V4 Multi V4s Lowered Suspension

Somewhere on the interweb I’ve read a report on this lowering kit for the V4. Try googling it.
If I remember rightly the summary was, yes it was much better for riders so they can get their feet down.
Less travel made it feel slightly firmer.

I’d have thought a lower centre of gravity would give you better handling. Also I’d have thought with all that adjustment on the suspension you could set it up as firm or soft as you prefer quite easily.
I don’t know why they don’t manufacture one that’s a lot lower as an option.

 

Sam do you mean this?




With subtitles...

 

That one fast talking Italian Great content, interesting results too, essentially there is no real compromise.

 

It isn’t the review I was referring to but essentially the conclusions are the same. He raised a good point;
If you lower the suspension you don’t change the ergonomics. If you lower the saddle your knees will be bent more whilst riding.

He did say you loose a little of the plushness of the high ride, as was the conclusion in the review I read. However you’ll only notice it if you hop from one bike to another and you’re looking for it.

I thought it was a good review but I had to turn the sound off

 

Good move, I’m sure we’d like to have your feedback when you’ve had it done. I’m not short in the leg but getting on and off these tall bikes bores the arse off me!

Why they don’t produce a much lower sports tourer is beyond me, I’ve said it to the point of boredom. It would be so easy to do, they’ve got all the parts. Put the Multistrada engine and general package into the Streetfighter frame and suspension height and you’re pretty much done. Add a fairing and panniers and watch the sales rise. Simples.

 

I cannot stress the importance of how the bike will sit up on the side stand when you load the suspension after lowering. On the Multistrada it might be fine but on the Monster, it can tip you over the other side on a soft set up. Andy

 

The Monster side stand is about 5mm shorter which, on a soft suspension setting, is useless. When you sit on the bike on the side stand, it stands up with enough momentum to throw you over the other side, as happened to my girlfriend in Germany. I ended up removing about 25 to 30mm from the standard side stand, inserted about 100mm of 16mm threaded rod and welded it. Andy

 

Pictures?!

 

Of what ? My girlfriend in a heap on the floor beside the bike or my handiwork ? Andy

 

Girlfriend in a heap on the floor!

 

FMEO Andy

 

You mean you were too kind not to take a picture?!!

 

I may make light of it now but at the time, it was an awful moment. Where she fell, there were lumps if rock, probably 10 to 15kg in size marking the roadside. Her head missed one by millimeters. It was a combination of the sidestand being on the upside of the camber and nowhere for her to put a foot down. I was pleased with the engineering solution I used and confident that the side stand is actually stronger than the original. Andy

 

As long as she was ok, that’s all that matters