[DucatiGuy]

For all those whom have been inquiring on how to go about safely lowering your 1098, it can be done relatively easy, at little or not cost to you with professional results!

Now, it shall be noted, the 1098 suspension comes from the factory at its lowest setting which means it can’t be lowered any further. For most of us this is adequate, but for some of our shorter riders, it can be somewhat of a “reach”…

Here’s how you can lower your 1098 without spending a fortune on fancy overly priced aftermarket suspension “dog bones” or shaved seats, etc….

1 - Before we begin, be sure the bike is on a stand, and you have adequately supported the rear of the bike.

2 - Remove the rear suspension “dog bone” and begin to remove both rod ends and their jam nuts on either end.

3 - Now cut off .25” from each end of the OEM aluminum “dog bone”. You’ll want to be certain the cut is STRAIGHT. If you don’t have the means to do so, take it to a machine shop. They shouldn’t charge you more than $10 to cut it.

4 – Reassemble the “dog bone” and now your OEM “dog bone” will be able to lower your bike about ½” lower.

You can go lower if you choose by taking more off on either end of the OEM “dog bone” but in doing so, you may have to increase (and re tap) the inner tread distance for the rod ends OR cut down the rod end to account for the shorter length. This once again can be done by most garage based DIY’er, or your basic machine shop for under $25.

At .50” (lowering) you really won’t effect much in terms of ride quality / ride geometry, but it should make a HUGE difference for those who are just able to barely plant their feet on the ground. Going lower than .50” WILL make the bike steer heavy at low speeds. BE WARNED!

If you don’t need a full .50”, then just cut off .25” off one end. Cheapest, easiest, most effective way to lower your 1098!

In no time, I'm certain this cut "dog bones" will pop on eBay for $75-$100, but save your money people. You can perform the mod yourself and save a fortune!

If anyone is interested in performing this mod and needs a hand, drop me a line. I have the means and equipment to perform this mod. I would be happy to help anyone who needs it....

 

[CAG]

This sounds like a great idea, one that I thought of before. I'm fraidy scared to do it. How are you sure it doesn't effect the handling?

Any suspension gurus here?

CAG

 

[Visitor Q]

Lowering a sportbike, bad idea. It will def. effect the handling...

Jason

 

[ckirkst2s]

Sorry if this sounds rude, insulting or condescending but if someone needs to lower the 1098 because they can't handle the height, then they probably should not own this bike. If the rider can't compensate by simply balancing on his or her tiptoes or on one leg at a stop then they likely don't have the skill-set to use this bike safely within shouting distance of it's performance envelope.

My $0.02

Chris

btw - I'm not overly tall with inseam is 30". One of my bikes, in fact my main ride, is a KTM 950 Adventure, so I know what balancing on 3 legs on the road or on a trail one-up and two-up is all about .... it's not difficult.

 

[The Outlaw]

Lowering a sportbike, bad idea. It will def. effect the handling...

Jason

I disagree. Vistor you are correct if you lower the bike inches like a drag setup. But lowering a bike a 1/4" in the rear will not effect the handling. But I do agree that if you go a half inch lower you should compensate by dropping the forks down about a 16th to and 1/8 of an inch in the trees. Actually by doing this you could improve the handling of the bike. Any more than that you change the geometry of the bike. I did this on my R6/track bike and the handling diff was amazing.

 

[DucatiGuy]

Exactly... Lowering your bike (.10 - .50” in total) won’t adversely affect the bikes handling and ride quality, as long as it’s done properly (front and rear compensated equally). What you don’t want to do, is drop the bike to the floor, which I think most are confusing with the word “lowering”.

 

[Visitor Q]

Such a small amount, way lower it at all?

Jason

 

[SempreCorsa]

.... the 1098 suspension comes from the factory at its lowest setting which means it can’t be lowered any further.

That's shocking! At 6.2" the bike feels just perfect for me. I'd need platforms if I went up at all.

pb

 

[DucatiGuy]

Such a small amount, way lower it at all?

Jason

The lowering mod is for those who are just barely able to plant both feet on the ground, and are looking for that extra bit of reach. I'm 5' 8", and I'm just able to plant both feet down flat when I'm on my 1098. When I first saw the 1098 at Ducati's launch party, and got to sit on it, I said to mysef, wow this is perfect, but many weren't as fortunate to make that claim. I spoke with at least three other deposit holders who questioned whether or not the 1098 would be able to be lowered. After pointing out the dog bone was maxed out (as low as it will go) they werent too pleased.

The lowering mod is just another way to fine tune your 1098 to suit your exact needs. They have adjustable dog-bones of all lengths and sizes for just about all Ducati Superbikes and Monsters. I bet the 1098's isn't too far away from being released....

 

[kumacrz]

Sorry if this sounds rude, insulting or condescending but if someone needs to lower the 1098 because they can't handle the height, then they probably should not own this bike. If the rider can't compensate by simply balancing on his or her tiptoes or on one leg at a stop then they likely don't have the skill-set to use this bike safely within shouting distance of it's performance envelope.

My $0.02

Chris

btw - I'm not overly tall with inseam is 30". One of my bikes, in fact my main ride, is a KTM 950 Adventure, so I know what balancing on 3 legs on the road or on a trail one-up and two-up is all about .... it's not difficult.

It's also a safety issue to for the shorter guys. If your on your tiptoes moving your bike and happened to loose your footing, you may end up dropping it. A persons height shouldn't be an issue when choosing a bike. Not many people go to track days so lowering the bike wont make that much of a difference.

 

[Ten-6]

Just wondering, Why are we running two threads on the same topic back to back?

 

[vinman]

I'm only 5'6" and have no problems handling the bike. My RC51 is just as high and have no problems with it either. If I need to back it out of parking spot, I just put it in reverse.

 

[ASM]

Just wondering, Why are we running two threads on the same topic back to back?

Redundancy....just redundancy...so if one fails, the discussion can still continue... :stickpoke

 

[Gomer]

Well since joining this forum I have gutted the stock mufflers and tickled to death with the results. Removed the charcoal cannister and happy for the cleaned up engine look and this was to be my next project. Cutting the dog bone was my planned course if I could not find a shorter one.

This forum has been great on the how to sections. I am enjoying reading everyones view points, pro or con. Lets me decide what is best for me on my bike.

At 5'5" and throw in the extra wide width of the seat on this baby its a real pain to have to constantly think about where I will be stopping the bike. Making visul observations to be sure I have the right angle or foot down to hold it up where ever I stop. At this time there is no way to take momma for a ride (seeing how she bought it for me, I owe here some rides big time) as one small weight shift at a stop would send us over! lol I would prefer to have a narrower seat as one needs loose fitting pants at my height to get ones leg across without marring the painted top section. Modifying the seat is way to time consuming and expensive and much more than I am willing to get into on a brand new bike.

I had thought about a 1/2" drop would fix me up perfectly looking at the dog bone. My only other option was wearing long pointed cowboy boots with chewing gum stuck on the toes....rothflmao....what a trend setter that would be on a sport bike?

Thought I would be riding it this weekend but it looks like I will be doing this mod outlined at the start of this thread.

I know when I first got on this bike I knew there was going to be trouble for me in the height stance, it got my attention first ride. Had I rode this bike first before my wife bougfht it for me I would have probably opted to wait for a Monster version just for this one reason.

 

[brettc63]

I'd still be a nervous nellie altering the engineering of this without full knowledge of the consequences. For example - should a corresponding adjustment be made to the spring pre-load ??

Changing just one thing on the suspension changes indirectly other things. For example by changing the spring pre-load only you also change the leverage geometry of the RHA/ linkage rocker etc and taken to the extreme by, say, backing off the pre-load completely you would imagine that this would soften the rear 'feel' among other things. But I have read that this could actually 'harden' the feel of the rear due to the above mentioned connected geometries of the rocker etc.
Professional race teams usually have a selection of these rocker linkages to change out because it does make a difference at least to them.

Once again this highlights my belief that you need to measure and document all suspension measurements especially 'as set' by the factory so you don't inadvertently stray too far from the sound engineering principles that they were originally designed by. There is of course some sort of middle values that can be adjusted above or below. I'd just be wary you're are not at the extremes of any adjustment ranges thus avoiding any 'surprises'.

I'm glad I'm 'normal' as far as this goes and it must be hard for the vertically challenged to adapt sometimes. There was a vertically challenged chap (5'2") on this board with a 1098 a year or so ago, he lived in Dubai? (one of those sandy Mid East countries) and got his dealer to lower his bike for him. From memory - it started a chain of events and numerous handling problems that I don't think he was ever totally satisfied with.

I believe DucatiGuy is no fool and what he is advocating is not in the extreme - just be aware and careful.

My 2 cent take on things.

 

[Gomer]

ckirkst2s I agree your 30" inseam is not very long but I have a 26 1/2" inseam. It has nothing to do with a lack of skill set,......short is just short any way one looks at it...lol

Though I have never raced asphalt tracks except street battles I have had my fair share of flat tracking where at least one foot has to be on the ground planted flatly much of the time on turns. I guess thats my baby blanket I am use to on wanting it lower?

 

[Gomer]

brettc63 the only way to know the full knowledge of the consequences is to just do it! This is such a small change and one that is very easily reversed. I can guarrantee the factory on any given race course with any given rider is changing anything, height, length, foot peg locations,etc. Anythin g it takes to get a winning combination or at least something their rider thinks will make him go faster and win. Your words are appreciated by me but this is not my first rodeo and change is the spice of life!

 

[Gomer]

lol, I missed that vertically challenge part...rothfl.......little people go faster and catch less air!

 

[makan44]

I could use that 1/4 of an inch. I'm 5'5 & I tippy toe this bike and my last bikes but the 1098 is a tad worse for me. I'm fine on flat ground and at stop lights etc, but if i need to back up a few feet on an inclide i look like a total jack ass I move about 1 mm each push. But more than that, if you pull up to a light and you step on a slick spot you could be in real trouble, it's bad enough already on your toes but add some oil or something and it could be a disaster.

A real world scenario was just the other day me and a few buddies were comming back from NJ and my friend took a wrong exit and then stoped a few feet up the exit ramp. i pulled over on the shoulder (wanabe shoulder anyway) and when i went to put my left foot down it slipped out from under me cause all the little pebbles and dust were pushed on the shoulder from traffic. I nearly dropped her & more than once. my other buddy eventually got off and helped me back it up, but the whole scene was sketchy. I was pissed and he was appologizing for making a bone head move. 98% of the time i can handle the bike fine, but in thiose rare occasions an xtra 1/4 inch would sure be nice.

But I guess in the end i'm stubborn. I always think to myself, i don't wana effect the handling. It was meant to be this height. I don't think i would have the balls to try this myself but maybe 1 day i will get it dropped just a tad in front & back. Just hope it isnt to late.

This dude actually says on a 1098 you lower the rear to get it to turn better (it's track setup though) ...

Is he talking smack or what?

 

[Gomer]

Makan44 I have had your same experinces on looking dorky in front of the troops because its to tall for me.

Everybody is never going to like the same set ups on any one given bike. Most of the time factory production items are a compromise to what ever will sell the most items. Its generally up to the individual to find their best set-up whether racing or street. The factory is only interesting in selling units and making money.