STAR Chapter 153 Forum

[sparkplug]

Good day to all whom may read this.
I am Sparkplug with Star 153 out of Sacramento. I have 07 Venture and have some questions and need a little input and thought I would draw from well trusted people. I started wanting to lower our ride for comfort and lower center of gravity. Since starting research I have found via the venture site that the bike will handle a lot better with it lower. The venture site had a lot of good stuff. I also spoke with the Cal wizard and he actually raised his with levelers. I checked the diamond R site and they say it will handle better raised. I am short legged and am not sure that I want it any taller. Any thoughts? Respond here or private mailbox.

Thank you Sparkplug

[fasteddy]

Hey Sparkplug, I'm not an expert in this, but I ride a Royal Star Deluxe, a close cousin to the Venture...lowering your Venture may improve handling but it also decreases your clearance between the bike and the ground and might be a problem in some instances.

If you're trying to get your feet closer to the ground, a quick way (not always cheap) is to replace the stock seat with one that is thinner and also narrower and this might be enough to give you an inch or more. Replacing the stock shocks with shorter ones is a typical way of lowering a motorcycle, but again isn't always cheap. I've seen guys replace just the rear shock with a shorter one to lower the rear, but this also changes the bike's geometry and probably the handling as well.

An expert in our group, Rocky (Rockford), has extensive experience modifying the Royal Star and I would recommend sending him a message here and see what he'd suggest.

Good luck!
_________________
FastEddy

[The Paparazzi]

Yo Sparkplug: Raising the rear NOT lowering your RSV will improve handling at lower speeds such as parking lots and such. So in your situation I would not recommend raising "la machine". You could lower it by increasing the size of the bones on your rear shock, but as stated by Fasteddy that could increase the odds of making contact with the pavement more often, however I am under the understanding that many have made this change and like it. You would be gaining about and inch or so, that is of course unless you lower it more. These bones are fairly simple an inexpensive to make, I have already made a couple of sets. If you think you need any hints give me a yell. Check out the info on the Venture web site you mention.

To help out in your situation I have read " again on the Venture web site", saddle adjustment as Fasteddy also mention. Having the foam in your saddle cut down, which places the rider closer to the ground.. I have even heard that some rider have done their own cutting.. If it were me I would look to the pros in doing this modification, I understand that there are several options in cutting that can be made, not in just lowering but also to allow more comfort that they would be familiar with. Not all butts are the same ya know..

Adding an additional layer of sole and heel to your riding boots, sound corny I know and somewhat obvious but again I am told it works.

To increase better handing at lower speeds with out raising the rear, I would highly recommend going from a 150 front tire to a 130, the narrower front tire it improves handling a lot at lower speeds. If you decide to go the narrower tire I would also recommend Dunlop Elite Three's, I am on my second set and at this point unless something better IMO comes along I'm sticking with'em

By the way I have also read that one can also lower the front forks. Again check out Venturers.org........Go into "search" write down what your looking for and lots of stuff pops up....Its a great site..

"The Paparazzi"

[sparkplug]

Thanks for the input so far. I am leaning toward just lowering the front fork via shock adjustment. I have added the under bag light bars which put the pipes an inch lower than stock. We do drag tail on curbs unless go at it sidways. I am also installing hich soon. Any other help please post. Rocky if you are out there whats your thoughts?
John (sparkplug)