stage, but if you do tend to push the bike, then it will become quite obvious

Best consult someone who knows the geometry too & can assist with set up before going ahead?

:)

[He11cat]

If you then start modding shock links and swing arms to lower .... it can get well iffy.

I myself would go to a specialist after the fiasco I had with my Yam....
I have a collection of half number plates.. a smashed undertray .. and a had to replace a shock.

I did not moddy it.... its a fine art ..
Don't do it in a shed is all I would say!!!

I was advised to go to MCT up here... and have to say have heard their praise sung many a time!
I don't push anything I am Miss captain slow but even I found out the hard way...

its a fine balancing art anyone can lower anything.. but it can really effect a bike , handling and all sorts as I found out .. one bump in the road and game over!!!

[cosmicknome]

Yes to a point you are right and if done in isolation it would affect the handling,but if you experiment with the front fork position in the yoke's this will overcome any problem caused by the changes at the back.
Any reduction in ground clearance caused by doing this is minimal when the bike is used on the road in normal use.

[He11cat]

Seriously be careful mine was road use and both ends done by an "engineer"
my whiole bike had to be dropped lower due to lack of legs.
Depends how much you need to drop as well.
I can't ride a 30 / 31 inch hight bike forget it.

I only found out when I hit a bump at speed and the damage to my bike was bad.. New shock , undertray broken .. Oh I hurt as well.
It's it's a little amount a bit back and front Would help seat scoop helps too

[cosmicknome]

I'am really sorry i did not intend to wind people up with this infomation, it.s just i have seen this mod done to an M1100 and the rider did find a big change in the handling.
It didn,t produce a big drop in hieght about 15-20mm at the seat which made it more user freindly for the rider who was female.
Her previous bike had been a CBR600.
Like i say i am sorry if i have misinformed anybody.
I only had a mouth or so to ride it from new and didn,t have the lower seat which i have know to try it with so roll on the sunshine please.

[He11cat]

You have not offended or wound up anyone ..
I totally get you as have the same issue.. I have owned 2 bikes now I can ride without modding and ones a CG125 and only as I hang my self off the seat or its so like a push bike I can tip it to one side.
Monster does not let me do it!.
Ive owned a fair few bikes now. its harder on a mono shock as well to lower.
I hope I don't sound rude its not meant that way .. just after my Yam got lowered it was a stupid bump in the road that sent it all up in the air :) and me! ..it was out of balance and the clearance shock set up not right.. I nearly ended up with a shock spring where the sun doesnt shine!
As much as I like Zebedee .. :(

My seats are um pretty thin as well... and a couple I have had narrowed as that can be a huge factor.
Ive sat on some low cruisers as people kept saying buy a cruiser (er no thanks!) very low seat height on paper and when I stood next to them.
but due to the width of the bike it made no odds may as well have been 30 inches high!

Bit of trial and error .. and see how you get on.
I even looked at lowering kits but the drop was so tiny for the money it was not worth it for a shorty like me!
Ditto roll on the sun ... I can't get warm today even after I had my thermals on!

[Gamsa]

If you experiment with the front fork position in the yoke's this will overcome any problem caused by the changes at the back.

This is a common misunderstanding. Moving the front forks' position in the yoke will level the bike, but not improve the altered swingarm angle. Provided the new shock's travel is still inside the designed range, you may get away with it. I doubt anyone could say for sure without riding the thing and seeing how it performed.