lowering a Nomad?

[wannabe]

Hello, 1st allow me a quick intro. I'm snooping around over here because I'm seriously thinking of buying a Nomad (hence the name "wannabe, temporary I hope). I've been riding an '05 Suzuki C50 for three years. I can't believe the number of C50 riders that move up to the 1600 Nomad, (well yes I can, the Kawi is a great bike). The one thing that is keeping me from pulling the trigger is seat height. I'm 5'5" on a good day and have a 29" inseam. My C50 is lowered two inches and I love that. I sat on a Nomad at the dealer and was sold.................except it feels a little tall for me. Is there a way lower this bike? I realize the suspension is completly different than the monoshock Suzie, but can the Nomad be lowered. With any luck I'll be a frequent poster here. Thanks in advance for any insight ya'll can offer.
Wannbe (maybe should have called myself "shorty")

[gshep]

Welcome Wannabe from Tennessee. There is a seat mod that you can remove an inch or so . to lower the saddle. Maybe Wolfman can find it.
You gonna love the Nomad......

Shep

[dantama]

If you are an aggressive rider, you won't like how soon the floorboards touch down in the corners after lowering it.

If you have to do it to be able to touch down at stops, you'll just have to get used to going slower around corners.

I'd think that being able to touch the ground would be the most important consideration, but if the seat mod would allow it, I wouldn't lower it.

Good luck with it all.

[wannabe]

I'm gonna go sit on it again tomorrow, I'll take the seat mod into consideration then. I don't ride agressivly at all, I'm an old fart.

[ells]

Different tires could give you another inch or so, depending what you have now. I don't have the dimensions handy but has been mentioned here before and charts should exist.

Welcome to the group.

[ringadingh]

The seat mod will get you a little closer to the road, as was stated earlier, I wouldn't change the shocks as it drags the floorboards once in a while as it is. Perhaps making the seat a little narrower at the front would help also.

[skeeter]

Mustang seat brings it down and forward a bit. Handlebars higher and furtherback sits me up straighter and helps with backing out of the shed. Boots with a little bit of heel helps also. I'm 5'6" with a 30 inch inseam.

[soldierboy3502]

Wannabe, welcome to the site. I too am 5'5 with a 29 in inseam. I have a '99 Nad and I took some padding off of the stock seat. It lowered me into the bike about 2 inches but with my wieght (about 190) it sunk even more. The only thing is that when your feet are on the floorboards, they will feel high.

[unwind2]

Hi Wannabe and welcome to the forum.

I am 5'5-1/2". I have the Nomad and a Moto Guzzi. The guzzi had a seat height of 30.? inches. The dealer told me 'you don't want to put a lowering kit on the bike as it would really affect the handling'. He took the seat off and had a man that does motorcycle seats cut it down and replace the foam with something called memory foam. That cut the seat height to 29". I am on the balls of my feet on the guzzi. On the Nomad (no modification) I am almost but not quiet flat footed and the only problem I have is have to watch where I park....if it's the slightest incline....you know the kind you can't see but realize after you pull in or pull up and plan on backing in a parking space to realize it is slightly uphill....anyway if the bike is nosed down because I'm not completely flat footed I don't have enough footprint to back the bike out and would land up having to have a push from hubbie or someone. Or when its a space I was trying to back into that's slightly uphill I just pull around again an head in....that's the only times I've had problems which is not that often...not enough to worry with cutting down the seat etc. I have that problem with both bikes btw...the guzzi I because of the height...Nomad because of the weight and still not quiet flat footed. Hope this info is helpful.

Another problem we (I'm 5'7", 30" inseam) is the height of the windshield. I have thought about cutting my seat down, but I have to really stretch to see over the shield now and it is at it's lowest setting. It's a good thing short people are so good looking cause we have a lot of other problems to deal with.

[kawgirl]

Welcome wannabe. I'm the same height as Unwind2. I can sit on the Nomad and am flat footed. It could be that I'm long legged from my hip to my knee. No mods have been done to my 2002 in that area. You'll love the Nomad. Get it and enjoy!

[caddman11]

Welcome to the forum from Indiana, I can't help much on the seat height, I'm 6'4 with a 35" inseam. My thoughts on the matter is any male under 6' tall is a freak of nature. Good luck on the purchase and hope you're one of us soon.

[beezer]

I think you may be able to buy shorter progressive rear shocks. Maybe someone will chime in but they may be expensive.

[watchman]

We just did this to the wifes 08 1600 Nomad. Installed the Mustang wide vintage seat and installed a set of Progressive 440 shocks off of a VN1500 classic. Liz is 5' 5" with a 28 inch inseam and she is happy with this combination.

[vroc13091]

Jim,

What was the length of the 440s? 11.5"?

Did you have to make a mounting spacer for the nomad?

I'm vertically challenged with a 28" inseam and when I go with the 180/70R-16 Elite III on the rear Ill be facing a tip toe situation.