nklr - looking for work!

[ginger25_1971]

Does anyone have any information on how I can lower my KLR650. I have no problems unless I get on uneven ground and with the weight of the bike, I have trouble holding it up with only my toes touching. If anyone can help me out, you can e-mail me directly at kesselgin@.... Thanks in advance for any information......Ginger

[Doug Herr]

On Thu, 13 Jan 2005, ginger25_1971 wrote:

> Does anyone have any information on how I can lower my KLR650. I > have no problems unless I get on uneven ground and with the weight > of the bike, I have trouble holding it up with only my toes > touching. If anyone can help me out, you can e-mail me directly at > kesselgin@.... Thanks in advance for any information......Ginger

Personally I like the scootworks links. They are variable and will lower your 1, 2 or 3 inches. www.scootworks.com -- Doug Herr doug@...

[sachssci]

I want/need to lower it. My legs aren't long enough for my feet to be flat on the ground. The dealer tells me there are multiple options. But you experienced guys probably know the best choices. So, what's the best way to lower the thing, and how low can I go and still remain within reasonable design and operational limits? Thanks. . . . SMS

[Arden Kysely]

Flat footing a bike is overrated. I haven't been able to do it on any of the last 3 bikes I've owned. On my DR-Z, it's tip-toes; my KLR was balls-of-the-feet, as is my GS. As soon as you lean to one side a bit, you get a lot more foot contact, and you can always slide your butt to one side to plant a foot better. Unless your feet don't touch at all, I'd give the KLR a chance in stock form. Wearing boots helps a lot since the soles are usually thicker than street shoes. Reducing rear spring preload is also helpful, especially while you're getting used to the height of the bike. You'll also find that the ground comes closer when you load the bike up for a trip. If you have to do something, have the seat cut down a bit or buy a dished seat. The last resort is lowering links as they change the leverage on the rear spring, effectively softening it so that you might need a new spring. You can kiss ground clearance bye-bye with lowering links as well, so you'll have to be more careful with any off- pavment riding. That's my opinion. I know some folks have lowered theirs and love it, but realize that there are trade-offs. __Arden

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "sachssci" wrote: > > I want/need to lower it. My legs aren't long enough for my feet to be > flat on the ground. > > The dealer tells me there are multiple options. But you experienced > guys probably know the best choices. > > So, what's the best way to lower the thing, and how low can I go and > still remain within reasonable design and operational limits? > > Thanks. > > . . . SMS >

[smthng else]

On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 1:25 PM, sachssci wrote:

> I want/need to lower it. My legs aren't long enough for my feet to be > flat on the ground.

I'm sure you'll hear it from everyone, so I'll just go ahead and toss it out there as well... Flat-footing is not neccessary. I'm content with getting the balls of my feet on the ground. Heels are optional. I lowered mine because I have to back it in to the parking spots near my office. I couldn't get enough traction with my tippy toes, so it had to get dropped.

> The dealer tells me there are multiple options. But you experienced > guys probably know the best choices.

You didn't specify which year it is. That makes a little bit of a difference. On my '08, I installed 1" lowering links and a lowered kickstand. I dropped the front forks about 1/2 an inch to even out the geometry again. This is just about perfect for my 31" inseam. On the '07 and earlier, you can do the same thing, but I'd cut the tail off a bit. I've got a fairly large friend with an '07 that he didn't lower, but his weight causes the suspension to sag a fair bit. He hit a bump one day and the rear compressed enough that his license plate hit the rear tire and folded over. If you're going to lower it, I'd cut the tail section off a few inches higher than stock and move the license plate up. Regardless of year, lowering the suspension allows you to keep everything else (except the kickstand) stock. Or, you could get a lowered seat or carve up the seat you have. Either way works. If you're planning a fair amount of off-road travel, tackle the seat, not the suspension. If you're mostly a street rider, I'd go with the suspension. --Jonathan "smthng" Kalmes Springfield, VA 2005 Yamaha FJR1300ABS - "Blue Bayou" 2006 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon - "Teflon" 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 - It's here, but it hasn't earned a name yet. http://smthng.info "Shake well... some settling is natural."

[mikeypep]

Yep, thats about it. I agree on all counts. I didn't cut my fender but mounted the license plate by the bottom holes so it is higher up on the fender. Works fine.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "smthng else" wrote: > > On Sun, Nov 2, 2008 at 1:25 PM, sachssci wrote: > > I want/need to lower it. My legs aren't long enough for my feet to be > > flat on the ground. > > I'm sure you'll hear it from everyone, so I'll just go ahead and toss > it out there as well... Flat-footing is not neccessary. I'm content > with getting the balls of my feet on the ground. Heels are optional. > I lowered mine because I have to back it in to the parking spots > near my office. I couldn't get enough traction with my tippy toes, so > it had to get dropped. > > > The dealer tells me there are multiple options. But you experienced > > guys probably know the best choices. > > You didn't specify which year it is. That makes a little bit of a > difference. On my '08, I installed 1" lowering links and a lowered > kickstand. I dropped the front forks about 1/2 an inch to even out > the geometry again. This is just about perfect for my 31" inseam. > > On the '07 and earlier, you can do the same thing, but I'd cut the > tail off a bit. I've got a fairly large friend with an '07 that he > didn't lower, but his weight causes the suspension to sag a fair bit. > He hit a bump one day and the rear compressed enough that his license > plate hit the rear tire and folded over. If you're going to lower it, > I'd cut the tail section off a few inches higher than stock and move > the license plate up. > > Regardless of year, lowering the suspension allows you to keep > everything else (except the kickstand) stock. Or, you could get a > lowered seat or carve up the seat you have. Either way works. If > you're planning a fair amount of off-road travel, tackle the seat, not > the suspension. If you're mostly a street rider, I'd go with the > suspension. > > --Jonathan "smthng" Kalmes > Springfield, VA > 2005 Yamaha FJR1300ABS - "Blue Bayou" > 2006 Jeep Unlimited Rubicon - "Teflon" > 2008 Kawasaki KLR 650 - It's here, but it hasn't earned a name yet. > http://smthng.info > > "Shake well... some settling is natural." >

[sachssci]

Great answers from everyone on lowering the bike! Thanks very much! I now have decisions to make, but I can make them with context instead of in the dark. . . . SMS

[Rick]

As you can see 'to lower or not to lower' is the question. I've lowered my wife's KLR and mine. Scootworks makes adjustable links and eagle mike makes fixed links in 1" and 2". My wife and I don't ride gnarly off road with the KLR's but we have traveled north and south of the USA on our bikes for extended tours. We ride fully loaded meaning everything but the kitchen sink goes. For us, with an already top heavy bike and loaded up for 3 month moto adventures, flat footing isn't a luxury for us but a necessity. As you may have already found out, when the bike wants to fall over, let it go. You won't hurt yourself trying to stop it and picking it up isn't all that bad.

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "sachssci" wrote: > > I want/need to lower it. My legs aren't long enough for my feet to be > flat on the ground. > > The dealer tells me there are multiple options. But you experienced > guys probably know the best choices. > > So, what's the best way to lower the thing, and how low can I go and > still remain within reasonable design and operational limits? > > Thanks. > > . . . SMS >

[dooden]

Another idea, is what I did, lowered the front about 3/4" in the triple and it was that little bit I needed for better footing. Might note headlight will require adjusting. Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "sachssci" wrote: > > Great answers from everyone on lowering the bike! Thanks very much! I > now have decisions to make, but I can make them with context instead of > in the dark. > > . . . SMS >

[Jim Douglas]

Got the boot, after (9) years, and am looking for work that I can do from home. I am a software engineer with (25) years of varying experience, very professional, well maybe somewhat professional! If anyone knows of any type of software work available shoot me an email as I had made the decision not to go back to the corporate world but struggle from home, less stress, etc. I am in the process of updating my web-site, etc but if you want to see what I do check out this link I put on CraigsList, BTW, the last time I posted there I did get quite a few responses and one paid off! http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/cps/905163434.html Thanks! Jim Douglas