Wilsons Sandbox

> I am new to this board and this is my first post. Hello everyone. I > have been doing lots of research on dual sport motorcycles and the klr > 650 looks like a great bike at a reasonable price. However, many have > said that the seat height is really high for vertically challenged > riders, and is a great bike for riders 6' tall or taller. I read that > there are seat lowering kits and I guess my question is would the > lowering kit make the seat height low enough for a rider with a 30-31 > inch inseam to feel comfortable on the bike?? > Cheers >

In my case lowering 1 1/2 " and cutting down the seat - I could send you details - made for a feet flat on the ground experience. I'm 5'8". Other shorties leave the height stock and don't seem to mind. Bogdan

Depends on your inseam ... I have a 32" inseam and sometimes it seems a little difficult throwing the leg over (especially if i have luggage on the rack) But its easy to ride once on ...

On 11/18/05, Bogdan Swider wrote: > > > > I am new to this board and this is my first post. Hello everyone. I > > have been doing lots of research on dual sport motorcycles and the klr > > 650 looks like a great bike at a reasonable price. However, many have > > said that the seat height is really high for vertically challenged > > riders, and is a great bike for riders 6' tall or taller. I read that > > there are seat lowering kits and I guess my question is would the > > lowering kit make the seat height low enough for a rider with a 30-31 > > inch inseam to feel comfortable on the bike?? > > Cheers > > > In my case lowering 1 1/2 " and cutting down the seat - I could send you > details - made for a feet flat on the ground experience. I'm 5'8". Other > shorties leave the height stock and don't seem to mind. > > Bogdan > > > > 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 > > > > > > >

An old tiresome topic. But, since I'm also old and tiresome-- 2" heels on boots, lowering links, bring the forks up by loosening the triple clamp bolts, use a corbin dropped seat. I did all this, except I have a normal flat Corbin seat. Works for my 5'8 body. Note that the bike will settle somewhat when weight is put on it. don a17

> >price. However, many have > said that the seat height is really high

I have a 30 inch inseam and stock height. I like the ground clearance. The height has only given me a problem once trying to hop over big 15 inch rocks in diameter with about 10 inch height with a full tank up a hill. It looked like the guy on the tricycle on Laugh in for all you old farts. Very humbling. I shoulda been on a real dirt bike.......... but .......the guy that went up the same hill on a DR 650 and had very little dirt experience. Difference? He was about 6 ft 5 and just paddled his way up (and you can lower the DR easily). Criswell

On Friday, November 18, 2005, at 08:56 AM, dougpmaverick1 wrote: > I am new to this board and this is my first post. Hello everyone. I > have been doing lots of research on dual sport motorcycles and the klr > 650 looks like a great bike at a reasonable price. However, many have > said that the seat height is really high for vertically challenged > riders, and is a great bike for riders 6' tall or taller. I read that > there are seat lowering kits and I guess my question is would the > lowering kit make the seat height low enough for a rider with a 30-31 > inch inseam to feel comfortable on the bike?? > Cheers > > > >

> I have a 30 inch inseam and stock height. I like the ground clearance.

I'm also at 30". It's a trade off. I rode the bike for a while at stock height and did ok. I actually was bothered less by the height in off road situations than in what you'd call surprising situations - needing to put your foot down in a pot holed parking lot at night, for example. An aluminum bash plate is a must with a lowered bike, however. Bogdan

Hi there, You should not be worried with that, I am 5'8" too and I weight 150lbs, and have no problem with the stock KLR. Of course my feet will not be flat on the ground at a stop, it will be more on the tip of the toe, but it never bothered me really. This can only be a little bit anoying when you try to backoff the bike in a slope, but rarely it has been a real problem. If the worst comes to worst then I just get off the bike and move it where I want to. Jo. --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "dougpmaverick1" wrote:

> > I am new to this board and this is my first post. Hello everyone. I > have been doing lots of research on dual sport motorcycles and the klr > 650 looks like a great bike at a reasonable price. However, many have > said that the seat height is really high for vertically challenged > riders, and is a great bike for riders 6' tall or taller. I read that > there are seat lowering kits and I guess my question is would the > lowering kit make the seat height low enough for a rider with a 30-31 > inch inseam to feel comfortable on the bike?? > Cheers >

To answer your first questions "Would a 5'8" rider be able to fit on the KLR 650?" It depends on the lenght of your toes! ;-> I am also 5'8! Average toes lenght, and I have been riding for the last 400 miles on a stock KRL. You can lower it some, or,...you can just get used to it. It also depends alot on your primary use of the bike. Dirt you probably want some clearance, Hway, clearance is not as big of an issue. Anyways, you can lower the bike where it can suite your heigh, it shouldn't be a problem. I'm sticking with the Stock for the time being..."I only place one foot on the deck everytime I stop";-) P dougpmaverick1 wrote: I am new to this board and this is my first post. Hello everyone. I have been doing lots of research on dual sport motorcycles and the klr 650 looks like a great bike at a reasonable price. However, many have said that the seat height is really high for vertically challenged riders, and is a great bike for riders 6' tall or taller. I read that there are seat lowering kits and I guess my question is would the lowering kit make the seat height low enough for a rider with a 30-31 inch inseam to feel comfortable on the bike?? Cheers 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 --------------------------------- Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I'm 5'8" and a little, with a 31" inseam, weighing in at 145 and I've owned KLRs since 1989. They're tall, but you get used to it. Having both feet flat on the ground is overrated, no kidding. One foot flat at a stop is fine. Before you buy a lowering kit, try just reducing the rear spring preload to its minimum setting. That way the bike will get as low as possible once you sit your keister in the saddle. After you get used to riding it, you can stiffen the rear to whatever setting your riding style dicates. Another trick is to wear boots with thick soles. It's amazing what a half-inch will do. I can get the balls of my feet on the ground in my tennies, and that's plenty for me. You just have to watch where you put your feet. If you can't reach the ground out on the trail because of the lay of the land, slid off to one side to plant a foot. My KLR is tall, but my DR-Z is taller. I had the seat on that one cut down a bit, but it's still a stretch. I tried lowering links, but they softened the rear suspension too much (increased leverage on the shock from the longer link) for my liking and I didn't want to bother with getting a siffer spring. Both the KLR and DR-Z make my VFR feel like a low-rider. If you plan to travel on your KLR, the extra weight of luggage will help lower it a bit, too. Disclaimer: "comfort" is relative, what works for me might make you nervous. C'mon, join the Klub! __Arden --- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "dougpmaverick1" wrote:

> > I am new to this board and this is my first post. Hello everyone. I > have been doing lots of research on dual sport motorcycles and the

klr

> 650 looks like a great bike at a reasonable price. However, many have > said that the seat height is really high for vertically challenged > riders, and is a great bike for riders 6' tall or taller. I read that > there are seat lowering kits and I guess my question is would the > lowering kit make the seat height low enough for a rider with a 30-31 > inch inseam to feel comfortable on the bike?? > Cheers >

Quoting dougpmaverick1 :

> I am new to this board and this is my first post. Hello everyone. I > have been doing lots of research on dual sport motorcycles and the klr > 650 looks like a great bike at a reasonable price. However, many have > said that the seat height is really high for vertically challenged > riders, and is a great bike for riders 6' tall or taller. I read that > there are seat lowering kits and I guess my question is would the > lowering kit make the seat height low enough for a rider with a 30-31 > inch inseam to feel comfortable on the bike?? > Cheers

I'm also a shorty at 5'8" and a stouty at 185 lbs. I was scared of the stock height at first, and even pre-purchased the lowering links before I took delivery of the bike. With the links installed, and years of riding experience, I had no problems handling the bike. A brand new rider would probably want a lower seat and the forks raised in the triples slightly to be perfectly comfortable. After a few years of riding, I was so comfortable that I just threw the stock links back on and run with the Corbin as the only lowering device. Balls of feet on the ground at best, but now that I'm used to it, there's no problem... Another Dirk