XB9R seat height?short people chime in!

[moshaholic2]

The GF is thinking of ditching her SV650 for a XB9R

The SV650 is pretty low and she can *almost* flat foot on it but the bike is pretty light, so she handles it fine.

The XB9R is ~25lbs heavier, so seat the height needs to be the same or lower.

Suzuki claims a seat height of 31.5"
Buell claims a seat height of 30.5"

no idea if that is a laden seat height for the buell or not.

She can barely stand over my xb12ss and the added weight is a killer.

anyone on here ridden both sv650 and a xb9r and can give feedback on a size comparison.

 

[bfletcher]

PM speedfreaks101, he has/had both.

 

[BuellerPilot]

Buell list the seat heights as "laden" or with a rider of average weight (165?). You might want to look at a SCG or "Low" S model with a low seat installed.

~Mike.........

 

[moshaholic2]

she isn't "micro" she is 5'5" and I'm guessing is about 125lbs.

I went out and measured her SV650, and the 31.5" seat height is the unladen seat height.

I dont want to get into doing a scg suspension swap. She wants a buell (can't blame her) and would prefer a firebolt over a lightning

 

[BuellerPilot]

Well, luckily the Firebolt doesn't have bars in the way of lifting the fork tubes up in the triple trees (bars get in the way of doing that on a Lightning). And theres a company, though I don't recall who, who makes a rear shock spring retainer which would lower the rear. Economical choice and less head ache then locating SCG forks and shock. I don't know anything about Firebolt seats if theres low versions or not.

~Mike...........

 

[upthemaiden]

yeah even if you don't want to deal with the full SCG suspension swap, you can still spend $50 on a rear shock and $25 on a shorter sidestand and then just slide the fork tubes up in the triple and be in business.

Isn't the SS slightly taller than the normal S/R? I could be wrong.

 

[moshaholic2]

OK, the SCG rear shock and sliding the forks seems like the best way to do it.

BUT, if I cant find an SCG rear shock

would this work? It says XB models after 04 (we are looking at an 03...did they really change??)

http://solobuell.com/en/sb/buell-xb12r/suspension/mizu/lowering-kit

 

[driftingswiftly]

I don't have it myself, but i have heard mixed reviews about the lowering kit. My intuition says it would workout, but thats all i got.

I did want to add also that the seat heights are difficult to compare because the sv650 is narrower then an XB. So your legs can extend down more effectively on the sv, whereas your legs have to go out and around on the wider xb. This makes the bike feel taller.

I know its some work, but if she really doesn't want a lightning front end, you could get an scg and swap the front fairing from a bolt. I think thats one of the best looking buell combos out there.
...also know that slipping the front forks is fine IMO, as long as it is done properly.

 

[BeDaring08]

I put the scg shock on my firebolt and slipped the forks and have no problems what so ever. Its a easy swap. I didnt have to change my kickstand on my 04 bolt bcs it kicked out plenty far.

 

[moshaholic2]

I put the scg shock on my firebolt and slipped the forks and have no problems what so ever. Its a easy swap. I didnt have to change my kickstand on my 04 bolt bcs it kicked out plenty far.

Sounds good. may i ask your height or inseem? and also if you know your current seat height after doing the scg shock swap.

thanks!

 

[BeDaring08]

im 5' 8", inseam is like 29 and 30.5"-31" seat high. Just remember when u slip the forks there is retaining flip on both fork tubes by the top tripple tree that has to be removed(just pops off like a c clip). I raised my forks 3/4". I sit perfectly flat footed.

 

[warsaw1776]

my girlfriend can almost flat foot my xb9r and shes 5'3"....if she had any experience i wouldnt be too concerned about letting her ride it and she was actually suprised and wished she had already taken the MSF course so she could take it out, and shes only 95lbs

 

[brightbuell]

How hard id it to lift the forks up in the tripple tree of a firebolt?

 

[Baal]

I'm 5'7" on a good day. Not quite 30" inseam. As an adult, the only bike I"ve owned that I could flatfoot was a Bandit 400. I went with an Ss. On purpose.

If she's got the skills, and is comfortable, seat height only matters when you stop. Gaston Rahier wasn't much over 5 feet tall, and he raced this beast:

(He's the one in the middle.)

 

[BeDaring08]

its easy, lossen the tripple trees, lift the bike up some, so u can remove the safety clips, then slowly lower the bike down tell u get the forks were u want them

 

[RT Performance]

My gf is riding my lightening with a firebolt tail picked up a scg shock and slipped the forms a little. Just got A fire bolt upper triple and will slip them more soon.
She started on a blast and was talking about how easily it swaps left to right after you up and riding.
As it is she can tippy toe with a 29 " inseam