Can a short person ride an XJ750 Seca?

Hi all,

I've got a buddy of mine that's lent a hand getting my 750 seca back on the road. He loves the bike, even the hideous headlight. Now he's got the opportunity to buy one and I'm looking for advice on making one "fit" him.

He's also a beginner rider that first got on a bike this spring. He currently drives a LS650 Savage, so taking on a project (and I let him in on how much it'll cost in the end in parts alone) is fine. I just don't think he'll be able to manage at stops on his toes.

I'm 6'2" with a 34" inseam, and I can stand flat footed on my bike and still have about 2" of clearance. He's got a 29-30" inseam, So I figure it'd need to be lowered 2"-3". I'm just looking for advice about lowering a 750 seca to fit him.

 

Swap a Maxim rim (16 VS 18) gets you an inch, you can get a lower profile tire too.
Shorter "Harley" shocks I think are worth 2"
A bread knife to do some seat foam surgery and re-staple the seat cover can easily get another inch.

Then there's shortening the spring in the fork, or sliding the fork tubes higher into the "trees" - you have to mess with the air tube, and shorten the kickstand.

 

Yeah the air-valve in the forks would pose a bit of a problem. 2" shorter shocks would be fine final-drive u-joint right?

Anyone swapped out the front end with another XJ?
Hadn't even thought of the kickstand, but mine definitely stands almost straight up.

 

No. I haven't but I have a 82 front end (attached to the rest of it) and a maxim wheel in my shop.

I'm running the harley shocks on my 650 max and no binding.

 

I lowered mine quite a bit by dropping the front fork a few and having my seat reupholstered, chopping about six inches of foam off of it.

 

Where there's a will; there's a way!

Lower the Front a bit.
Same for the Rear, ... without drastically altering the geometry.
Cut-down the seat or re-do with high-tec foam.

http://www.xtrememotorbikes.com.au/d109 ... ng-wheels/

 

Yeah lowering the front a "bit" is difficult because of the air valve. There's only a circlip below the valve. Maybe a lathe could fix that, or just different forks.

Unfortunately, my buddy's wife nixxed the whole plan, the honey-do list is just too long for him for the winter.

 

I drop my front a fair bit and used my clip on bars to cover the hole that the air valve use to cover. I also fitted some Harley sportster shocks. I got a massive drop but it's almost impossible to put it on the centre stand now when I do a service

 

drive the bike onto a 2X4 , phone book, old shoe, whatever - makes putting on centerstand sooooo much easier. I use this trick on my full-size bikes.

 

I have an XJ750 UK, standard frame and shocks, aftermarket 2+4 seat.
not the tallest biker and posess a 29.5" inside leg. I have no problem with the bike. when stopping a lights and junctions just slide your rear to the left of right a bit whatever takes your fancy.

At 5'8" I am supposedly average height..? Its a bit like being a left hooker you need to learn to adapt, If you want it bad enough you will overcome..!

 

Well, sure.....a short person can ride an xj750 seca. I think the more appropriate question would be: Can a short person keep an xj750 seca from falling over when they STOP riding it??!?!

dave

 

Unless they're riding up to milk crates on either side, no. Better have good reflexes so you don't get crushed. (...Luckily, I did.)

 

Oh please!

I'm a little under 5'6" and have owned or ridden many bikes
with a 31" or higher seat platform.

Just remember to lean a little to one side or the other as you
come to a stop.

 

Oh please!

I'm a little under 5'6" and have owned or ridden many bikes
with a 31" or higher seat platform.

Just remember to lean a little to one side or the other as you
come to a stop.

 

yup, you're 5'6" but the original post was asking about SHORT people.

dave f

 

LOL