Lowering your xj650

Is it possible to lower my 1982 xj650rj seca? An inch or 2 would be great. If it is possible can you tell me how...lol

Thanks Guys

victor

 

you can get the seat shaved thats what i did to mine and i also lower the front forks to touch the handle bars but you might get a wobble at about 75-80mph im 5'4" i could touch the ground after wards

 

lowering the front forks seems to be the low cost answer i've found after doing my research.
just an inch or so should help.

thanks for the answer

victor

 

Loosen the triple trees and let the bike slide down the fork tubes as far as they can.

 

Regarding this: I've loosened what I found on the triple tree and the fork tubes aren't budging at all... any ideas?

 

While on the center stand; prop the front of the bike up by the frame, and remove the front wheel. That will allow the fork legs to move wihout binding in the clamps. You may need to give each upper leg a twist to get them to move.

What are you going to do to lower the rear? Messing with ride-height also changes trail, which will effect handling (and not necessarily in a good way, depending on how far you go).

 

You, Sir, are amazing.

 

Nope. I've just made a lot of mistakes, and learned from them.

 

Makes sense. I'm brand new to motorcycles, and am the proud owner of an '82 750 Maxim. Thanks a lot for the help!

 

You Maxim is different. Yours has air assisted forks. To lower those you will need to slide the forks down, remove the thin circlip that is just below the air collars, remove the rubber donuts (above each collar) and the air collars, slide the fork back up to its new height, and either plug the air holes in the upper fork legs, or set the fork legs up high enough that you can re-install the air collars.

Please note that I'm not recomending that you lower the forks at all, particularly on the 750. It will effect both handling and straight-line stability. SInce you are new to motorcycles I would suggest that you ride it in stock condition first (following a MSF course, and ctching up on the maintenance schedule), and read any number of books on suspenion tuning and motorcycle design. Motorcycles will bite your ass if you change things without knowing what all the effects of each change will be.

 

Ah, thank you. I thought there had to be more to it.

 

Check my edited post.

 

Checked & heeded. I'll keep it "as-is" for now. Thanks, K-moe!

 

I'd like to lower my 650 Seca as well and I was wondering since I'll be buying new shocks can I go to 11 or 11.5 inches or will this adversely the travel of the swing arm. The seats been recently re holstered and I'd like the padding.

 

Somebody lowered the rear 5 (FIVE) inches while hard-tailing, and the driveshaft "U" joint held up despite all the Wizards here saying it wouldn't.

 

I knew you could go as much as 2 inches, but its hard to know how much until you do it. One of those check the angle as you lower deals, too much angle will damage the joint over time/use.
How long did/has it lasted?

 

I'm not sure if it was "Crath" or who, it was a while ago, and they dropped the frame's rear hoop onto the tire and started fabbing at that swing-arm angle. This bike ran for months with no problems that I know.
This would also give maximum "rake" without welding the head-tube.

 

I'd be hesitant to go much beyond the normal wheel travel limit. Those U-joints are expensive.

 

I am 5'8" tall, or at least was. My 700 Maxim was just the right height. I can see lowering 2 to 3 inches, but 5 inches seems too much to me. One thing about going that low, is the float bowl level in the carbs since the motor would be tilted back at an angle.

 

I still think shaving the seat is the best option
yes it might be freshly upholstered
but why not add a gel pad.. then reupholster it
it can be shaved with a good bread knife
and vinyl is very cheap
you just have to use a power stapler to get it back on
I shaved mine.. I am 5'8 and it is perfect now