Motorcycle owners may well know the importance of comfort when hitting the road. Although a motorcycle presents the opportunity to ride in style, there are some drawbacks to sitting on a small motorcycle seat.
One way that you can improve your comfort when riding your bike is to lower the motorcycle. Namely, lowering the seat or suspension – or getting a new, lower seat – will help you to achieve this goal.
On average, the cost of lowering a motorcycle will vary from bike to bike, and from rider to rider. If you choose to use a lowering link, your average cost will be around $115.
If you choose to lower the bike’s suspension, your average costs will be around $250-$1,000. And if you choose to simply buy a new, shorter seat for your bike, then your average cost will be around $150.
In this article, we’ll break down the costs associated with lowering motorcycles, including the cost of a lowering link, professional suspension lowering, as well as buying a new seat, and the cost of installation.
We’ll explore costs by comparing parts for different types of motorcycles, and we’ll look at factors that may affect the cost overall. Stick around to the end to learn tips for this motorcycle project, as well as ways to save money when doing so.
Cost Breakdown – Lowering a Motorcycle
There are several routes you can take to lower your motorcycle if you find that your height needs to be accommodated while riding.
Shorter people may need a lower seat, a lower suspension, or another form of accommodation to make their ride more comfortable.
Below, we’ll explore the different methods of lowering a motorcycle, as well as the costs associated with taking these routes both professionally and in a DIY manner.
Get a Lowering Link or Link Kit ($115)
Lowering your motorcycle with a lowering link or link kit means that you need to install a lowering link. Installing this part essentially helps to reduce the height of your motorcycle seat by lowering the bottom shock mount closer to the road.
If you choose to take this route, ensure that you first look at the specifications of the lowering link you plan to use.
If you don’t choose the correct kind for your particular motorcycle model, you may end up with mechanical issues resulting from the installation.
A well-installed lowering link can comfortably lower a motorcycle up to about two whole inches. On average, a quality lowering link or link kit is going to cost about $115.
Price Quotes for Lowering Links
We’ve gathered some price quotes for motorcycle lowering links offered by several major retailers, in order to compare the prices on the market. The following are some of the deals we found through online retailers.
KoubaLink is a company dedicated to manufacturing motorcycle lowering links. Their products are made for sports and off-road bikes. One of their lowering links is the 2022 KLR 650 Lowering Link, which costs about $80 for the set.
PSR is another company offering lowering links for bikes. The PSR Fully Adjustable Lowering Link costs about $145 on average, depending on the type of bike you have. It’s designed for many Ducati bikes, Honda motorcycle models, Kawasakis, Suzukis, Triumphs, and Kawasakis.
Genuine Yamaha Accessories also sells lowering links, which cost around $115. This particular lowering link is designed specifically for the Yamaha Tenere 700 (2021 model).
Lowering or Shortening the Suspension ($250-$1,000)
If you end up shortening your bike’s suspension, know that you may compromise your ability to handle big bumps and tougher rides.
Shortening the suspension is a task that you most likely will want to entrust to a professional who can do the job correctly.
This job typically costs around $250, on average, depending on where you go to get it done. Note that this estimate is based on the combined price of labor and parts.
You’ll be dealing with your rear suspension, and this route basically lowers your seat height. It’s a lot safer to shorten the rear suspension than it is to use a lowering link, in general.
You may even have the motorcycle professionals lower your bike to a specific height by shortening the suspension with an aftermarket shock.
If you do this, you’ll lower the suspension by replacing your current shock with a new one that is a “lower version”. On average, it can cost about $1,000 to replace a shock like this, but prices can vary depending on the model of your bike.
Further, the short shocks themselves do not typically cost very much, but they work on your motorcycle and can be pricey.
Price Quotes for Aftermarket Shocks
Some retailers offering aftermarket shocks online include:
Some retailers offering aftermarket shocks online include
- Dennis Kirk sells EMGO Black and Chrome Custom Shorty Shocks online for about $55. They’re designed for somewhat lower steering on vehicles that will fit these dimensions: 11.4” from eye to eye, 5-position preload adjustment, 10mm i.d. X 21mm upper bushing, 10mm i.d. X 21mm lower mount.
- Parts Giant also sells short shocks online for certain bikes. Their EMGO Shorty Shocks cost about $75 and is the same dimensions as the Dennis Kirk product (universal fit).
Getting a Shorter Motorcycle Seat ($150)
Most motorcycle seats are going to be a bit pricey, so if you decide to replace your seat, know that this method comes with a cost. In general, motorcycle seats can cost anywhere between $50 and upwards of $250.
You may choose to have a seat maker custom-design a seat to match your specifications. Or, you may choose to create your own seat in a DIY method with a low foam kit.
The latter is typically the less expensive option overall, but you may compromise the quality that way.
Note that if you DIY a motorcycle seat, you could end up actually making your bike even less comfortable than it was when you started working on it.
If your aim in lowering your bike is to achieve a more comfortable ride, then you might want to just buy a new custom seat.
Price Quotes for (Short) Motorcycle Seats
- eBay features a short motorcycle seat called the RXS RX115 Yamaha Short Mini Classic, which is designed for racing. It costs about $85 with higher shipping costs ($40).
- Harley Davidson riders can get custom motorcycle seats, such as the Badlander Custom Seat, for around $250 online. Its description states that it’s a “low-slung cruiser style”, so this is the perfect type of custom seat for those who want to ride closer to the road and taller riders who want to sit towards the back of the bike.
Factors Affecting the Cost of Lowering a Motorcycle
While the above cost estimates represent the average cost of lowering a motorcycle in different ways, costs will inevitably differ for different bike owners.
Where you live, the type of bike you own, and whether or not you install parts yourself will each affect your total costs when lowering your motorcycle.
Your Location
Location almost always affects the cost of auto and motorcycle repairs. Namely, location affects prices in the following ways:
- You may have to pay high shipping costs to acquire a part online that you can’t get near your town.
- You may have to pay higher auto work costs depending on the taxes and labor rates in the state/town where you live.
Your Motorcycle Type
Further, you may find that the cost to buy new shocks, seats, or lowering links varies depending on what type of bike you own.
For example, a custom seat for a nice Harley Davidson motorcycle is likely going to cost a lot more than a low seat for a sport or race bike.
DIY vs. Professional
And of course, if you install parts on your own, you can save a great deal of money. While this option isn’t always possible, getting a professional job done on your motorcycle is going to cost you more since you have to pay for labor.
Tips for Lowering a Motorcycle
One tip you can follow when lowering your motorcycle is to lower the rear without lowering the front. As a rule of thumb, you shouldn’t be lowering the front of your motorcycle without lowering the rear since it could mess up your bike’s balance.
However, you can lower the rear without lowering the front. Another good rule of thumb is to prepare yourself for a significant change in the way your ride feels.
Overall, lowering your bike’s height and suspension is going to affect the way it feels when you ride over bumps, turn corners, and make other difficult moves. You have a little less control, and you’ll need to get used to the change in comfort.
Conclusion
Lowering your motorcycle can be an ideal move to customize your bike’s fit to your specifications.
You’ll likely spend close to $115 on average if you use a lowering link, $250-$1,000 on average if you lower the motorcycle’s rear suspension, or $150 on average if you lower it by replacing the seat.
Overall, there are ways to cut costs when lowering your motorcycle. Always ensure that your chosen parts meet the specifications of your particular motorcycle for optimal safety.