Lowering a Maxim 400 xs400j ???

Hi everyone,
I have a 82 Maxim 400 xs400j it's my first bike and it has been a great one to learn on and still lots of fun to ride. But, I have a little sister who would also like to learn to ride. She is short and light and can only touch her tip toes when on my maxim and she is not very comfortable with this (and I don’t blame her 8O ).
I have read many threads about lowering here at XJbikes but the 400 has a mono-shock and didn’t see anything about them. Sorry if I missed it.
I know I can cut the spring but I’m not sure what this will do to the ride-ability?
Or I was going to try to find a shorter stiffer mono-shock/spring to replace the stock one.
Does anyone have any advice?
Has anyone here lowered a maxim 400 before?

Thanks

 

Re: Lowering a Maxim 400 sx400j ???

I think the easiest way would be to make a custom seat....
Never tried finding a shorter shock but that may work , remember if you lower the rear, to keep the geometry the same you will need to drop the forks through the tree a bit as well....

The PO of my bike was short, had made herself a seat AND lowered the forks 2-3" ended up dropping the bike (that drastic a change probably made it twitchy) couldn't get it to start and there it sat for 7 years until I rescued it.

 

Re: Lowering a Maxim 400 sx400j ???

Thanks ZaGhost but already tried the seat thing. I took the stock seat off and put a towel in its place had my sis give this a try, didn't seem to help. The problem is the frame is wide enough at that point under the seat your legs need to go out before they can go down to the ground.

But thanks for the heads up about lowering the front to match the back. Somehow I had not thought of that. I want to do this right, I do not want to make this a tricky bike to ride it would defeat the whole purpose.

 

Re: Lowering a Maxim 400 sx400j ???

its XS not SX...please change your sig.

 

Re: Lowering a Maxim 400 sx400j ???

Your best bet would be to pull the shock and go shopping for a shorter replacement in dirt-bike land. There's no other graceful way to safely lower that bike in the rear.

How about platform shoes? Or go shopping for a nice 535 Virago...

 

Re: Lowering a Maxim 400 sx400j ???

oops! thanks for pointing out my type-o

 

Thanks bigfitz52 and ZaGhost I think I will have time to work on this next week I'll let you know how it goes

 

ya- try finding just a cheap shorter shock- maybe try adjusting the shock's stiffness down to nothing and slide the forks up in the triple tree