Lowering a dirt bike

Doug

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Nov 9, 2005, 12:35:01 PM11/9/05

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I know this is weird idea (at least I've never heard of anyone doing
it), but is it practical to LOWER a dirt bike like a Honda CRF250x. I
think mine is too tall. I'm not sure, but I think that the reason it's
so tall is so it has all this travel for shock absorbtion. But since I
don't jump, I don't need it. Anyway, I'm just wondering. If its not
practical to lower the suspension are there any 4 stroke dirt bikes
that the seat is lower to the ground in the 250-500cc area?

Chris Buckley

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Nov 9, 2005, 12:48:41 PM11/9/05

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Many people lower bikes for kids/women/etc. A competent
suspension service or shop should be able to help you out if
you think you need your bike lowered.

Dean H.

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Nov 9, 2005, 2:19:10 PM11/9/05

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"Chris Buckley" knows his stuff...

Yes, it can be done for shorter folks.

Some folks pick up an inch or so just by cutting down seat foam (try an old
electric kitchen knife if you can find one).

If you can survive with the taller suspension and get it set up for the
stuff you ride, you'll still find a way to use up most or all of that travel
after time. If you just plonk through the woods and stuff, it's still nice
to have all that travel when you cross a log or hit a small surprise at
speed.

I think that whatever it costs to lower it is aprox. what it will cost to
reverse the stuff if/when you sell (buyer will of course be 6'4"). I'm
pretty sure it's reversible stuff they do with spacers or something.
;-)

Good luck.

-dean

Brian McG

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Nov 9, 2005, 2:59:35 PM11/9/05

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Try here:
http://groups.google.com/group/rec.motorcycles.dirt/browse_frm/thread/2b7860d73a5d971d/a7d510207b07751b?q=kx250+lower+suspension+brian+&rnum=1#a7d510207b07751b

"Doug" <anoth...@access4less.net> wrote in message
news:1131557701.3...@g49g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...

SNOman

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Nov 9, 2005, 3:43:30 PM11/9/05

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My mate (short bugger) has one of these on his crf250x

http://www.koubalink.com/crf.html

Doug

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Nov 9, 2005, 8:10:02 PM11/9/05

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Thanks for the reply. That Kouba thing looks like just the ticket. I
can lower the front end just by pushing the forks up through the
clamps. I can get an inch or so there, so maybe lowering the rear an
inch also is the way to go. That way I keep the same rake and trail?

SNOman

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Nov 9, 2005, 10:12:31 PM11/9/05

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No problem. As I said my riding buddy uses it and he is very pleased
with his X. It certainly hasn't diminished the suspension performance
considering he is 100Kg.

vlj

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Nov 9, 2005, 10:31:28 PM11/9/05

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"Doug" <anoth...@access4less.net> sez:

'Sorta. My youngest rides a CRF250R with the Kouba link and the forks
pushed up in the triple-clamps. It does tend to emphasize "pushing" by the
front end but is well within tolerable limits given the benefit provided to
the inseam challenged on the bike.

Good dimensionin' to ya,
VLJ
--

MX Tuner

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Nov 11, 2005, 4:43:40 PM11/11/05

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On 9 Nov 2005 09:35:01 -0800, "Doug" <anoth...@access4less.net>
blathered:

All the prevoius listed methods will result in your butt closer to the
ground. But there are compromises to all of them except adding spacers
internally in the shock and forks. Shorter fork springs are also
necessary to prevent too much spring preload (bad for plushness).

Adding the spacers gives the best results hands down and is stiil
fully reversible for when you sell the bike. You'll never miss the
inch of travel. I'd highly suggest not going any lower than one inch.
It doesn't sound like much bit it is. Going two inches will make it
feel like a big wheel 85.

I get $300 to do a set of forks and a shock. That includes a revalve
while I'm in there. The Kouba link costs half that much alone. There
are other places that can do this. MX Tech (www.mxtech.com) does a lot
of these also.

MX Tuner