Lower front or raise rear

[doombug]

Let me start by saying this is my first bike, 2014 SYM Wolf 150(70's CB125). I've been doing my geometry homework so I can get level lines on the bike, specifically gas tank. The issue I've run into is trying to keep a balanced center mass. I'm 170lbs and max load is 360, so center mass is already forward slightly. Which brings me to my question. Which has less effect on center mass, lowering the front or raising the rear?

 

[gt alex]

Hi, I am not an expert on any of thsi but I will share my thoughts
You say you can get level lines. Is that for appearance reasons is is that something you have heard of to improve performance. obviously it's good if it does both,
Raise rear or lower front many racers raise the rear for ground clearance andreducing trail for quicker turning,
My cafe racer had good ground clearance and I read the chassis of my model responds well to the front being 5mm lower that the back.
My thoughts are a lower bike has less frontal area if top speed is important. but the bike has to fit you and your intended use. My bike is 25mm lower in the rear and 30mm in the front, It looks good to me and helps my ducks desease (short legs)
I try to build form and function but its your bike I suggest make a plan and a drawing and stick to. however it turns out you will just have to learn to ride it as long as it is what you want.

 

[NoRiders]

By the sounds of it...unless you're going to be riding/cornering on the limit I'd be setting the bike up how you want it. Centre mass, and it's effect on handlind, will be affected by springing and damping rates as well as rake and ground clearance....sooo many areas to consider it's usually beyond the ken of most owners.
Factory racers spend their practice/testing day sfine tuning to the enth degree...tweeking ride height, damping rate, tyre pressures....all play a part in getting the ting round a corner.
What kind of riding do you intend?

 

[doc_rot]

Raising or lowering the bike will have negligible effect on weight distribution. the easiest way to change weight distribution is changing the rider position or altering the wheelbase.

 

[kickracingmotorcycles]

Raise rear. The front shocks are already too low. Not enough stiffness. Raise rear 1.5 inches.

 

[teazer]

Sorry to diasgree, but the bikes is a small commuter and will never be a racer, but if you want to make the tank and seat line closer to horizontal, leave the back end alone and drop the front forks through the triple clamps a little. The front end is visually too long for the rest of the bike. Dropping teh front end will make it marginally stiffer because there will be less unsupported length flapping in the breeze.

If the front end is too soft, try a thicker fork oil as a band aid fix and look into stiffer springs and modifications to the damper rods, but start simple.

 

[doombug]

Sorry to diasgree, but the bikes is a small commuter and will never be a racer, but if you want to make the tank and seat line closer to horizontal, leave the back end alone and drop the front forks through the triple clamps a little. The front end is visually too long for the rest of the bike. Dropping teh front end will make it marginally stiffer because there will be less unsupported length flapping in the breeze.

If the front end is too soft, try a thicker fork oil as a band aid fix and look into stiffer springs and modifications to the damper rods, but start simple.

This confirms, what other owners have done/suggested. Sounds like I got some work ahead of me