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lowering links, 4 inches?
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 8:01 pm
by davidfallon441
Hi all;
I need a little advise. A fellow at work is interested in buying my
KLR, but he feels it is too tall. He being a machinist, we worked out
some new lowering links. Well, the math went awry and the bike is 4
inches lower. We were shooting for 3 inches. Is this too much? Any
clearance issues at that or other lowered distances?
How much can I lower the front end for him if I slide the tubes up in
the triple trees?
Thanks.
I hope that doing without my KLR is short temporary thing.
David Fallon
441
lowering links, 4 inches?
Posted: Thu Dec 13, 2007 9:33 pm
by trekbikeboy
David
I am sure that your friend will have problems with wheel/tyre clearance with
a 4" lowering. Others may chime in shortly but I'm pretty sure the tyre will
hit the underside of the rear guard and also the pegs will scrape very early
in any leaning.
Cheers
Griffo
-----Original Message-----
From:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com [mailto:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com] On
Behalf Of davidfallon441
Sent: Friday, 14 December 2007 12:02
To:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Lowering links, 4 inches?
Hi all;
I need a little advise. A fellow at work is interested in buying my
KLR, but he feels it is too tall. He being a machinist, we worked out
some new lowering links. Well, the math went awry and the bike is 4
inches lower. We were shooting for 3 inches. Is this too much? Any
clearance issues at that or other lowered distances?
How much can I lower the front end for him if I slide the tubes up in
the triple trees?
Thanks.
I hope that doing without my KLR is short temporary thing.
David Fallon
441
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
lowering links, 4 inches?
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:04 am
by Jud Jones
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "davidfallon441" wrote:
>
> Hi all;
>
> I need a little advise. A fellow at work is interested in buying my
> KLR, but he feels it is too tall. He being a machinist, we worked out
> some new lowering links. Well, the math went awry and the bike is 4
> inches lower. We were shooting for 3 inches. Is this too much? Any
> clearance issues at that or other lowered distances?
>
> How much can I lower the front end for him if I slide the tubes up in
> the triple trees?
>
> Thanks.
>
> I hope that doing without my KLR is short temporary thing.
>
The longer links increase the leverage of the swingarm on the spring, effectively softening
the rear springing. If not corrected for by increased preload or a stiffer spring, this will
exacerbate the risk of bottoming the tire on the fender.
Four inches is almost unheard of. Most people lower the bike an inch. many eventually
return it to stock height after gaining some riding experience.
Guys have been known to ride the bike around with the forks in the shipping position, slid
up 3" in the clamps, either by mistake or by design. I wouldn't be surprised if the front
tire then hits the fender, too.
I read somewhere recently that each .31" in added length on the links gives an inch of
lowering.
lowering links, 4 inches?
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 9:35 am
by davidfallon441
Thanks for the note about the changing leverage softening the spring.
My friend is going to come sit on it today. I wouldn't be surprised
if he sees it is way lower than he anticipated.
I calculated the rate as lengthening the links .354" to get an inch of
lowering, so I got that a little high. He wanted 3 inches so we
multiplied that by 3 and then he fudged in a little too. We'll no
doubt get to make a new set.
I'm not surprised to hear that people go back to the original links
eventually.
David Fallon
441
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud Jones" wrote:
>
> The longer links increase the leverage of the swingarm on the
spring, effectively softening
> the rear springing. If not corrected for by increased preload or a
stiffer spring, this will
> exacerbate the risk of bottoming the tire on the fender.
>
> Four inches is almost unheard of. Most people lower the bike an
inch. many eventually
> return it to stock height after gaining some riding experience.
>
> Guys have been known to ride the bike around with the forks in the
shipping position, slid
> up 3" in the clamps, either by mistake or by design. I wouldn't be
surprised if the front
> tire then hits the fender, too.
>
> I read somewhere recently that each .31" in added length on the
links gives an inch of
> lowering.
>
lowering links, 4 inches?
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:34 pm
by mikeypep
Unless your friend weighs 50 pounds its going to bottom out
prematurely. I lowered mine either 1 1/2 or 2 inches and can't ride
two -up on the road without dialing up full shock spring. I don't even
want to think about off-road riding. I agree that 4 inches is just too
much. At some point you just have to say the KLR isn't appropriate.
There are some pretty short folks out there riding KLR's and loving it.
lowering links, 4 inches?
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 12:46 pm
by fasteddiecopeman
PROBLEM: with roughly 9" of suspension travel, but ONLY 5" of ground clearance (stock 9"
minus 4" lower), SOMETHING'S gonna happen when he hits a BIG bump...!
Ed
nklr: a posting question
Posted: Fri Dec 14, 2007 3:17 pm
by Kerry Stottlemyer
Off list of course
Sorry Fred
--- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hink" wrote:
>
> NOT ON THIS LIST YOU WON'T.
>
> Fred
> List Admin.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Kerry Stottlemyer
> To:
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Friday, December 14, 2007 2:04 PM
> Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Re: NKLR: A posting question
>
>
> Umm nothing snide about it Just the way i feel about things.
> Now if you want me to be snide I can acomidations you.
> Lighten up will ya.
> Oh and you may have replyed directly to me instead of the board.
>
> --- In
DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Joel" wrote:
> >
> > Hi all,
> >
> > Just wondering why. . .
> >
> > I posted a comment, which did not appear in my daily digest,
yet I
> > received--in my private e-mail--a snide anti-religious reply
from a
> Mr.
> > Stottlemyer.
> >
> > Can anyone enlighten me? Thanks, and Merry Christmas to
everyone!
> >
>
>
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>