Height Challanged question....

[Irfast]

Hellow all:
I am a happy owner of an 02 RT. I put a BMW "low seat" on it and can handle it pretty well. My local dealer has a great deal on an 07 LT. I am seriously considering it. Here are the issues. I have a 29" inseam and when I sit on the LT it is a STREEEEEETCH. The dealer offered to have it irriversably modified to lower the seat about 1-1/2 to 2 inches. Has anybody had this done? Did it work out OK? Thanks....
Jim Lanz

[RonKMiller]

Only two ways to "lower" an LT - and both have their drawbacks.

Gutting and lowering the stock seat, or installing a BMW low seat will help, but you'll suffer comfort issues especially on longer trips. Less padding equals less comfort. If you're under 180 lbs, this won't be as much of an issue. I've never seen an 05-07 seat lowered 2 inches. The pan is already sitting on the frame - and if you take 2 inches of foam out of the seat you'll be sitting on the frame too! ;)

If the suspension is lowered, which is not inexpensive you'll end up bouncing off the skid plate a lot. This also messes with the steering geometry. As is the LT has minimal clearance - and you've really got to watch out for speed bumps.

The easiest and cheapest option is to take your favorite motorcycle boots to an experienced cobbler and have him replace and raise both the sole and heel with a quality "sticky" compound like Vibram "Unit" The extra few square inches you'll get versus a traditional skinny platform will give you a lot more grip. You will probably need to adjust the shift lever a bit to accomodate them, but that's about it.

[Buchnerb]

I have an 07 and a 29in inseam and have been riding I think successfully for over a year now (12,000 miles). The 07 seat has two positions. Make sure the seat is in the low position. I am able to ride with suspension cranked all the way up with no problem and have both feet flat on the ground. Just slide forward a bit as you put your legs down so your legs are at the narrowest part of the seat when you have them on the ground.

I do have to use only one leg to kick it off the center stand because I can't reach both when it is on the centerstand. (if there are strong wind gusts coming from the side use the downwind leg not the upwind one to kick it off the centerstand. Don't ask me how I know this)

Bruce Buchner