Wilsons Sandbox

Well Ray, here's wachadu, or should have done. Measure the rear suspension at full extension, remove links and install new links, measure rear suspension again at full extension. Now, with your fingers or calculator, subtract the last measurement from the first. Loosen the fork clamps on your steering-head assembly lower the assembly the same amount on the forks. Retighten the clamps IAW the KLR technical data, ride and add one smile.

----- Original Message ----- From: "Ray Fagan" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Friday, July 19, 2002 10:27 PM Subject: [DSN_klr650] lowering link > I just installed a set of lowering links that I bought used. There were no > instructions. I need to know how far to raise the fork tubes in their > clamps. > > Thanks, > Ray > > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.xmission.com/~dkenison/cgi/lwgate.cgi/KLR650/archives/ > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > >

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Thomas J Komjathy" wrote:

> Well Ray, here's wachadu, or should have done. Measure the rear

suspension

> at full extension, remove links and install new links, measure rear > suspension again at full extension. Now, with your fingers or

calculator,

> subtract the last measurement from the first. Loosen the fork

clamps on your

> steering-head assembly lower the assembly the same amount on the

forks.

> Retighten the clamps IAW the KLR technical data, ride and add one

smile.

> ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Ray Fagan" > To: > Sent: Friday, July 19, 2002 10:27 PM > Subject: [DSN_klr650] lowering link >

easy just lower them the same amount as the lowering links if you installed the 1.5 inches lower the forks 1.5 2 inch lowering links then 2 inches etc etc

> > > I just installed a set of lowering links that I bought used.

There were

> no > > instructions. I need to know how far to raise the fork tubes

in their

> > clamps. > > > > Thanks, > > Ray > > > > > > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > > http://www.dualsportnews.com > > Be part of the Adventure! > > > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > > http://www.xmission.com/~dkenison/cgi/lwgate.cgi/KLR650/archives/ > > > > Post message: DSN_klr650@y... > > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@y... > > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@y... > > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@y... > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to

http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

> > > >

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Ray Fagan" wrote:

> I just installed a set of lowering links that I bought used. There

were no

> instructions. I need to know how far to raise the fork tubes in

their

> clamps. > > Thanks, > Ray

Ray, Do you know how much the links drop your rear end? It could be anywhere from 3/4" to 3". Most likely it will be around an inch to 1.75". To preserve your steering characteristics, you would want to raise the tubes the same amount. However, there may not be sufficient travel in the front end to allow that without increasing the risk of bottoming. 3/4" to 1" is probably the limit. Two other things to bear in mind: 1) you may find you need to shorten the sidestand; 2) The lowering link will have the effect of softening your rear spring. You may find you need to increase preload, or possibly use a stiffer spring. Hope this helps. Jud

Anyone know the correlation between actual length of the links versus amount of drop? Thanks, Ray

----- Original Message ----- From: "judjonzz" To: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com> Sent: Friday, July 19, 2002 11:33 PM Subject: [DSN_klr650] Re: lowering link > --- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Ray Fagan" wrote: > > I just installed a set of lowering links that I bought used. There > were no > > instructions. I need to know how far to raise the fork tubes in > their > > clamps. > > > > Thanks, > > Ray > > Ray, > > Do you know how much the links drop your rear end? It could be > anywhere from 3/4" to 3". Most likely it will be around an inch to > 1.75". To preserve your steering characteristics, you would want > to raise the tubes the same amount. However, there may not be > sufficient travel in the front end to allow that without increasing > the risk of bottoming. 3/4" to 1" is probably the limit. > > Two other things to bear in mind: 1) you may find you need to > shorten the sidestand; 2) The lowering link will have the effect of > softening your rear spring. You may find you need to increase > preload, or possibly use a stiffer spring. Hope this helps. > Jud > > > Checkout Dual Sport News at > http://www.dualsportnews.com > Be part of the Adventure! > > Visit the KLR650 archives at > http://www.xmission.com/~dkenison/cgi/lwgate.cgi/KLR650/archives/ > > Post message: DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com > Subscribe: DSN_klr650-subscribe@yahoogroups.com > Unsubscribe: DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > List owner: DSN_klr650-owner@yahoogroups.com > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ > > >

In a message dated 7/20/02 12:46:19 AM Eastern Daylight Time, rayf@... writes: > Heya Ray, and anybody else considering drop links, No, but I've tried all the different size drop links. They all work great & inspire confidence. You Do lose clearance for off road stuffs, but the improved turning/handling offsets this. So long as your shock/spring is relatively new. Raising the fork tubes 1.5 inches worked best for me with the 1.5 inch drops, excellent high speed stability on road, & great turning off road. This baseline of 1.5 on the fork tubes for 1.5 inch drops, I got from Gino's excellent review of the Quality R&D 1.5 links. http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/6164/page83.html No doubt there's a formula out there for what should work best on different size links, but I just used Gino's baseline, & experimented to find what works best for my rides. I liked these 1.5's Alot, except for how short (in a nutshell) they make the KLR. With 1 inch drop links, .75 on the fork tubes I found to be the best compromise. These 1 inch drops worked great. Did the 10th annual Alligator dualsport ride in Daytona with them. (KLR hell) Still got the lowered CG, (better handling) but clearance was improved over the 1.5 inch drops. Then..Don Beck agreed to design a set of 3/4 inch drops just for the KLR650. Yes!...even more clearance. (still with lower than stock CG, & better turning) With the 3/4 drop links installed now, .5 on the fork tubes is giving me the balance I'm looking for...better turning off road, without radical loss of clearance. High speed stability on road suffers some over 75mph with tubes set at this height, but I've got a different bike made especially for hitting "ludicrous speed" on road. Also, with the 3/4's, you won't have to shorten your stock kickstand. Keep in mind that my data's skewed alittle, as the stock shock, and spring, have been gradually wearing out during the course of trying out these different size links. This gray area has basically kept me from writing up an impressions/review/blurb on them. In the near future, will be reinstalling the different links for measurements/impressions with a new shock/spring. Have likely said this before but...For anybody that wants to try more than one different size set of links....take care with those (2) bolts, (2) nuts that hold the links in place. Kawasaki gets 40.00 for replacements, yup. -Scott A14 "thunderdog" Sorrento, Fl

--- In DSN_klr650@y..., "Ray Fagan" wrote:

> Anyone know the correlation between actual length of the links

versus amount

> of drop? > > Thanks, > Ray >

No, but a small addition to the length of the link results i a significant reduction in height. For a !.5" reduction, the link may only be 8-10mm longer. Do you have the stock links? If so, a little work with a tape measure and a calculator may yield an answer. The manufacturer of the links should know, if you know who made them.

Hmmm, lets see, wouldn't the 2 inch lowering link be 2 inches long? Probably not. Maybe its 2 inches shorter, or lower than stock. Probably not. I installed the 2 inch lowering link on my KLR and it is definitely not 2 inches lower, maybe 1 or 1 1/2. It did however get the job done. While my KLR is not as towering as it was, and it does bottom out more readily off road, I can stand with both fee firmly planted and that was my goal. If you don't get any answers I'll be glad to get the OAL from my link.

>From: "miketherider" >To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com >Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Lowering Link >Date: Fri, 16 Dec 2005 04:27:55 -0000 > >I have an interesting question. My uncle just recently bought a cherry >2002 Kawasaki KLR650 to replace his again Suzuki DR 650. Well, his DR >was lowered and all the jazz, and hence, he needs to do the same to his >KLR now. Thing is, he has the materials to make his own lowering link, >and doesn't want to spend the $80-plus on a lowering link, when he can >make one for zero cost to him. Problem is, he doesn't know the exact >dimensions of the link itself, and thus, faces some issues. > >So, my question is, does anyone know the dimensions of any popular >lowering link, specifically, a two inch lowering link? Anyone have one >kicking around, and could measure the dimensions? Main dimensions I >need: length of the link(s), diameter of the hole(s), and whatever else >you can think of. > >Can anyone help me out? Thanks. > > > > > > >Archive Quicksearch at: >http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html >List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com >List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html >Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 >Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

How tall is your uncle? My father-in-law is 5-10 and hasn't lowered his. Mind you he can't touch w/ out being "tip-toed" Andy andyt59@... -----Original Message----- From: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com]On Behalf Of miketherider Sent: Thursday, December 15, 2005 9:28 PM To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Lowering Link I have an interesting question. My uncle just recently bought a cherry 2002 Kawasaki KLR650 to replace his again Suzuki DR 650. Well, his DR was lowered and all the jazz, and hence, he needs to do the same to his KLR now. Thing is, he has the materials to make his own lowering link, and doesn't want to spend the $80-plus on a lowering link, when he can make one for zero cost to him. Problem is, he doesn't know the exact dimensions of the link itself, and thus, faces some issues. So, my question is, does anyone know the dimensions of any popular lowering link, specifically, a two inch lowering link? Anyone have one kicking around, and could measure the dimensions? Main dimensions I need: length of the link(s), diameter of the hole(s), and whatever else you can think of. Can anyone help me out? Thanks. Archive Quicksearch at: http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html Member Map at: http://www.frappr.com/dsnklr650 Yahoo! Groups Links