Ride height - rear tire & shocks

[TrapperAH1G]

Gentlemen, I want to pick your brains.
Vertically challenged, 29" inseam.


I have a 1998 Shadow vt1100t with rear tire of 185/75-16, 11.5 412 HD shocks set at 3, mid range.  No problem with rubbing.  Have driver boards and can flat foot both feet easily.

I have a 2000 Valk Std, but has rear bags.  I have 185/75-16, with 13.5 shocks off my tourer mentioned above. They are still good.  Can't quite flat foot it like I want.  I tried putting 11.5 412's on here (took the shocks off the tourer, same setting) but immediately experienced rubbing and bottoming out.  Tried going all the way to 5, but that defeated the purpose of shorter shocks and was like riding a hard tail.

Now, maybe the Valk frame and fender are a little heavier but they can't be much.  Surely not enough to cause this.  Thinking about going shorter on my tire, but it only has 10K and looks brand new.

Thoughts?  Suggestions?

Thanks

[sandy]

The rear tire size should be a 180. Stock rear shocks are 13". An 1800 Gold Wing uses a 180/60/16. The lower profile might lower it just enough for you.

[Jess from VA]

Anyone can ride well putting only one foot down (most of the time).  Left down, right on the brake pedal to stop rolling fore or aft.   Practice this if you haven't done it and you'll do fine.  

Roll in slow to your stops, now only rear brake pedal, ease a degree left as you come to the stop, left only down.  Solid.

Uneven pavement, and esp carrying a passenger makes one footing more difficult. 

[gordonv]

The issue isn't the height, but the width of the seat. Its wider, and therefore your feet are planted further apart.

Both the Shadow Vt1100 and Valk have the same factory ride height, but a co rider who has the same issue finds that little difference means the difference of tip-toe or flat footed. Rear shock length and/or tire height will also make the difference.

[Jims99]

I put 11 1/2” on the back with stock tire. Also got the ultimate lowboy seat. Seat is still a little wide, need  to have some foam taken out, but feet hit the ground much better. Even riding 2 up I have no issues with the tire rubbing. I’ve heard pros and cons about raising the forks up 1/2” to lower front, haven’t tried it myself. Expensive way would be to rake the front out. That will lower the front and better handling.

[98valk]

I put 11 1/2” on the back with stock tire. Also got the ultimate lowboy seat. Seat is still a little wide, need  to have some foam taken out, but feet hit the ground much better. Even riding 2 up I have no issues with the tire rubbing. I’ve heard pros and cons about raising the forks up 1/2” to lower front, haven’t tried it myself. Expensive way would be to rake the front out. That will lower the front and better handling.

with the shorter shocks good chance the tire is rubbing the upper inner fender where it clears the shock tower cross brace under certain suspension conditions.

[98valk]

The issue isn't the height, but the width of the seat. Its wider, and therefore your feet are planted further apart.

Both the Shadow Vt1100 and Valk have the same factory ride height, but a co rider who has the same issue finds that little difference means the difference of tip-toe or flat footed. Rear shock length and/or tire height will also make the difference.

yes narrowing the seat so the thighs have a straighter perpendicular path to ground level is the way to being more flat footed.

[psckam]

I have the 11.5 "  412's and stock tire,  Mustang seat. 32" inseam, no rubbing at any setting. 185/75 is a  taller and slightly wider tire
https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=180&aspect=70&diameter=16&wheelwidth=5&offset=0&width2=185&aspect2=75&wheel_size=16&wheel_width=5&offset2=0

[98valk]

I have the 11.5 "  412's and stock tire,  Mustang seat. 32" inseam, no rubbing at any setting. 185/75 is a way fatter and taller tire
https://www.willtheyfit.com/index.php?width=180&aspect=70&diameter=16&wheelwidth=6&offset=50&width2=185&aspect2=75&wheel_size=16&wheel_width=8.5&offset2=30

only way one can see the rubbing, if it is happening, is by removing the wheel and looking up into the fender well where the fender clears the shock tower cross over brace.
just something to check with the shorter shocks.

[psckam]

stock seat height for 2000  C is 29"

[98valk]

stock seat height for 2000  C is 29"

yep seat height for '97-'98 is more than other yrs. the new better seat is lower.

[TrapperAH1G]

I really should write out any post, read it over and over for a couple of days to refine it before I post.

All good info above. 

Jess - I do what you describe as far as braking and one footing.  I want to put both down when I need to back up or maneuver, or if I'm just sitting on the bike for some reason....not in traffic, etc.

The Tourer doesn't rub or bottom out.  The Valk rubbed with the 412's if I went over a good bump, and sometimes even bottomed out.  I had to repair, and relocate, the wire connector under the fender because of this.  I ride with the Low Boy and a Corbin (which is narrower).  The driver boards also come into play in this I guess.

Put the DS larger tire on to get fewer rpms on highway.  Does that but after one more long trip, this won't be a factor so I could go shorter, DS again.  Will probably go for the shorter shocks and shorter tire combo, already slipped the forks.

Thanks all.

[RonW]

I really should write out any post, read it over and over for a couple of days to refine it before I post.

been there, some days I can't even understand what I wrote the night before.

[Peteg]

I'm 5'4", 28 1/2" inseam. My 98 standard has OEM tire sizes came to me with 12 1/2" shocks not 13" for some reason. I replaced the 12.5 showas with 12.5 412's. I took about an 1" of foam out of the seat area of my mustang seat. I cut the foam out with an electric bread slicer so I can glue it back if I ever decide to sell the bike. I sit on an Air hawk large cruiser seat pad for maximum comfort with minimum lift. Forward near the tank I cut the foam out right down to the pan. Having no foam at all up front gives me a good solid reverse, and the air hawk pretty much hides the fact that the seat is so cut up. You could go back in with very soft memory foam to give back better shape.  I ride with 5.11 combat boots. I'm easily flat footed, stop with 2 feet down all the time and haven't had clearance issues.

I don't have much experience riding big bikes and I was having trouble stopping the bike 2 up with load. Although my bike really handles well with only 1 foot down 1 up, I would not be comfortable on a windy day or in a sloped mountain town with my wife & gear unless I could put 2 feet down. I always try to ride the bike at low speed like she's on the back so it's not such a shock when I load the bike up.