Lowering DRZ suspension?

[Padmei]

Thinking about lowering the suspension on the DRZ. I just get or make some shorter dog bone things? Anyone done it before? I want to get my feet closer to the ground to stop falling off.:rolleyes:

[pete-blen]

Thinking about lowering the suspension on the DRZ. I just get or make some shorter dog bone things? Anyone done it before? I want to get my feet closer to the ground to stop falling off.:rolleyes:


I have made 2 sets for the XT...
with the XT 10mm diffrent's in hole spaceing
changes the ride hight 25mm....

longer lowers the bike

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-DRZ-400-KLX-RM-Lowering-Links-1-Classic-Look-/150810909670?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item231d07dbe6&vxp=mtr

[ADVGD]

Thinking about lowering the suspension on the DRZ. I just get or make some shorter dog bone things? Anyone done it before? I want to get my feet closer to the ground to stop falling off.:rolleyes:

On the DRZ400 you can get a good 1" from either an aftermarket low profile seat or sculpting/modifying the factory one

Lowering links alter the suspensions architecture and noticeably softens the ride. I run a 1" lowering link because the seat lowering wasn't enough for my short arse. I notice the difference from the factory links but I still find it very ridable, I wouldn't go any more than 1" with the factory spring though, those who use 1.5" or 1.75" lowering link say a spring upgrade is pretty much required

[dmoo1790]

Just do it. You won't regret it unless you habitually do big jumps and use all the travel. I put a Kouba link on my 690 and it did wonders for my confidence off road.

[Oscar]

Thinking about lowering the suspension on the DRZ. I just get or make some shorter dog bone things? Anyone done it before? I want to get my feet closer to the ground to stop falling off.:rolleyes:

Icky.
I bought a DRZ that had been lowered with a kouba link and it was horrible.
The steering was boogey and the shock spring was wound up past tolerances.
Maybe if you bought a suitable spring or modified the existing one it would help, but you'd still have a chopper without suitable forks.

[pete-blen]

Icky.
I bought a DRZ that had been lowered with a kouba link and it was horrible.
The steering was boogey and the shock spring was wound up past tolerances.
Maybe if you bought a suitable spring or modified the existing one it would help, but you'd still have a chopper without suitable forks.


Did yer not slide the forks though the clamps to retain the standard trail & rake ?
My XR has double hight set up.. the forks have a step machined in them to put the
forks at the right hight when you slide them though the clamps for the low set up..
I can see a new rear spring could help if you are on the bigger side...
I'm quite light so cranking a bit of pre-load on the spring was enough for me..

[ADVGD]

I should have mentioned I only weigh 79kg, the more you weigh the more it will amplify the shortcomings of lowering links. If you can get away with changing/modding the seat and leave the suspension as is, that would be better

[Oscar]

Did yer not slide the forks though the clamps to retain the standard trail & rake ?
My XR has double hight set up.. the forks have a step machined in them to put the
forks at the right hight when you slide them though the clamps for the low set up..
I can see a new rear spring could help if you are on the bigger side...
I'm quite light so cranking a bit of pre-load on the spring was enough for me..

My DRZ was as I bought it, and I put it straight back to standard.

The forks were slid up with the help of bar risers, but the main problem was that to get any initial damping on the rear the spring had to be done up so tight the first three or four coils were bound together (it was way shorter than it's recommended min. length). Even then, it was still too soft, and this was exacerbating the problem with the front rake.

As for the rest, you're correct - you can't just lower it with a link, you need a diff. spring and some attention to the forks.

[dmoo1790]

My DRZ was as I bought it, and I put it straight back to standard.

The forks were slid up with the help of bar risers, but the main problem was that to get any initial damping on the rear the spring had to be done up so tight the first three or four coils were bound together (it was way shorter than it's recommended min. length). Even then, it was still too soft, and this was exacerbating the problem with the front rake.

As for the rest, you're correct - you can't just lower it with a link, you need a diff. spring and some attention to the forks.

Seems to me the problem wasn't the lowering link. It was trying solve a soft spring issue with more preload. Doomed to failure.

I never lowered my DRZ. I do recall the springs were pretty soft so I guess a lowering link might be too much for heavier/faster riders. Lowering the 690 has created no problems for me so far. I really don't understand why some people are strongly opposed to lowering links. If it works for you then it doesn't matter if it's not an ideal solution.

[Oscar]

Seems to me the problem wasn't the lowering link. It was trying solve a soft spring issue with more preload. Doomed to failure.

.

The problem was fitting a lowering link and nowt else.
The stock spring can't cope with the extra leverage.

[dmoo1790]

The problem was fitting a lowering link and nowt else.
The stock spring can't cope with the extra leverage.

Or you could say the problem was fitting a lowering link without also fitting a stiffer spring. What I'm trying to get across is that lowering links are not intrinsically bad. You just need to know the consequences and deal with them if necessary.

[NordieBoy]

Thinking about lowering the suspension on the DRZ. I just get or make some shorter dog bone things? Anyone done it before? I want to get my feet closer to the ground to stop falling off.:rolleyes:

Trim the seat

You don't want the bash plate closer to the rocks/logs than it already is.

[Padmei]

Trim the seat

You don't want the bash plate closer to the rocks/logs than it already is.

Are you serious ? I thought I'd just be reducing the distance between the seat & the ground - ie the ground clearance would be the same but the distance between the seat & the swingarm would be less???

The spring is bloody soft as it is & fricked if 'm spending any money on the POS. maybe i should just put my big boy pants on & suck it up.

[bart]

maybe i should just put my big boy pants on & suck it up.

That's the one. I'm a short arse (26 inch inseam) and left my DRZ on the standard setting. Didn't want to sacrafice ground clearance. I just accepted the fact I'd drop it occasionally in the slow technical stuff. My DR650 is still on the factory high setting.

You should have seen me on GPSMANS 530 on the weekend. Man that thing is high. :shit:

[Taz]

Are you serious ? I thought I'd just be reducing the distance between the seat & the ground - ie the ground clearance would be the same but the distance between the seat & the swingarm would be less???

The spring is bloody soft as it is & fricked if 'm spending any money on the POS. maybe i should just put my big boy pants on & suck it up.

The distance between the seat and the bash plate will remain the same so if the seat height is lowered using links then the ground clearance becomes lower by the same measurement. It's a DRZ you should only need to put your feet down when you stop :). Stand up riding in the tricky stuff is the key Pads. I had a new Off road only model in 2001 and the rear shock is terrible. I put an ohlins in mine and it was great, even around the MX track.

[Padmei]

Thanks Taz.
I love it when people say stand up in the rough stuff - it makes me smile :)

[NordieBoy]

Yep. Lowering links make the whole bike lower.
Sculpting the seat just gets your arse closer to the ground.

I'm looking for a spare TT seat I can keep at the stock height for even more footongroundability when playing in them thar hills as my seat is about 7cm higher than normal...

[pete-blen]

why not put adjustable links on it..
then yer can play with ride height...

What will help a small amount..
Move the wheel foward to the front of the
adjusting slots will give the shortest
leverage ratio.. "shorten the chain"