I tried to lower my bike this morning and basically hit a road block. I placed the rear stand on the back, removed the lower fairing piece, and successfully removed both nuts from the stock links. My next step should be to remove the two bolts that hold the links in place, and I used a jack to jack the bike up while on the rear stand. I know that I need to place something under the rear wheel so that it relieves enough tension off the bolts so I can remove them.

My problem is that first when I jack the bike up it becomes unstable and will tilt over and fall if I'm not holding it up when jacking it up. So my question is how do I perform this step safely so that I can place a brick/2 x 4 board under the rear tire? I noticed that when I jack it up the front wheels comes completely off the ground and obviously the rear stand is no longer supporting the back end.

I looked and searched for a guide here and across the web specifically for lowering a ZX14, and ran across one YouTube video where the guys just explains what he did to lower his bike. I know lowering this bike should be a pretty simple process, but I'm definitely missing something and need some guidance. I used the oil pan area and the header joint section as jack points and I get the same result where the bike starts to tilt over when I begin jacking it up. Getting something under the rear tire in order to relieve pressure on the links is where I stumped.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Replying back to update this thread. I finally figured it out and used the lower portion of the shock as the jack point, which makes sense since I had to continuously fine tune the jack so that the new bolts lined up with the link holes. It was a trial and error situation where at first it was absolutely too low so I had to pull the links and readjust them to find the length that would give me approximately a 1" rear drop that I was aiming for. When it was all said and done it came out to 1.25" which I was pleased with. I took it out for a few brisk and spirited rides and with my weight (240 lbs.) I didn't encounter any bottoming out on uneven and bumpy roads. The drop really levels the rear of the bike with the front half of the bike.

I also checked my chain slack and it's still within spec. Since I'm not a rider who frequent curves and twisties, I went ahead and took the chance of lowering it and I feel that it turned out well. I'm aware that it's common to lower the front the same amount or at least close to what's lowered in the back, but from my test rides I see no point at this time. If in the future I encounter an issue that points back to me not lowering the front forks I will immediately address it and drop it .75" - 1".

Thanks

* Last updated by: siroht on 6/14/2022 @ 8:44 PM *

For the front to drop, can't move the forks up the triple, due to the taper [to lighten up the part] so that is sort of out if not move it up a 1/4 inch. But more like cut a few winds off on the spring in the forks. Might 'top out' but like you said, just a straight line putt is all the action it will see, short of a good bump or two.

I ended up dropping the front forks approximately 1", and have to say that although I liked the way the bike looked when only the rear was dropped...but I must admit it really looks much better with both ends dropped close to the same length(Rear 1.25"/Front 1"). So far no issues when riding and it feels like it's riding on rails during straight line runs. It definitely feels more planted to the ground and adds to my confidence during high speed spirited runs. Suspension wise, I can tell it has hardened to some degree but not to the point where the ride is uncomfortable(I'm 240 lbs.). It still absorbs dips and bumps fine and doesn't bottom out, just not as good as stock height. I was going to order an adjustable kickstand but noticed that I don't need one because the stock stand is holding up fine and doesn't seem unstable. Testing it out, I had to purposely push it with force to get it to even coming close to tilting over, and I would assume only hurricane style winds could have the force to get it to tilt over(I don't live in Florida)..LOL.

* Last updated by: siroht on 6/16/2022 @ 11:35 AM *

Because I'm a bit vertically challenged, I lowered both my 2012 and now my new 2022. Front and rear, which is a must if you want to stay close to the stock handling dynamics.

Hub, I never noticed the taper but there was never an issue for 10's of thousands of miles. I'm gonna look at it when I get home.

Because of my light weight, only a little more than HALF of what siroht weighs, I have never had an issue with ground clearance during aggressive cornering, and the bike is a bit more stable with the lower center of gravity. When I first did it years ago, the bike was a bit slower turning in. Because of my weight I never have quite the right amount of sag, so I backed off on front preload by several lines and that brought back the quick steering.

One of the best things I ever did to the bike. I can actually plant my feet at a stop.

* Last updated by: zx9rmal on 6/16/2022 @ 1:25 PM *

I wish I knew how to tune my suspension. I've watched countless videos and it just doesn't click on the clicks, turns and all. Now sitting on the bike and taking measurements is simple but how to adjust has always been complicated to my brain...LOL

Dave MOss zx14 suspension video...trackday.Try watching that one(that's not the name,but you should get hits on that for that video among others).

thanks

---ended up going another 1" lower in the rear and now I definetely will need a new adjustable kickstand, since now I don't trust it on the stock kickstand unless the front wheel is turned completely to the left. Even then it's borderline dangerous and I can forsee a spill happening when I around a group of other riders hanging out before our rides.

Here's a pic of the final lowering product.

Be VERY careful. You will bottom out on the header if you go over a speed bump too fast. And, a hard bump will have the underside of the front fairing hitting the front fender. Don't ask me how I know, and my bike is lowered less than yours.

Thanks. I've been running her around in my typical riding ares at various speeds and lean angles, and so far so good. I did have a header scrap when entering my driveway which has a incline when you first enter it, but learned that I need to come in at a slanted angle very slowly to avoid scraping. I'm slowly learning the limitations or cons that comes with lowering a bike, so I just hope that it not a soon to be expensive lesson. Also, I know that stock height is the all around way to go when riding a motorcycle, however, based on my short riding experience with this bike lowered it rides so much better in straights/mild curves. Feeling planted and like riding on rails, and the throttle input as it relates to twisting the throttle and the bike immediately responding, has definitely improves. So far the pros are outweighing any potential or unforeseen cons.

BTW...2Up riding is definitely out the picture because I took my daughter for a ride soon after I lowered it and she's 135 lbs. and I'm 240 its., and the rear tire tore up my tag because of the bottoming out. If I ride alone I didn't have this issue.

* Last updated by: siroht on 6/21/2022 @ 11:35 AM *

To each his own, but at your weight and not drag racing, I would not lower the bike as much as you did. I truly believe you will have a problem. There is always the unexpected bump or dip or other hazard that can happen, and you could possibly lose control if the bike loses its "suspension".

If the bike's suspension is dialed in, and that might require different spring rates for you, you will have that "feeling planted and like riding on rails" feel. In any event, I would not go more than 1" front and back, again because of your weight. Also, make sure you have front and rear preload adjusted to get as close as possible to the correct amount of sag.

Good luck.

Appreciate your input. I will let the experience of friends who I know and own ZX14's that are lowered greater than mine comfort me for the time being...no problems other than scrapped headers. I hope and pray nothing happens because I have a 2017 ZX10R that I had lowered 3 1/2" and it sat lower than my ZX14R and I never encountered a issue other than when I hit a "BIG" dip in the road the underside of the seat banged up against the top of the swing arm. The ride was harsher but because of the banging I raised it back up. Also during the time I had it slammed I never encountered hazards, even with 190+ high speed runs with my riding buddies. Lowered bikes don't necessarily mean or equates to issues if you ride it knowing and fully aware of what your limitations are since the stock height has been altered. Been there done that.

Thanks

I ended up raising the rear back up so that it came out to a 1" drop rear/1" drop front. When it was practically slammed It rode fine and I didn't encounter any issues in regards to damaging the bike itself, but only because my daughter loves riding with me on a frequent basis. After riding 2 up with her it totally destroyed my license plate tag which was as parallel as possible with the under-tail and the rear tire just completely shredded it. Here's an updated pic of the new lowering height which suffices for 2 up riding and my new replacement tag has survived so far.

* Last updated by: siroht on 6/26/2022 @ 2:13 PM *

.....forgot to add a pic of the damage to my tag as a result of lowering the rear so low.

* Last updated by: siroht on 6/26/2022 @ 2:13 PM *