Lowering 82 650csr 1 inch

I know i can loosen triple clamps on forks and slide down about 3/4 inch.not sure how decrased rake effects handling. Possible i can fabricate some sort of tab to slightly make rear shocks more horizontal or install 11 inch shocks.which makes bike stand more upright.personally i think stock it leans over too far. I aint messing with the seat. The stock seat is 31 inches. I need 29 or 30. Input appreciated.i figure shocks are $125.

Be careful that your lowering mods don't result in the tires slamming hard parts before the suspension bottoms.  

wrote:

personally i think stock it leans over too far. 

What problem are you trying to solve?  This statement I quoted makes it sound like you have an issue with the kick stand?  But your comment about the seat maybe suggests you want a low seat height?  I'm not sure.

Aren’t the factory shocks just over 13 inches from center to center of the eyes? If so, 11 inch shocks may be too short. If the rear suspension bottoms out over a bump with really short shocks, the rear tire will slam against the inner fender, greatly increasing the chance of a complete loss of control, and a crash. 

wrote:

wrote:

personally i think stock it leans over too far. 

What problem are you trying to solve?  This statement I quoted makes it sound like you have an issue with the kick stand?  But your comment about the seat maybe suggests you want a low seat height?  I'm not sure.

If your bike "leans over too far" its a side stand issue, well known on these old Kawasaki's. I've just removed my side stand mount so I can turn it downward a bit and  reweld it in place, i'm fitting a GPZ1100 stand as its about an inch longer too, this is on a 1982 GPZ750 that leaned over way too far....  The 1100 stand is also beefier so it should resist bending like my 750 stand did...  My sons Z650 also leans over too far but he just uses a block of wood under the stand...

My csr is virtually identical to the 82 model. With the motorcycle on the center stand, the side stand stop is about 11" above the garage floor, give or take 1/16.  If your mount is bent, then it's probably more than that. I didn't try measuring w the motorcycle on the side stand but can get that if needed.  With the motorcycle leaning over I guess you could also measure from the center of the shifter shaft to the floor.

ps: my former neighbor had the same motorcycle.  both of the stands were messed up.  the motorcycle leaned too far & was difficult to put on the center stand.  I don't recall how he rectified those problems, but I think he did some welding.

Well now i know i wasnt imagiining it. I guess i will leave the shocks and forks alone. But i sure got to fix that kickstand.

i've got same bike, 81 year.  yes, it leans far too left on the kickstand but I think that's rectifiable by changing or modifying the kickstand mount, etc.
not sure why you'd lower the seat, it's pretty low now.
curious what else you think about doing. i'd like to compare notes for sure.

Reading your first post, you seem to have 2 things that you want to fix:
     - Bike leans too far over when on the side stand
     - Saddle is too high

It almost sounds as if someone has modified the stance previously (raised the bike up). It would account for both problems. If this is the case, return the bike to stock, see how far that gets you. If not:

I'd separate the 2 issues. First, sort out the saddle height problem. Usual ways are indeed move the forks in the clamps, remount or fit shorter rear shocks, and modify the saddle. The only one that won't affect handling or cornering lean clearance is modifying the saddle. As well as fitting a lower (thinner) saddle, reducing the width helps a lot (I'm guessing it's a leg length issue).
Shorter front fork springs and rear shock springs might help. If they're a higher spring rate, the suspension shouldn't bottom out. But tricky to get right.

Once you have the ride height as you want, then fix the side stand. It's either too short or at too flat an angle. Presumably it was ok when it left the factory, so try to find out what changed - bent bracket on the frame, worn pivot, bent side stand leg. There's only so many things it can be.

Ian