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Cruiser
Posts: 205
| The dealer can install a "lowering link" that will lower it 1.5 to 2" for $200. I sat on one at the dealer and it was noticeable, but not overwhelming...
Now, I have only put 650 miles on my Vision in the 6 weeks I have had it but, the other day I pulled up to a red light and I was in a little bit of a valley in the road (car tire-wide groove). As I put my feet down I realized it and it felt very comfortable to have that lowered feeling. The bike was about 1-2" lower than usual. I guess it would be about the same as putting the bike on flat concrete but placing a 2x4 under your feet only.
It was very comfortable. I am 5-11' and have no prob with stock, but liked the feeling of lowered more now than a test-ride at the dealer where everything was overwhelming.
Is lowering the bike an issue for handling and safety?
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Visionary
Posts: 1484
LaPorte,Tx. | As a new rider of the Vision, you may want to change the air pressure in the rear shock. This too will lower or raise the seat height. Handling and safety, it all depends how you ride, if you ride alot around town, lowering, probably will make the bike a little safer as it give you more confidence when putting your feet on the ground. Lowering the bike gets all the lean angle parts closer to the ground, then in hard cornering, they will touch sooner. But with the air shock on the rear, if you now normally run 25-40 psi on the rear shock, you can run it higher for the curves and probably be close to the same frame height now, after being lowered. Enjoy your Vision! |
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Cruiser
Posts: 238
SF Bay Area | Mfoster - 2009-08-22 9:28 AM
Is lowering the bike an issue for handling and safety?
Thanks
Well, you will lose some cornering cearance. Depending on how you ride this may be an issue. Have you ever dragged your floorboards? :p
Also, lowering the rear without also lowering the front will increase your rake, and will slow down the steering. The bike may handle differently with more rake. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 18
| I contacted my local Victory dealer, they said there is no factory kit for lowering a vision, is that an after market kit you refer to for $200? |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | I think that the link for the Vision8-Ball will do the trick. the bike has the same rake, trail and length so that tells me it is either a misprint or it has the same fork tubes. All I want is the link, and there should be no further modification.
the chap across the pond made an early adjustable link and his information can be found in the review section.
as to the handling, i do not see any issues whatsoever. if you drag floorboards, trying leaning your body to the inside with the bike and not to the outside and that should keep you from scraping. i would say a speed bump might be an issue, but I put up with it on my Goldwing all the time, but never on my Vision, and not because of a meesley inch.
Edited by varyder 2009-08-31 12:40 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 205
| Well, all I can say is that my dealer (Cycle Dragon...advertise on this site) can "install a lowering link" for $200 that lowers the bike 1 to 2 inches.
I sat on one, and liked it. After riding my new stock one for a while and then sitting on a lowered one, I could appreciate the lowering better. It was comfortable. I will probably do it soon, unless you guys see a problem.
I am concerned about a rake I dont want. Does this link only lower the back? I didn't notice a rake on the showroom floor bike, but it is a minimal 1-2 inch change. |
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | Mfoster - 2009-08-31 2:21 PM
I am concerned about a rake I dont want. Does this link only lower the back? I didn't notice a rake on the showroom floor bike, but it is a minimal 1-2 inch change.
i'm giving you an unqualified answer, but lowering the rear by an inch or two does not seem to affect the rake or trail. according to the Vision 8-Ball specs against the Tour Premium they are identical. That tells me that the forks, triple tree and steering head, essentially the same gittyup are on both bikes. |
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Tourer
Posts: 460
Centennial, CO | varyder - 2009-08-31 11:32 AM
Mfoster - 2009-08-31 2:21 PM
I am concerned about a rake I dont want. Does this link only lower the back? I didn't notice a rake on the showroom floor bike, but it is a minimal 1-2 inch change.
i'm giving you an unqualified answer, but lowering the rear by an inch or two does not seem to affect the rake or trail. according to the Vision 8-Ball specs against the Tour Premium they are identical. That tells me that the forks, triple tree and steering head, essentially the same gittyup are on both bikes.
Ryder - What you say may be true. However, Arlen dropped his an inch in the rear and pushed the tubes up into the tree on the front.
If you do not push the front up into the tree, you will get at least some degree of change in the rake/trail. But how much I don't know. Will it cause a severe slow in steering. I doubt it. But there is a chance.
So, I would recommend two things. 1. lower the front along with the back. 1 inch on the front is all you get according to words directly to me from Arlen.
OR 2. Call Ness directly and ask to talk to Arlen. I would guess that he might find some time to discuss. He is a pretty down to earth guy! But I can say that just about anyone there can find the info for you if he is unavailable and get you on the road SAFELY (<-----KEY WORD)!
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Iron Butt
Posts: 742
North Orange County CA | ElroyJ - 2009-08-31 3:06 PM
varyder - 2009-08-31 11:32 AM
Mfoster - 2009-08-31 2:21 PM
I am concerned about a rake I dont want. Does this link only lower the back? I didn't notice a rake on the showroom floor bike, but it is a minimal 1-2 inch change.
i'm giving you an unqualified answer, but lowering the rear by an inch or two does not seem to affect the rake or trail. according to the Vision 8-Ball specs against the Tour Premium they are identical. That tells me that the forks, triple tree and steering head, essentially the same gittyup are on both bikes.
Ryder - What you say may be true. However, Arlen dropped his an inch in the rear and pushed the tubes up into the tree on the front.
If you do not push the front up into the tree, you will get at least some degree of change in the rake/trail. But how much I don't know. Will it cause a severe slow in steering. I doubt it. But there is a chance.
So, I would recommend two things. 1. lower the front along with the back. 1 inch on the front is all you get according to words directly to me from Arlen.
OR 2. Call Ness directly and ask to talk to Arlen. I would guess that he might find some time to discuss. He is a pretty down to earth guy! But I can say that just about anyone there can find the info for you if he is unavailable and get you on the road SAFELY (<-----KEY WORD)!
I'snt Arlen running a 21"front wheel? I expect that would have something to do with having to raise the forks in the triple trees.
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Visionary
Posts: 8144
New Bohemia, VA | i don't know if the spec's are different and what is published is a misprint, but from the victory site it is the same. pushing them up will change the over all length to be shorter, and that is a publishable (?) difference. the question would be what is the measuring point, as sitting on the bike, lowering and raising the rear will have a change in rake and trail, as will shortening the tubes, i.e. sliding them up the tree. so why are they identical? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1436
| There have been a couple bikes modified by my dealer to lower them. It is NOT a kit. What they do is remove the link bar on the right side and cut 1" off and re-weld the horseshoe mount on the bottom. You can then lower the fork tubes around 1/2" in the triple clamps and the bikes weight balances out the rest if you like but it isn't necessary. Rake/trail will remain virtually unchanged with no front adjustment. Now if you go more than 1" it will.
My PERSONAL opinion is if you want it lowered, wait a couple months and you'll be able to purchase te new 8-Ball link. That way if you decide for some reason you do not like the handling with it lowered, you simply replace the link with the stock one. The bike WILL handle different with the lower setup. I've lowered several bikes and they do handle differently.
Same applies to putting on the 21" front wheel. Because it exceeds 1" it will drastically change handling without lowering the front via the fork tubes.
ps... and the specs on the 8 ball vision probably are the same Varyder. Victory may well have put shorter springs in the 8-ball forks to maintain the same specs. HD does this on their bikes they lower.
Edited by Teach 2009-08-31 9:08 PM
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Cruiser
Posts: 205
| Thanks for the advice. I will wait and buy the link so that I can switch back if needed. Sounds good. |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 10
| I take possession of my new '09 vision in a matter of days. Bought at Ness headquarters, and am having them do the "standard" mods which includes lowering the bike 1" (on the frame), breathing, pipes, chrome, etc. There are 4 of us getting our bikes all blacked out, tricked up, etc. and all are lowering the bike this way. Ness has the magic formula for doing this right.
I test rode a stock Ness Signature, stock street premium and a tricked out and lowered street premium. All handled great. Find one to test ride and you will see.
Why lower the bike? It looks cooler (main reason) and us shorter guys get to stand square on the ground without removing any of the padding in the seat (another option). There is no other logical reason for doing so. |
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Visionary
Posts: 3006
San Antonio, TX | Congrats! Post some pictures when you get it.
Ride Safe |
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Visionary
Posts: 1350
| When Victory Corp was at Rice Victory during Sturgis I got to sit on the 2010 Vision 8-Ball. Nice. As I sat on it, I was told the lowering kit could be back fitted to my Anny. It maybe something to look into? |
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Cruiser
Posts: 105
| According to Vic's website, the Vision Tour and the 8 ball both have the exact same travel on the front. 5.1". The rear has 4.7" of travel on the Tour and 3.65" on the 8 ball. The 8 ball also has 1" of foam removed from the seat. So it looks like whatever they did on the front, it didn't shorted the suspension travel.
Vrodder |
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Should I lower the Vision? Pros/Cons?
