Low Riding: The thread

[SpikedPunch]

Yup, this old chestnut.
Just wanting to know various people's experiences with the different methods of lowering dirt bikes. From what I gather there's a few options:
-Cut the seat
-Cut and re-weld the subframe (Ricky Carmichael does it so it must be OK?)
-Lowering Link (n/a on KTMs?)
-Spacer things in the forks?
-etc(?)
Given that I have an impressive 28" inseam at 5'1" tall, when I get a full-sized bike I'm going to need as much lowering as I can get! Even the 100 was a little tall for me stock, so I cut the seat a bit. Now it's pretty much perfect. Can't flat foot but doesn't tip over much.
A little birdie tells me Mr. Danger can do impressive things with lowering :) But I'd like to hear the whole spectrum of lowering experiences, the good and the fail. I've fought valiantly in the defense of my wee bike, but I really do think big wheels make things a bit easier, and would like to give the whole 'grown up bike' thing a go.

[andy 101]

Yup, this old chestnut.
Just wanting to know various people's experiences with the different methods of lowering dirt bikes. From what I gather there's a few options:
-Cut the seat
-Cut and re-weld the subframe (Ricky Carmichael does it so it must be OK?)
-Lowering Link (n/a on KTMs?)
-Spacer things in the forks?
-etc(?)
Given that I have an impressive 28" inseam at 5'1" tall, when I get a full-sized bike I'm going to need as much lowering as I can get! Even the 100 was a little tall for me stock, so I cut the seat a bit. Now it's pretty much perfect. Can't flat foot but doesn't tip over much.
A little birdie tells me Mr. Danger can do impressive things with lowering :) But I'd like to hear the whole spectrum of lowering experiences, the good and the fail. I've fought valiantly in the defense of my wee bike, but I really do think big wheels make things a bit easier, and would like to give the whole 'grown up bike' thing a go.

Yea I had the rear of my ktm lowerd 15mm by danger but that was to take the weight of the front end, not because i could not reach the ground,but greg the man you want to talk to i think .

[L Rider]

So many people ride not being able to touch the ground - like John. Me, i don't have the balls to do it lol. If i'm gonna move onto his bike we need to do some adjusting. At present i'm quite comfy on my bike though

[SpikedPunch]

I'm not that good ;)! Plus, kicking it is hard when you can't touch. I've done the old 'jump on, kick it and go' thing on hills before, but it doesn't always work out!

[merv]

I got Dr Robert to make me up a shorter Ohlins shock for the rear of my WR250F because I'm a short arse bloke and we altered spacers in the forks to keep the balance. It works well for me because the 998mm standard seat height was just too much.

However, in having done that I cannot expect it to perform the same as stock one, so don't go flying off high jumps or things like that, but the guys that ride with me now know I'm old and slow now so that doesn't matter lol.

The arrangement of the suspension links on the WR and their proximity to the swingarm did not allow longer links to be used. The result I have is a WR lower than my XR250L. Photos shows it in lowered form compared to standard. Sorry didn't have exact side on pics for you to compare.

[noobi]

id never thought of modding the subframe, but if that was done then other things wouldnt line up, like the airbox and carb etc. but if done properly with a different carb boot then it would leave the suspension intact which is sort of the idea, but i dont know whether moving the sub frame by 50-75mm is really feasable, an interesting idea though

[cheese]

Get some apple bottom jeans and boot with the fur..... low low low low

Anyway, what kind of bike do you think that you want to get? are you going for a 125?

[warewolf]

Lowering links suck. Much better to get the shock/forks modified so they still work properly. I suspect merv's mod works better than he thinks - at least, a whole heap better than lowering links, that's for sure.

[Midget200]

Yup, this old chestnut.
Just wanting to know various people's experiences with the different methods of lowering dirt bikes. From what I gather there's a few options:
-Cut the seat
-Cut and re-weld the subframe (Ricky Carmichael does it so it must be OK?)
-Lowering Link (n/a on KTMs?)
-Spacer things in the forks?
-etc(?)
Given that I have an impressive 28" inseam at 5'1" tall, when I get a full-sized bike I'm going to need as much lowering as I can get! Even the 100 was a little tall for me stock, so I cut the seat a bit. Now it's pretty much perfect. Can't flat foot but doesn't tip over much.
A little birdie tells me Mr. Danger can do impressive things with lowering :) But I'd like to hear the whole spectrum of lowering experiences, the good and the fail. I've fought valiantly in the defense of my wee bike, but I really do think big wheels make things a bit easier, and would like to give the whole 'grown up bike' thing a go.

Yeha, I took the shock out to Gauzenz Geizler - spelling probably not right! He's put a spacer in, so I'm taking it to Woodhill to see how low it is now! So it's now lowered internally and externally, and the seat cut down. Also the front forks have been slid down as well! Will let you know this afternoon how it all goes. Looks pretty low now, hopefully I can kickstart without having to get on the stand all the time. You're more than welcome to have a ride on Sunday if you like. You've beaten me by a cool half inch in height! Darn!!

[Midget200]

PS Spiked Punch. I've had both an 85, a KLX140, the CRF250X and the trustee KDX200. I love the KDX200. Believe me, it's the little wheels that give the problems. I don't get bogged down now in the sand with the bigger wheels!

[Pornstar]

Damn its good being averge, at 180cm and 84kg, most bikes are taylor made for meeee, sorry no lowering advice from me, although, how about those air bag rides you see, imagine, drop it down, jump on raise it up and off ya go, like a bus. ha, and heres me saying i have no good advice then i pop out that gold. good luck.

[Crisis management]

Just a thought.....is the problem really trying to start the bike (kickstart) or needing to get feet down to stop?

Maybe an electric start will solve more problems and be cheaper than lowering as long as you can get used to one footing it at other times?

[L Rider]

Just a thought.....is the problem really trying to start the bike (kickstart) or needing to get feet down to stop?

Maybe an electric start will solve more problems and be cheaper than lowering as long as you can get used to one footing it at other times?

Thats actually a very good point...

[B0000M]

didnt solve much for my mrs on a crf250x, but then that was just plain heavy

[vr4king]

Ive cut the seat now twice(two different bikes)and never had a problem just dont go to aggresive on the trimming.......It seems to get alot of attetion to for some reason every ride i go on i get asked about it,Guees you dont see it to often,Prob worth thinking about a bumb stop on the rear of the seat to just like the pros have while you doing it

The main reason i went this way was cost and i didnt really want to compromise the suspension workings

I guess the ideal would be to get the right weight springs etc and get the bike set up for you

[fergie]

I used one of these on my wr250 http://www.yamalink.com/ very pleased with it and the instructions re fitting.

[SpikedPunch]

A bike with E-start has been a consideration. The problem is I don't think they make leccy starts on the bikes I'm looking at. I could go down the route of an mx two fiddy maaybe, but at the moment I'm looking at 125s. Plus, while starting it is the big issue, there are so many situations where I might want to get a foot down without tipping over. Stopping is the main one, but even while riding, let's face it, us non-pro people end up sticking our feet all over the place when things get hairy. Bike being too tall might make me a better rider, who knows, but more likely it'd just piss me off when I keep toppling over sideways. Being a bit tall is ok, but I'd at least like to be able to get a couple of toes on each foot down.
For anyone who's had the whole tamale done, what did it total ($) in the end? I know one chick who spent about 2Gs total on lowering & suspension stuff. Just want to know what I'm setting myself up for, if that's what it'll end up being and I've just gotta suck it up, or if there are other ways! :)

[Jinxycat]

got my 07 wr250f with a ballards lowering arm "couldn't think of the proper term, its the pivot arm thing between the dog bones and the shock" cut seat and slightly dropped forks through the triple clamps, with the sag set correctly i am still one foot on the ground (well the ball of it anyway) at 5'5" and 50kg not in bike gear, im in love with the electric leg, love this bike:love:

anyone needing a seat cut and recover with the original skin in the Ak area can give me a PM for a price, same day service.

[Crisis management]

A bike with E-start has been a consideration. ........Being a bit tall is ok, but I'd at least like to be able to get a couple of toes on each foot down.


At the end of the day you need to be comfortable riding it and I understand the desire to get both feet down but on my 640 (it is a good 50mm taller than the EXC) at the best I can only get one toe down and that does encourage you to not fall off.......much!
I'm sure you will be able to get the height down but I'm a bit concerned it is going to be expensive to do properly where something like a WR250 (for example) is not over powerfull or big and might be a better starting point.

[SpikedPunch]

Sat on a couple of 125s today :) A stock YZ and a slightly lowered KX. KX seemed like if I cut the seat (hadn't been done yet) it would be alright. YZ was waay too tall, but may be OK when set up for my weight, cut seat etc, just didn't seem to have quite as much seat to cut as the KX. Interesting anyway :) KX seemed quite nice, but a bit pricey at $5900 for an 08, I've seen them a bit cheaper on trademe. On the upside it had a pipe and stuff already.

Edit: Of course the real test will be to actually *ride* them and see if I like them at all, but it was interesting none the less :) I like how skinny the 125s are.

[L Rider]

YZ set up for you weight i'd say would make a huge difference. Take John's KX for instance - unsure what weight its set up for but more his than mine. He has way shorter legs than me but cause the bike goes down with his weight he can touch the ground better than me.
Funny you mention about them being skinny as i find they are too but then cause of it it feels like the bars are way out etc lol - i think its me whos the problem not the bike.