anyone else riding in the kettle moraine dual sport ride this su

[Charles]

Just figured I'd share my decision/results, since I asked so many questions......... I finally decided on a seat. I ended up buying an "Africa Single Dual Platform". I got it from Fred Hink at Arrowhead Motorsports. Shipping was quite fast, and it arrived today. Thank you very much Fred! Of course, I had to put it on, and then go for a ride. How could I not? Well, what a difference! The seat is more comfortable, by far, than stock. I've never ridden a bike with a Corbin or a Sargent seat, so I cannot honestly compare those seats. But, compared to stock, there is no comparison. And at $100 less than a Corbin, well, that helped make the decision. My reach to the ground is greatly improved. Now, I am still not flat-footed, but I have a lot more "sole" on the ground than before, easily from the balls of my feet forward. I was literally just dragging toes before, now I have the front half of my foot on the ground. It is much easier to back it up into my garage, as well, since I can get some traction. It just feels better. This is my third KLR, and the first time I've done anything to improve my reach. I should have done this with the last two..... Overall I am very pleased. Oh, I guess I should add that it looks good on the bike, too. I think the bike has a much improved overall appearance than with the stock seat. I'm going to put at least a few hundred to a thousand more miles on the bike, before I consider going any lower. I have a short, 30" inseam, and I'd still like to be closer to being flat-footed, but I also hate to sacrifice much suspension. If I do lower the suspension, I'm thinking that maybe lowering it 1 inch would be enough...... Thoughts on that? Of those of you here that have lowered your bikes, anyone go only 1"? Usually I see lowering links in the 1.5" and 2" sizes...... Chuck F. NE PA Ebony 2009 KLR650 ---------- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.14.15/2434 - Release Date: 10/13/09 19:11:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[Fred Hink]

Charles, Glad you liked the seat. If you are going to use lowering links on your bike, I'd suspect you will also need a stiffer shock spring or an improved shock since the length of the lowering links changes the geometry of the suspension and makes the spring rate effectively softer. Progressive Suspension has come out with a new improved 465 Series shock for late model KLRs that also has a stiffer spring than their earlier model 420 Series KLR shocks. It has a spring that is rated at 600/700. So that tells me that the stock spring rate is very soft. Progressive Suspension is also making this new shock in the 1" shorter model as well. This would be the way to go over lowering links if you are needing to haul a heavy load. http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/newproduct.html Let us know how you like this seat once you have put some more miles on it. Thanks Fred

----- Original Message ----- From: Charles To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 2:12 PM Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Lowered Seats, yet again..... Just figured I'd share my decision/results, since I asked so many questions......... I finally decided on a seat. I ended up buying an "Africa Single Dual Platform". I got it from Fred Hink at Arrowhead Motorsports. Shipping was quite fast, and it arrived today. Thank you very much Fred! Of course, I had to put it on, and then go for a ride. How could I not? Well, what a difference! The seat is more comfortable, by far, than stock. I've never ridden a bike with a Corbin or a Sargent seat, so I cannot honestly compare those seats. But, compared to stock, there is no comparison. And at $100 less than a Corbin, well, that helped make the decision. My reach to the ground is greatly improved. Now, I am still not flat-footed, but I have a lot more "sole" on the ground than before, easily from the balls of my feet forward. I was literally just dragging toes before, now I have the front half of my foot on the ground. It is much easier to back it up into my garage, as well, since I can get some traction. It just feels better. This is my third KLR, and the first time I've done anything to improve my reach. I should have done this with the last two..... Overall I am very pleased. Oh, I guess I should add that it looks good on the bike, too. I think the bike has a much improved overall appearance than with the stock seat. I'm going to put at least a few hundred to a thousand more miles on the bike, before I consider going any lower. I have a short, 30" inseam, and I'd still like to be closer to being flat-footed, but I also hate to sacrifice much suspension. If I do lower the suspension, I'm thinking that maybe lowering it 1 inch would be enough...... Thoughts on that? Of those of you here that have lowered your bikes, anyone go only 1"? Usually I see lowering links in the 1.5" and 2" sizes...... Chuck F. NE PA Ebony 2009 KLR650 ---------- No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.14.15/2434 - Release Date: 10/13/09 19:11:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[dooden]

On a chance have you dropped the front end a little ? I got my forks sticking up about 3/4" and it helped with that little bit. Have yet to notice any handling issues, but not a highway rider so much. Dooden A15 Green Ape

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Charles" wrote: > > Just figured I'd share my decision/results, since I asked so many questions......... > > I finally decided on a seat. I ended up buying an "Africa Single Dual Platform". I got it from Fred Hink at Arrowhead Motorsports. Shipping was quite fast, and it arrived today. Thank you very much Fred! > > Of course, I had to put it on, and then go for a ride. How could I not? > > Well, what a difference! > > The seat is more comfortable, by far, than stock. I've never ridden a bike with a Corbin or a Sargent seat, so I cannot honestly compare those seats. But, compared to stock, there is no comparison. And at $100 less than a Corbin, well, that helped make the decision. > > My reach to the ground is greatly improved. Now, I am still not flat-footed, but I have a lot more "sole" on the ground than before, easily from the balls of my feet forward. I was literally just dragging toes before, now I have the front half of my foot on the ground. It is much easier to back it up into my garage, as well, since I can get some traction. It just feels better. This is my third KLR, and the first time I've done anything to improve my reach. I should have done this with the last two..... > > Overall I am very pleased. Oh, I guess I should add that it looks good on the bike, too. I think the bike has a much improved overall appearance than with the stock seat. > > I'm going to put at least a few hundred to a thousand more miles on the bike, before I consider going any lower. I have a short, 30" inseam, and I'd still like to be closer to being flat-footed, but I also hate to sacrifice much suspension. If I do lower the suspension, I'm thinking that maybe lowering it 1 inch would be enough...... Thoughts on that? Of those of you here that have lowered your bikes, anyone go only 1"? Usually I see lowering links in the 1.5" and 2" sizes...... > > Chuck F. > NE PA > Ebony 2009 KLR650 > > ---------- > > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.14.15/2434 - Release Date: 10/13/09 19:11:00 > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >

[n9udl]

"Non-registered riders or tag alongs will not be permitted " all trails are on private lands. Insurance will not cover non-registered riders. Non-registered riders will be considered trespassers on private land."

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Jud" wrote: > If you just show up at one of these "fully subscribed" events, you can ride along. You may not get the party favors, the dinner, or the route sheet, but a guy with your charm and persuasive abilities can surely find someone to tag along with, probably someone you know.

[RJ]

I have to agree with Fred on this one. A shorter shock is the way to go. I have a 1" shorter Moab shock for my 29" inseam and it makes it much easier to mount and dismount with a full load of luggage. An added benefit is that the suspension geometry is untouched, meaning the shock performs like it should. At first I left the forks slid up all the way in the triple clamps, but the front end felt really light. It worked great in the sand, but it was very touchy and squirrelly on the road. I slid the fork tubes up 3/4 inch and the road stability improved, but now it wants to plow in the sand again. I think I'll try 3/8 inch and see if that is a good compromise. Ross Lindberg Fertile, MN

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Fred Hink" wrote: > > Charles, > > Glad you liked the seat. If you are going to use lowering links on your bike, I'd suspect you will also need a stiffer shock spring or an improved shock since the length of the lowering links changes the geometry of the suspension and makes the spring rate effectively softer. Progressive Suspension has come out with a new improved 465 Series shock for late model KLRs that also has a stiffer spring than their earlier model 420 Series KLR shocks. It has a spring that is rated at 600/700. So that tells me that the stock spring rate is very soft. Progressive Suspension is also making this new shock in the 1" shorter model as well. This would be the way to go over lowering links if you are needing to haul a heavy load. http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/newproduct.html > > Let us know how you like this seat once you have put some more miles on it. > > Thanks > > Fred > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Charles > To: DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com > Sent: Wednesday, October 14, 2009 2:12 PM > Subject: [DSN_KLR650] Lowered Seats, yet again..... > > > Just figured I'd share my decision/results, since I asked so many questions......... > > I finally decided on a seat. I ended up buying an "Africa Single Dual Platform". I got it from Fred Hink at Arrowhead Motorsports. Shipping was quite fast, and it arrived today. Thank you very much Fred! > > Of course, I had to put it on, and then go for a ride. How could I not? > > Well, what a difference! > > The seat is more comfortable, by far, than stock. I've never ridden a bike with a Corbin or a Sargent seat, so I cannot honestly compare those seats. But, compared to stock, there is no comparison. And at $100 less than a Corbin, well, that helped make the decision. > > My reach to the ground is greatly improved. Now, I am still not flat-footed, but I have a lot more "sole" on the ground than before, easily from the balls of my feet forward. I was literally just dragging toes before, now I have the front half of my foot on the ground. It is much easier to back it up into my garage, as well, since I can get some traction. It just feels better. This is my third KLR, and the first time I've done anything to improve my reach. I should have done this with the last two..... > > Overall I am very pleased. Oh, I guess I should add that it looks good on the bike, too. I think the bike has a much improved overall appearance than with the stock seat. > > I'm going to put at least a few hundred to a thousand more miles on the bike, before I consider going any lower. I have a short, 30" inseam, and I'd still like to be closer to being flat-footed, but I also hate to sacrifice much suspension. If I do lower the suspension, I'm thinking that maybe lowering it 1 inch would be enough...... Thoughts on that? Of those of you here that have lowered your bikes, anyone go only 1"? Usually I see lowering links in the 1.5" and 2" sizes...... > > Chuck F. > NE PA > Ebony 2009 KLR650 > > ---------- > > No virus found in this outgoing message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 8.5.421 / Virus Database: 270.14.15/2434 - Release Date: 10/13/09 19:11:00 > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >