Lowering a DR350

[oldguy]

Hi guys/gals, I have just brought a 93 DR350 of trademe, bloody good bike, but I can't get my feet on the ground.
I have to put the bike on the side stand climb on start her up, then get off kick the stand up and then carefully try and get my leg over with out falling over, and once on I can only just touch the ground. Riding is no prob. but if I have to stop well any little hollow in the ground and I've got a DR350 on top of me, good laugh:laugh: for everyone but me.:Oops:
anyway does anyone know if I can lower it just a tad so I can get abit better footing.

[tysonzane]

My mate recently sold his DR350 so you might be the one who brought it, it was a minter with plenty of grunt! I know on a DRZ you can get things that lower the mounts on the seat and there are lowering linkage things that connect and do something with the swing arm. You can also loosen the mounts for the front forks to bring the forks futher up through the mounts (keeping them even) but this can drastically effect the handling, you could also play around with the spring and the static drop but again this will affect the handling.

After changing springs and the setup on my KTM its bloody high and i can JUST get a full foot print on the ground, but im absolutely loving it like this it feels good to be higher and i feel in more control. Although this suits my riding style more as i dont put my legs out very often, mainly when im controling it on the limit of been sideways. But i can understand why you want to be able to get your feet on the ground more especially with the shear weight of the DR's and the kick start position.

[oldguy]

My mate recently sold his DR350 so you might be the one who brought it, it was a minter with plenty of grunt! I know on a DRZ you can get things that lower the mounts on the seat and there are lowering linkage things that connect and do something with the swing arm. You can also loosen the mounts for the front forks to bring the forks futher up through the mounts (keeping them even) but this can drastically effect the handling, you could also play around with the spring and the static drop but again this will affect the handling.
maybe I could just get use to it, riding it is not a problem can throw it around no worries would like to get out to woodhill for a blast.

this is the bike I brought through trademe.

[cheese]

change that rear guard!! It looks soooooo old!!

[oldguy]

change that rear guard!! It looks soooooo old!!were can I get a replacement or aftermarket one

[bobsmith]

don't know what the problem is....

I am tip-toeing on the fxr :pinch:

It's actually really funny to see me reverse... I have to rock side to side to get both of my feet a turn in touching the ground to reverse...

I hate tall people....

[bobsmith]

Seriously though I think you have problems if you can't stop safely.... (at least I have no problem with just putting one foot down since the bike is real light) good luck lowering your bike and let us know how it goes! I will probably need to refer to this thread when I get a bigger bike....

[cheese]

Try Total Moto x they are the cheapest in NZ. maybe get one of an RM and modify it. they might tell you a better fit....

Anyway, as for lowwering, you may have to do some custom work to the read shock. My RM was a tad on the high side, so I wound the read shock down a tad, but not a good idea for handleing........

I did see a KDX and they made a custom linkage which lowered it 5cm.

You can lower the front by undoing the tripple clamp pushing the forks up a bit. you may need some higher bars on the front to make it fit though.

Maybe you can get a shorter rear spring?

[oldguy]

Has anyone heard of these Kouba Links, used for lowering your bike. or know of anyone who has used them.
And is there anyone that imports or makes something similarr here in NZ.http://www.koubalink.com/drinstall.html

[SDU]

don't know what the problem is....

It's actually really funny to see me reverse... I have to rock side to side to get both of my feet a turn in touching the ground to reverse...

I hate tall people....

You can reverse!:laugh:

I have to get off my (mini)DR to move it.

[SDU]

Tidy bike Oldguy.

My DR650 is now called the mini DR.
I can get my toes on one foot down. So glad it has that button.

The seat was cored to soften it & lower a smidgeon.
The 650's has a lowering kit option. I don't know if the 350 does.
The shock was lowered to the lower link. Lemans made another dogbone to lower it (more than the one you can buy for the lowering kit.) The spacers in the forks were moved from top to bottom (or was it the other way?) as recommended for the DR650.
The stand shortened.
This site may help explain it better.
http://www.banditmotorcycles.com/v-web/bulletin/bb/index.php

[oldguy]

Thanks for the help people, haven't had a chance to go out and give it a good blast, shit weather we have been getting lately, would like to get out for good ride may end up just leaving it a lone and change my riding to suit.:doh:

[Henk]

We had a set of Kouba links on the wifes DRZ250 that got stolen. Work well and easy to fit. DR250's as well as the DR650 have two possible holes for the bottom shock bolt. Check to see if thats there on the 350 before you order the longer dogbones.

[oldguy]

We had a set of Kouba links on the wifes DRZ250 that got stolen. Work well and easy to fit. DR250's as well as the DR650 have two possible holes for the bottom shock bolt. Check to see if thats there on the 350 before you order the longer dogbones.Did you import them, or pick them up local, and if local were or who.

[cheese]

Let us know when you are good to go adn we should all head up to woodhill!!!

[inlinefour]

change that rear guard!! It looks soooooo old!!

Old school is so cool. I have a 04 DRZ400e and its very high re: sitting position. The DRZ replaced a stolen TT350, which also had the old school look. Sadly the DRZ has not got it and I still look at it at times and scratch my head...
Leave the guard as it is, looks great. Cant you wind the rear shock back down?

[oldguy]

Old school is so cool. I have a 04 DRZ400e and its very high re: sitting position. The DRZ replaced a stolen TT350, which also had the old school look. Sadly the DRZ has not got it and I still look at it at times and scratch my head...
Leave the guard as it is, looks great. Cant you wind the rear shock back down?don't know much about about shock setup but will give it a go.

[oldguy]

Let us know when you are good to go adn we should all head up to woodhill!!!yeah will do, I'm keen, just ride it the way it is, haven't had a chance to go for a good ride had it a week on thursday and only done 3K since I got it, now thats sad.

[tysonzane]

Yeah my mates go Kouba Links in his DRZ. They work in lowering it quite nicely but the handling was effected negatively and when i sit on it the front feels quite a bit higher then the back and the back feels at an odd angle but overall for me who has a high bike with a tall back end with a stiff spring it just feels really wrong.

I guess it comes down to personally preference and i do believe you should roll with what feels comfortable for you.

[oldguy]

Yeah my mates go Kouba Links in his DRZ. They work in lowering it quite nicely but the handling was effected negatively and when i sit on it the front feels quite a bit higher then the back and the back feels at an odd angle but overall for me who has a high bike with a tall back end with a stiff spring it just feels really wrong.

I guess it comes down to personally preference and i do believe you should roll with what feels comfortable for you.I may just leave it for the time being, and just get out and do some riding, like you say it can change handling, the short rides Ive had on it I really like the way it handles only getting the foot down when I stop and starting her up. maybe I should stop being a nana and get out and do some riding.

[Henk]

We got them in from the states off the kouba link website. You can mitigate the handling change by sliding the forks up in the yokes.

[crazyxr250rider]

just cut some foam out of the seat