Alright, so, a while back I got myself a Honda Shadow 750. It’s a sweet ride, powered by a 745cc v-twin engine with a 5 speed transmission, really smooth. But, I’m not the tallest guy around, and the seat height was a bit of a stretch for me. I needed to do something about it, make it more comfortable, you know?
I started by checking out what others were saying. I read somewhere that the Shadow Aero has a seat height of 25.9 inches, and some later model VT600C is about 26 inches. That got me thinking, maybe I could lower mine to around that height. I even found a listing of Honda motorcycle seat heights, lowest to highest, it was quite useful. And someone told me that most Shadow Spirits have a seat height of about 26 inches, and if you are not very tall, it is no problem.
I found out the stock seat height on my Shadow was around 26 inches. I’m about 5’8″, and I used to ride an 80s Shadow with a 30-inch seat height, so I knew I could handle a lower seat. It’s all about that flat-footing at stoplights and in parking lots, right? That low center of gravity just makes everything feel more stable.
Here’s what I did to get that seat lower:
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Adjusting the Suspension
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Replacing the Rear Shock
First, I tried lowering the front forks. It’s not too complicated, but you gotta be careful. You loosen the triple tree bolts and slide the forks up. This lowers the front end a bit.
Next, I looked at the rear shock. Replacing it with a shorter one can make a big difference. I found a few options online, shocks specifically designed for lowering bikes like the Shadow.
I also considered getting a custom seat. A thinner seat can lower the height a bit more. I looked at the 2010 spec sheets for both the RS and Spirit, the bare minimum is that you will be almost doubling the weight of your current bike. But I ended up just focusing on the suspension for now.
After a bit of work, I managed to get the seat height down to a much more comfortable level. It’s not a huge change, but it makes a world of difference for me. Now I can easily put both feet flat on the ground, and the bike feels even more solid and stable. Plus, the lower center of gravity makes it handle even better.
So, if you’re riding a Honda Shadow 750 and find the seat a bit too high, don’t worry, there are ways to lower it. Just adjust the suspension, maybe get a new rear shock, and you’ll be good to go. It’s all about making your ride comfortable and enjoyable, right?
