Lowering front / Handlebars in the way

I bought my 81 XJ550 Seca about a year ago, and I tolerated the ride height for that long, but I've ridden lower bikes, and I want to drop mine now as well. My bike is fully stock right now, shocks and all. I have lowered the rear shocks as much as they will let me, but they do bottom out as they are likely original, and are shot. So that gained me a little in the rear, and I've also lowered the front forks, but now they are in contact with the handlebars. So what I'm wondering is what are the best options for getting this front end down? I know the Seca wasn't designed to be a low cruiser, but anything's possible. I would like to get a total drop from stock height of about 3-5 inches if possible. With just the drop that I've done so far it is much more comfortable to ride and handles much better, but I want to keep working. I've looked at some handlebar risers, and some "clip on" bars that appear that they would clamp on to the forks, but I'm not sure I'm too fond of them. I've got some time to kill on this one as the starter decided to smoke literally, at about month 4. So I've got to figure out where to get one of these rebuilt, or replaced. But that's another topic.

Thanks for the help!

 

Welcome,

Well, indeed clip-ons are an option for solve your problem, if you want to get an idea of how they looks and works on the XJ, look at the build on of the Cafe Racer by Ease

http://www.xjbikes.com/Forums/viewtopic/t=3860.html (on page 5 you see the swap clubmans- clipons)

Anyway, don't know if is recommend to drop it of 3-5 inches

 

Lowering the front end drastically (by raising the tubes in the triple tree) will dramatically alter your steering geometry. I honestly wouldn't recommend it, at some point you will begin adversely affecting the handling to the point of possibly becoming dangerously unstable. There are other ways to get a lower seat height if that's what you're after.

 

I agree with bigfitz, I have mine lowered about 3 1/2" in the front and it's a bit too much, I am about to raise it back 1" . Besides the front fender is mighty close to the header as is right now.

But what you can do aside from the seat is get risers.

There are two kind, ones that are angled and up which put handlebars a bit higher (depending on lenght of risers) and back a few inches (depending on pullback angle) I have a set from an early 80's maxim and they only went up about 1" or so and back another. and that allowed me to drop my front shocks.

There are other risers out there that are not quite risers it's more like a bracket to clear your front shocks (forget what they're call) but all they do is mount on your stock riser and relocate the handlebar mounting pint one inch back clearing the shocks for lowereing or to give you better reach to your handlebars.

 

Well thank you for all of the advice on here. After seeing your comments about changing angles and the handling ability, I think I will leave the front as it is now, and just leave the front with it's 1 inch drop. I do plan to continue with my sportster mod to the rear with the fender, seat, and shocks, which will lower the rear by a couple of inches, and hopefully it will make the difference I'm looking for. I do like the idea of moving the handlebars back a bit, but I've also got a harley used parts store 10 miles from me with handlebars galore, so I may just replace them instead of moving them. I've already begun the paint aspect of this bike, and just got the starter back from rebuild ($70) and it cranks great. Now just to get on the road.