Lowering the front - dangerous?

[Betlog]

Seeing the 250R beside super sports, I noticed how considerably higher are handlebars are. So I am contemplating lowering the front of the bike. What kind of issues/dangers am I putting myself into by doing that... aside from possibly having the wheel cover hit the front cowling, and reduced ground clearance?

[Momaru]

Two things come to mind for me, there's certainly more.
1) You'll need to bag some clipons if you want to go more than just a tiny bit down; the handlebar mounts will stop the forks from coming up much further than they are stock.
2) The handling of the bike will change. I seem to remember it'll fall into turns even faster, but be a bit twitchier in straight lines.

[miks]

PM Zartan or Kkim, they both lowered their front. Zartan for height issues, Kkim for handling purposes.

Heres the link, Zartan's DIY: Lowering the front

[Betlog]

Originally Posted by Momaru

Two things come to mind for me, there's certainly more.
1) You'll need to bag some clipons if you want to go more than just a tiny bit down; the handlebar mounts will stop the forks from coming up much further than they are stock.
2) The handling of the bike will change. I seem to remember it'll fall into turns even faster, but be a bit twitchier in straight lines.

1) Yes, I will be using clipons.
2) Because supersports have lower handlebars, do they fall into turns faster than our bikes?

[kkim]

The net result of lowering only the front end will be quicker feeling steering. I lowered mine 1" over what it was stock and have no interference problems with the fender hitting the under nose cowling.

You should be doing this mod for a quicker turning bike, not for how it looks next to a SS bike.

The bike will steer quicker in turns... almost effortlessly. I expected more straight line instability or twitchyness, but never encountered it after lowering the front.

[Betlog]

Originally Posted by kkim

You should be doing this mod for a quicker turning bike, not for how it looks next to a SS bike.

Thanks. So again, the question is, because SS bikes do have lower handlebars and a steeper rake, by me doing this, am I closer to SS performance?

[kkim]

Originally Posted by n00br1d3r

Thanks. So again, the question is, because SS bikes do have lower handlebars and a steeper rake, by me doing this, am I closer to SS performance?

a smidgen closer.

the suspension geometry and ergonomics for the 250R were designed for a "standard" riding position... very upright with handlebars high and footpegs forward for a comfortable, easy to ride position. The SS bikes usually have a steeper head angle for quicker turning and the seat/bar/peg relation is much more designed to put the rider forward, over the front wheel and raising the pegs, for maximum cornering ground clearance.

By lowering the forks you are quickening the steering. By adding the clipons, you move the rider forward... closer to the front of the bike. So yeah, I guess it makes it closer to a SS designed bike.