Tell me what to buy....

[Winston001]

No idea really HDC but the XL250 is tried and true. You'd never go wrong with one.

[AllanB]

Hmmm maybe some of those dual purpose tyres on the Hornet.

[cooneyr]

Just for your info, I have a DR250 (the Djebel version) and I'm 6" (35 inch inseam) I'm on tip toes if I try to touch the ground with both feet. With a 28" inseam, you'd have a bit of a lean on I guess.... size does count eh!

Just for HDC and others info - the Djebel can be lowered using factory adjustments just like the DR650. From memory I think you can get the seat height down to 840mm and the full height is 860mm. With the seat trim you could probably get it down to around another 20mm.

Cheers R

[bart]

Something I've been meaning to do for a long time is modify the suspension on my DRZ400. Because I'm a little wide for my height, lowering the suspension with the spring has turned the bike into a soggy sponge pud. Lengthening the linkage whojimmywhatsits (thats a very techanogical term), will lower the bike heaps. By doing this, you have to raise the handel bars also to keep the geometry right.

With this method you're not just limited to 250cc or less bikes.

[xwhatsit]

I have always quite liked XL250 Motosports (and there is an XL350 on tardme at present).

Yes! Motosports stir something deep in my loins

Shit you've got good taste, although I still question your sanity for selling the CB400Fs.

[warewolf]

Lengthening the linkage whojimmywhatsits (thats a very techanogical term), will lower the bike heaps. By doing this, you have to raise the handel bars also to keep the geometry right.

Lowering pullrods are available for many bikes, but they are one hell of a compromise.

Changing the pullrods changes the rising rate curve of the shock linkages, which puts it out of whack with the damping. It can make the rear end harsh and prone to bottoming.

Pulling the forks through the triple clamps to maintain the same geometry is also prone to problems. The handlebars can be too close to the fork tops to allow the same height change, and the front wheel can run out of clearance to the lower triple clamp.

If I had my time again, I'd put the money into a proper suspension re-tune instead. The cost of reducing the shock travel through internal mods is about the same as the pullrods - while the shock is apart for a routine service - and you'll end up with a tuned & lowered shock that operates better than a standard one.

[warewolf]

the Djebel can be lowered using factory adjustments just like the DR650. From memory I think you can get the seat height down to 840mm and the full height is 860mm.

That sounds about right, vs the DR-Z250 which is 890mm.

The 400 is up there in enduro territory at 945mm.

[avgas]

SL230.....if you can find one
otherwise the BAJA were good too

[warewolf]

I have a DR250 (the Djebel version) and I'm 6" (35 inch inseam) I'm on tip toes if I try to touch the ground with both feet.

That's not consistent with what I know about them. Are you sure it's in standard trim? Have you got the shock preload cranked right up? Has a previous owner fitted a tall seat?

You are describing what sounds to me like a Djebel with a seat height over 1000mm?!

I'm 5'7" and 31" (32?) inseam. My DR-Z250 was 30-50mm taller than a Djebel and I could reach the ground no problem, not quite flat-foot it. Even my 640A at 917mm seat height lets me get the balls of both feet on the ground.

[bart]

If I had my time again, I'd put the money into a proper suspension re-tune instead. The cost of reducing the shock travel through internal mods is about the same as the pullrods - while the shock is apart for a routine service - and you'll end up with a tuned & lowered shock that operates better than a standard one.

Thanks for that. I may have a rethink about lowering the 4 hundy. I do a lot of off road also, so have been reluctant to play around with the suspension too much. Platform shoes may be the answer.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I saw a motard DRZ 400 today. It was low. so that with dual purpose tyres? though its a bit out of my price range.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Yes! Motosports stir something deep in my loins

Shit you've got good taste, although I still question your sanity for selling the CB400Fs.

when I was a kidi riding round on my TS125 a mate had an XL250 motosport. (his parents were rich and bought it for him). We thought it was the coolest thing ever, and Ive wanted one ever since.

to be honest, I have missed the red 400F a bit. It was a great little thing to zip about on. The money from the 400F's went into the "scrambler fund" .....

[NordieBoy]

when I was a kidi riding round on my TS125 a mate had an XL250 motosport. (his parents were rich and bought it for him). We thought it was the coolest thing ever, and Ive wanted one ever since.

My (other) brother has a TS125 squirrilled away somewhere.
An XL250 motorsport would be cool but I'm making do with my '79 XR250.
I wouldn't mind putting a motorsport style pipe on it though

[martybabe]

Hd ,I like you am feeling the urge to get splattered in a bit of NZ mud and like you I've got little legs and a long body.

I recently cruised all the dual purpose shops I could find. In one of these shops as I lusted over all the 125s with a seat height on a level with my nipples, big dave's bigger brother suggested this and that and I'm thinkin, it's all right for you ya bleedin giraffe but if ya think I'm gonna ask for a box to stand on for your amusement ya can go and fark ya bleedin deformed gigantor self.

My point is this, I did try a lot of them out and with all but one of them, I could get both of my feet on the deck. It might be stating the obvious but these things have long travel suspension for a reason but a huge percentage of the total travel was taken up by impressive man lard, Indeed some of the taller more imposing ones ended up lower than the lower ones, if ya get my drift.

Sit on a bunch H , You'll be surprised and strangely capacity doesn't seem to have much to do with seat height.The DR650 was perfect for me.

Good luck mate

[CRM]

I lowered my DRZ400 with a koubalink that I ordered from the states (about $120NZ incl shipping from memory) and also had to fit bar risers so i could lift the forks to compensate on the front. It actually was pretty good - lowered the bike about 30mm. But any more than that and you would be doing bad things to the geometry. But even then you couldn't describe the bike as low - it was still way taller than my XL250 or Pampera.