Lowered 2008 Venture

[Owen]

There was no way I would be able to handle this bike, 2 up, and loaded for travel. Being somewhat short in stature, 30" inseam, I had the dealer lower the rear of the scoot by 1". They installed the Barons lowering kit. The difference in seating is very noticeable. Now I can sit flat footed with my feet out away from the bike by about 6" on either side. Before my feet were right next to the bike. This gives me the stability I needed for riding 2 up. The handling changed a lot and handles like a big pig in mud! And of course the lean angle has changed. The front kit was back ordered for almost a month. It finally arrived and has been installed.It was from Barons. It is also a performance upgrade. It was about $250. It replaced the springs, added gas cartridges and retained the stock air suspension. The handling on this bike is now nothing short of remarkable compared to having only the rear lowered. The bike no longer wallers around like a pig in mud. The steering is crisp without being 'twitchy'. Now a full lock u-turn with a passenger takes a mere 14 feet. Not bad! Also the 'top heavy' tendencies of the bike are all but gone (as much as a 850lbs bike can be). The front end is no longer soft. It is firm but no noticeable stiffness on bumps and pot holes. The handling is wonderful! Road 275 miles yesterday and enjoyed it all!

 

Thumbs up to Barons for their front and rear kits!

Front kit number BA-7503RS

Rear kit number BA-7530

 

p.s. Had to modify the kick stand so the bike was not too upright when parked.

[ahoutzer]

That all makes sense, given that so many have said that leveling links (which raise the rear of the bike) improve handling. Your lowering of the rear made it worse (although necessary for your height), and then counteracting that effect by bringing down the front gave a similar effect to the leveling links by correcting the angle.

 

Now, what about the side stand? Does it now put the bike in an unstable overly-upright position?

[Owen]

Yep, the kick stand was an issue. Had to really watch how you parked. You could not turn the front wheel to the right while parked without the bike tipping over. Had a machine shop remove 3/4 in and weld it back together just below the 'loop'. Works just fine.

[Maritimer]

I also have a height issue. I lowered the seat by 1 1/2" and added a gel pad to compensate the loss of foam. This took care of my reach to the ground. Then I lowered the front end using the article in the tech help. I lowered it by 1 1/8" and the handling is fantastic now.

 

Total cost:

Seat and gel pad = $250

Lowering front = Free thanks to this great site

 

Well worth both mods.

 

Cheers

[Seaking]

Yep, the kick stand was an issue. Had to really watch how you parked. You could not turn the front wheel to the right while parked without the bike tipping over. Had a machine shop remove 3/4 in and weld it back together just below the 'loop'. Works just fine.

 

Definitely good to hear as I was wondering about lowering the bike for myself.. Though after 3,500 miles in 4 weeks I'm getting used to the heaviness of the bike, I'm still wishing it was a tad lower. I'm also vertically challenged at 5'9" and 30" inseam..

 

How's the clearances for leaning though, any risk of scrapes?

 

Giving the choice, would leveling links work as effective as lowering the front and rear, if leg length wasn't too much an issue? Leveling links are a cheaper alternative to lowering both front and rear of the bike, isn't it?

 

however, like you, being short on the inseam, bringing the bike down instead of up would be the better option..

 

Hmmmmmm

[Owen]

How's the clearances for leaning though, any risk of scrapes?

 

Giving the choice, would leveling links work as effective as lowering the front and rear, if leg length wasn't too much an issue? Leveling links are a cheaper alternative to lowering both front and rear of the bike, isn't it?

 

 

Hmmmmmm

 

The leveling links will improve the handling no doubt.

Clearance is decreased somewhat but the peg scraping still lets you know 'thats far enough'!

I have not noticed any problem while cornering, and the control is greatly improved.

[Seaking]

The leveling links will improve the handling no doubt.

Clearance is decreased somewhat but the peg scraping still lets you know 'thats far enough'!

I have not noticed any problem while cornering, and the control is greatly improved.

 

Thanks for the info.. could you point me to where I can find these front and rear lowering kits? I can find the rear lowering kits on cruisercustomizing at a great price but I can't seem to find the fronts anywhere.. even on Baron's site..

 

Thanks in advance!!

[Owen]

Thanks for the info.. could you point me to where I can find these front and rear lowering kits? I can find the rear lowering kits on cruisercustomizing at a great price but I can't seem to find the fronts anywhere.. even on Baron's site..

 

Thanks in advance!!

 

Front kit number BA-7503RS

Rear kit number BA-7530

You can search the part number on the Barons web page. The front kit is listed to fit the venture through '01 but it is the correct fit.

I purchased mine from the local yamaha dealer and let them do all the work. The price was only about $10 more than listed at Barons.

[Tom]

I just bought some boots that had real thick soles on them and even though I can sit on it and barely flatfoot it it gave me way more than enough length to sit and flatfoot the ground.

[Seaking]

Front kit number BA-7503RS

Rear kit number BA-7530

You can search the part number on the Barons web page. The front kit is listed to fit the venture through '01 but it is the correct fit.

I purchased mine from the local yamaha dealer and let them do all the work. The price was only about $10 more than listed at Barons.

 

Many thanks M8.. much appreciated! I look forward to trying these out..

 

I noticed that Barons makes TWO lowering kits.. big price difference.. BA-7530 and BA-7504-00, the only difference I can see is one is a 1" and the other 1.5"..

 

Is the 7530 better than the 7504, even though priced higher?

 

Cheers and thanks once again..

 

0

Edited July 8, 2008 by Seaking

[Owen]

Many thanks M8.. much appreciated! I look forward to trying these out..

 

I noticed that Barons makes TWO lowering kits.. big price difference.. BA-7530 and BA-7504-00, the only difference I can see is one is a 1" and the other 1.5"..

 

Is the 7530 better than the 7504, even though priced higher?

 

Cheers and thanks once again..

 

0

 

When we spoke to a barons rep, he suggested the replacement springs and all was better for the heavy Venture. So thats the way I went.

[Seaking]

When we spoke to a barons rep, he suggested the replacement springs and all was better for the heavy Venture. So thats the way I went.

 

many thanks, that's all I needed to hear =)

 

Cheers!

[az1103]

That's all nice if money is no object. But lowering the front costs nothing and does a great job of not only improving the handling but also lowering the seat. And it's free.

 

How can you go wrong with that? And if that's not enough then go ahead and spend the money!

[Owen]

That's all nice if money is no object. But lowering the front costs nothing and does a great job of not only improving the handling but also lowering the seat. And it's free.

 

How can you go wrong with that? And if that's not enough then go ahead and spend the money!

 

You are right, if you have the tools, talent and a place to accomplish it. Having none of the above, I chose to have it done at the dealer. Does that somehow make it wrong? I think not.

[az1103]

Sorry, don't take it personally ! It wasn't a criticism, only a suggestion for those who have yet to do!

[Seaking]

That's all nice if money is no object. But lowering the front costs nothing and does a great job of not only improving the handling but also lowering the seat. And it's free.

 

How can you go wrong with that? And if that's not enough then go ahead and spend the money!

 

And erhm how is this accomplished then? If lowering the front at no cost is the same as raising the rear at cost (trail / rake) then heck I'm all for that but without a proper shop to do the work myself, I'd still end up having to get a shop to do it for me.. I've been through this forum about this subject and it appears that to lower the front requires a "kit" of sorts, but I didn't realize you could do it naked..

 

Could you elaborate on how this is done or show some docs on the procedure to check it out?

 

Cheers M8

[FreezyRider]

And erhm how is this accomplished then? If lowering the front at no cost is the same as raising the rear at cost (trail / rake) then heck I'm all for that but without a proper shop to do the work myself, I'd still end up having to get a shop to do it for me.. I've been through this forum about this subject and it appears that to lower the front requires a "kit" of sorts, but I didn't realize you could do it naked..

 

Could you elaborate on how this is done or show some docs on the procedure to check it out?

 

Cheers M8

 

Good instructions here:

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=939

 

It's not that difficult to do.

Good luck.

 

Joe

[Seaking]

Good instructions here:

http://www.venturerider.org/forum/showthread.php?t=939

 

It's not that difficult to do.

Good luck.

 

Joe

 

You're kidding, THAT simple?!?! So basically, doing this mod is like putting on the leveling links in the rear.. instead, you're lowering the front end, not raising the rear to change the rake & trail of the bike..

 

I have a new windshield coming next month so the front fairing has to come off anyway so this would be an opportune time to have a look at this mod.

 

I have to ask though, if it were THAT simple and common a mod, and hopefully "SAFE", why isn't this more widely known or why isn't the bike set up this way to start with? Every where you look or listen, you'll see and hear that the handling is a little heavy and top heavy, not well suited for short riders.

 

Being a cautious person, with safety in mind, I am a little uneasy about this mod, it's like.. too simple and too easy to do for immense gains in handling and comfort.. know what I mean?

 

Has there been any reported detriments to doing this mod?

 

Thanks for the info, it seems worth pursuing..

 

Cheers

[KiteSquid]

The problem with lowering ANY bike is you loose ground clearance, which makes it so you cannot corner as tight.

 

Did you think about modifying the seat instead of lowering the bike????

 

More info is available on the Ride Like a Pro V DVD. I am not affiliated to the producer of this video, just a believer in the techniques!!!!

[Seaking]

The problem with lowering ANY bike is you loose ground clearance, which makes it so you cannot corner as tight.

 

Did you think about modifying the seat instead of lowering the bike????

 

More info is available on the Ride Like a Pro V DVD. I am not affiliated to the producer of this video, just a believer in the techniques!!!!

 

As it stands now, I'm no where NEAR close to danger zone as far as leaning the bike goes. My VStar's floorboard scrap pegs have been replaced 3 times while the Venture is simply too big a bike for me to lean it over properly. I have a new seat coming in sometime soon and hope that alone will lower me down a tad.. but I'm still finding myself having to man handle the bike around a little too much. Hoping to find a solution that will work and be effective..

[az1103]

You're kidding, THAT simple?!?! So basically, doing this mod is like putting on the leveling links in the rear.. instead, you're lowering the front end, not raising the rear to change the rake & trail of the bike..

 

I have a new windshield coming next month so the front fairing has to come off anyway so this would be an opportune time to have a look at this mod.

 

I have to ask though, if it were THAT simple and common a mod, and hopefully "SAFE", why isn't this more widely known or why isn't the bike set up this way to start with? Every where you look or listen, you'll see and hear that the handling is a little heavy and top heavy, not well suited for short riders.

 

Being a cautious person, with safety in mind, I am a little uneasy about this mod, it's like.. too simple and too easy to do for immense gains in handling and comfort.. know what I mean?

 

Has there been any reported detriments to doing this mod?

 

Thanks for the info, it seems worth pursuing..

 

Cheers

Yes, It is that simple. And personally I see no safety issue whatsoever. I see a lot more issues with raising the rear and therefore the CG on a bike that is already top-heavy. I also see some issues with using tires which are not recommended by the manufacturer. Say what you will, I tend to trust Japanese engineering.

I ride 2up 95% of the time and I happen to love my wife and am rather fond of life in general so I am not ready to risk more than necessary. Changing rake has been an established and recognized method to control handling. Now, if I was 6ft-4 or 8 and 250# of rippling muscle I might consider raising the rear, but at an average 5ft-9 I wouldn't even think of doing so. And having ridden several K after lowering, I can tell you that if you drag anything you are going way too fast on what is not a rice rocket.

[craigatcsi]

Front kit number BA-7503RS

Rear kit number BA-7530

You can search the part number on the Barons web page. The front kit is listed to fit the venture through '01 but it is the correct fit.

I purchased mine from the local yamaha dealer and let them do all the work. The price was only about $10 more than listed at Barons.

 

So how much was the whole procedure, parts and labor?

 

I'm 6' and still don't like the height of the bike.

 

craigr

[Seaking]

Yes, It is that simple. And personally I see no safety issue whatsoever. I see a lot more issues with raising the rear and therefore the CG on a bike that is already top-heavy. I also see some issues with using tires which are not recommended by the manufacturer. Say what you will, I tend to trust Japanese engineering.

I ride 2up 95% of the time and I happen to love my wife and am rather fond of life in general so I am not ready to risk more than necessary. Changing rake has been an established and recognized method to control handling. Now, if I was 6ft-4 or 8 and 250# of rippling muscle I might consider raising the rear, but at an average 5ft-9 I wouldn't even think of doing so. And having ridden several K after lowering, I can tell you that if you drag anything you are going way too fast on what is not a rice rocket.

 

I had a quick look on the bike to see what was involved, I can see where the 2 per side bolts are to bring the forks UP above the top of the triple tree but the lowers are different with the chrome fork shrouds in place, that's going to take some figuring out to do.

 

I can either spend a few hours in the shop and hope I don't bust anything and get a lowered front end and better handling or have a shop install a Baron's lowering kit (front and back?).. but that's a lot of money.. ergh.. it's a toss up. Either way the fairing has to come off the bike.. More time to think about it..

 

But many thanks for the insight to another way of achieving the same thing..

[Owen]

About 3 hours plus parts on front, around $500

About 2.5 hours plus parts on rear, around $350

[az1103]

I had a quick look on the bike to see what was involved, I can see where the 2 per side bolts are to bring the forks UP above the top of the triple tree but the lowers are different with the chrome fork shrouds in place, that's going to take some figuring out to do.

 

I can either spend a few hours in the shop and hope I don't bust anything and get a lowered front end and better handling or have a shop install a Baron's lowering kit (front and back?).. but that's a lot of money.. ergh.. it's a toss up. Either way the fairing has to come off the bike.. More time to think about it..

 

But many thanks for the insight to another way of achieving the same thing..

 

Once you start it will all become fairly obvious and realy simple - just follow the instructions. You shouldn't have any trouble and if you need help, just post! Judging from the cost in the post above, you should get a nice glow just to know that you did it yourself and saved plenty.