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Posted by Washbrook
- February 24, 2014, 18:05:01 PMYep. All good thought starters. I appreciate the comments and feedback.
Posted by Goombah
- February 22, 2014, 12:16:40 PMFeet on the ground.
Posted by Goombah
- February 22, 2014, 12:01:27 PMI sent it back to Corbin. As you mentioned, I just had them shave some off the front portion for width. I'm 5' 10" and didn't really "need" to lower mine, I just wanted to. When I sit, my feet are on the ground,and I have some bend in my knee. I like it that way. I know you said your wife is short,and I know it is not a great feeling to be standing on the tip toes every time you need to or want to stop. I hope all this advice from everyone gets her flat footed and lovin' it.
Posted by greenbarn
- February 20, 2014, 21:38:34 PMQuote from: Goombah on February 19, 2014, 11:36:30 AMThat might do the trick. I've not actually measured the true height, but you're right the width is definitely an issue. I can tell by sitting on them the Corbin is wider in the front - this makes it "effectively" higher... i.e. harder to reach the ground. With the Stock solo I could reach flat-footed while sitting in the saddle. With the Corbin 2-up I have to "reach" to get both feet flat on the ground.I lowered my 800,front and back w/scooter kit. I also have a solo Corbin. I don't know why it would be different with mine, but my Corbin lowered my seat position from stock sear height. My Corbin is a "Corbin" not the redone Kawasaki seat with Corbin name on it. I don't know which you have,but I can tell you that a true Corbin lowered me probably the 1/2" you are looking for. I had the width shaved just a little bit,but nothing taken from the top.That might account for it being lower. I know one thing, I sure like the seat.
Goombah - did you have Corbin do the work on yours, or do it yourself, or have a local leatherworker do it?
Posted by Washbrook
- February 19, 2014, 18:24:05 PMThanks Goombah.
Posted by Goombah
- February 19, 2014, 11:47:56 AMOh, I forgot to mention. There is a pretty good picture of the seat in my gallery photos.
Posted by Goombah
- February 19, 2014, 11:36:30 AMI lowered my 800,front and back w/scooter kit. I also have a solo Corbin. I don't know why it would be different with mine, but my Corbin lowered my seat position from stock sear height. My Corbin is a "Corbin" not the redone Kawasaki seat with Corbin name on it. I don't know which you have,but I can tell you that a true Corbin lowered me probably the 1/2" you are looking for. I had the width shaved just a little bit,but nothing taken from the top.That might account for it being lower. I know one thing, I sure like the seat.
Posted by Washbrook
- February 09, 2014, 03:06:16 AMNice idea on the Corbin
Posted by John Hopkins
- February 08, 2014, 20:53:09 PMSorry....
I read the thread title and thought you were looking for a swap..
John.
Posted by greenbarn
- February 08, 2014, 20:33:02 PMQuote from: Washbrook on February 05, 2014, 22:23:33 PMI have a corbin solo as well, but haven't had it on the 800 yet. not sure what it does for the seat height. Corbin would be happy to make the seat narrower for your appliatioon if you ordered a new one, or if you send them a used seat, they'll "shave" it and recover it and it should sit lower.Greenbarn, I was surprised re the Corbin seat comment as I had thought that going for a Corbin might actually help with the lowering a little as the Corbin on my 1500 sat me lower [but wider or at least that's how it felt] than the stock seat. We would go for a solo not a 2 up.
Posted by pcarrell
- February 07, 2014, 09:15:08 AMSince the 400 revs so high (9000rpm), and from one of those links, sounds like it has lots of hop up parts, the difference might not be so much. It might even go better. Worth exploring.....
Posted by Washbrook
- February 06, 2014, 17:12:06 PMPcarrel, Funny I had given the 400 some thought but since she is already riding a 650 V Star Custom it would mean dropping back in engine size. I'll have a read of the links.
2beers, I understand the cost issue re importing one here but since I am not intending to try and make a profit it is not as big an issue as it would have been for someone trying to flip the bike. I have been informed the process might take up to 9 months from when the bike hit the country so not a quick process, bloody bureacrats!
All good food for thought. Thanks guys.
Posted by 2beers
- February 06, 2014, 13:14:44 PMWhen we were looking for second black-out 800 for the hubby, we came across Blue from a seller in Arizona. He had purchased it from a relative and planned to export it, along with a couple of other bikes, to sell in Austraila (his homeland). He told us that the inspection and environmental fees involved made the plan unprofitable for him. We don't know anything about the process other than what we heard from him.
Hope it goes better than that, and you're able to find an 800 for the wife! That 400 idea is intriguing, too.
A note about the Corbin seat. Princess had a Corbin when I got her. Pretty funny to see, the first time I sat on her, I was swinging my feet like a little kid...couldn't touch the ground at all! Yes, the Corbin sits higher, and the extra width adds to the height problem, too.
Posted by pcarrell
- February 06, 2014, 11:59:29 AMYa know, you're close enough to Japan that it might make sense to look at getting a Drifter 400. Those were Japan only models, and getting one exported would make it the first 400 outside of Japan that I know of. To top it off, it might be more the size you need for the wife. The seat height is almost 1/2" lower to start with. http://www.motorbikes.be/en/Kawasaki_VN_400_Vulcan_Drifter_2004.aspx
Most of the rest of the specs I can find look the same as the 800, so if it's running an 800 frame, any lowering kits that work on an 800 should work on the 400 too. Of course, you'd want to do some more research to be sure, but according to some, it really is an 800 bike with a 400 motor: http://www.kawasakimotorcycle.org/forum/kawasaki-cruisers/99750-vn400.html (sorry Chief, but the info happens to be on another forum. Don't worry though.....this forum is so good we won't lose any members to that other place!)
Just think.....you could be the only forum member to have a 400 Drifter! 
You could have your own page with stats and tips, etc., and come Drift-In time, ship that baby over here and you're the instant hit of the event! 
Just a thought.......
Posted by Washbrook
- February 05, 2014, 22:23:33 PMThanks for all the suggestions, they are appreciated. I will check it all out. It may be all academic if they do not allow me to import the 800, not sure why they would not but I am still waiting to hear back. If I get a yes then I will need to source the 800 from the States somewhere, comments on the best year to buy? As I said, I know my 1500 but nothing about the 800.
Greenbarn, I was surprised re the Corbin seat comment as I had thought that going for a Corbin might actually help with the lowering a little as the Corbin on my 1500 sat me lower [but wider or at least that's how it felt] than the stock seat. We would go for a solo not a 2 up.
2beers 50mm = 2" so 60mm is about 2 1/3".
I have had a bad experience with Scootworks, I paid for a longer brake pedal last year and am still waiting so a little reluctant to rely on them but maybe going through Hellraisers might help.
My wife is 5'2" by the way, yes short but cute.
Again thanks for the comments and pointers.