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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 48
East Tennessee | I'd like to lower my 2010 so that I'll feel more comfortable on it. I'm 5'7" and I can touch flat foot with both feet but it's a bit of a stretch. The seat feels a little too wide in the crotch area. I think a 1" drop would do it for me. My questions are: Can the Vision be lowered without a lot of modification? Can it be done safely ? What would the estimated cost be for doing this ? I will not be doing the work myself so I'll probably let a dealer or bike shop do it Any information or suggestions will be greatly appreciated |
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Visionary
Posts: 4278
| <p>I'm 5' 10" with a 29" inseam and touched ok but wanted more. If you pull your seat you will see the shock and the link bar. You have to take the link bar out and shorten it or buy one. A 1/2" shorter bar will lower the bike one inch. 1" will drop it two inches. If you do to inches you should do the front end. The bike handles like it did before lowering. You have to put at least 30 pounds in your shock if your a one up rider and 40 if your a two up guy. That will be your starting point. HMD is the shop where you can buy every thing. You'll get a link and handlebar spacers and you'll need a kick stand cause the bike will sit to straight up and down.Around $300 bucks.<br /></p><p>You can buy a seat for a for a vision 8 ball for around $500 from your dealer and that will let you sit a inch lower.</p><p> Now the down side. You have to watch out for pot hole sunken many hole covers speed bumps drive ways with drop offs and dirt roads. All of these can cause you to bottom out. If you don't have enough air in the shock the pulley or the rear rotor will be driven into the bottom of the inner saddle bag.</p><p> I'm guessing a dealer would charge you a good hour of time if he wants more hes sticking it to you. </p><p>Or you and a buddy could do it your self if you have away to get the back wheel off the ground. If you decide to do it your self we can talk on the phone and I can tell you what to do. I have taken trips and ride the hell out of the bike I scraped the floor boards a lot in the first thousand miles but have learned how not to now if I don't want to. Every time you go for a ride tell your self your lower and watch out for problems and you'll do just fine. There a lot of us short legged guys riding lowered bikes.</p><p> </p><p> http://www.hmd520.com/category/HMD-PARTS-1 </p>
Edited by john frey 2011-07-30 5:04 PM
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Tourer
Posts: 500
| The price that my dealer quoted for the Vision 8-ball seat was $350...I am willing to give up the heated seat to do this, but do not want to lower the rear shock/suspension..Too costly for me and the 1" lower seat is all I need. I am 5'9" with barely a 29" inseam and this works for me....... |
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Puddle Jumper
Posts: 48
East Tennessee | That's good information. Buying the 8-Ball seat sounds like the easiest way to go...What year seat would I buy ? Will I retain the heated option ? Is there any comfort difference in the two seats ? |
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Visionary
Posts: 1229
Rancho Cucamonga, CA | Get a skidplate if you lower the suspension . I'm always scraping speed bumps. |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 965
New York State | The 2012 is lower than the 2011 and has more horse out the gate . You might want to consider a trade |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | 2010 or newer 8-ball seat is not available heated. It will lower you 1inch and push you forward 1 inch. It can be ordered on-line from Maxim or Surdykes for around $279.
As for lowering the bike. Anything over 1" you should install the Ness bag inserts otherwise as stated you will crack the saddle bags.
You need to figure a couple of hours to do it. Basically find a shop manual and read up on removing and replacing the rear shock. Swap out the link. Reinstall and your done.
I have done 5 Visions now.
The last two with out Removing the rear wheel. Do a search on "adjustable link " and you will see what I have started to make for lowering your Vision... Adjustable from stock to 2" lower... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | 2010 or newer 8-ball seat is not available heated. It will lower you 1inch and push you forward 1 inch. It can be ordered on-line from Maxim or Surdykes for around $279.
As for lowering the bike. Anything over 1" you should install the Ness bag inserts otherwise as stated you will crack the saddle bags.
You need to figure a couple of hours to do it. Basically find a shop manual and read up on removing and replacing the rear shock. Swap out the link. Reinstall and your done.
I have done 5 Visions now.
The last two with out Removing the rear wheel. Do a search on "adjustable link " and you will see what I have started to make for lowering your Vision... Adjustable from stock to 2" lower... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | 2010 or newer 8-ball seat is not available heated. It will lower you 1inch and push you forward 1 inch. It can be ordered on-line from Maxim or Surdykes for around $279.
As for lowering the bike. Anything over 1" you should install the Ness bag inserts otherwise as stated you will crack the saddle bags.
You need to figure a couple of hours to do it. Basically find a shop manual and read up on removing and replacing the rear shock. Swap out the link. Reinstall and your done.
I have done 5 Visions now.
The last two with out Removing the rear wheel. Do a search on "adjustable link " and you will see what I have started to make for lowering your Vision... Adjustable from stock to 2" lower... |
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Iron Butt
Posts: 669
Peachtree City, GA | Wow triple post - oops.
Edited by Webhair 2011-07-31 9:46 AM
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Tourer
Posts: 466
Grand Cane, LA | I have an '08 Vision that is lowered 2" and did not have to put the Ness bag inserts. I bought the lowering link that replaces the factory one from an outfit in Ohio I think. Will have to try and find my receipt to remember who it was. I took the link and shortened it 1" shorter than the stock. It was one that can be adjusted 2" in and 1" out past stock length. It not quite a real simple operation as far as changing the links because you have to pull the rear wheel to be able to get the link in and out. All and all it took me about an hour to do it. But the link itself only cost me about $160 and it is a direct replacement. |
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Lowering a 2010 Vision
