nklr: a posting question

[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

[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]

[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.

[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. >

[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.

[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

[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] >