Wondering how many people have had their suspension "professionally" lowered.
For my 2001 KDX200 I went the standard route (or so it seems) of lowering link, shaved seat and dropping my triples to get my butt 3" closer to the ground. I'm 5'5" and at stock height could tippie-toe a peg and tippie-toe the other foot to the ground. With the change I can tippie-toe both feet to ground which made it, for me, much more rideable for tight and technical stuff.
I've never been super happy with how it turned out. Love the fact that I can get my feet on the ground and the added control but my biggest issue has been with the shaved seat - took out 2" which gives it that 70's banana bicycle seat feeling and makes me feel a little tool close to my foot controls with my butt.
So... what I want to do is replace the seat back to stock, do the KX conversion up front and figure out how low I can get my front and rear lowered "professionally" - 3" would be ideal. The lost of travel is not concerning - I'm a moderate rider at best.
Just wondering if anyone else has gone that route and how low they managed to get their seat height down while maintaining their overall geometry.
Thanks in advance.
Professionally lowered?
-
- Member
- Posts: 7
- Joined: 12:30 pm Sep 07 2011
- Country:
- Location: PDX, OR
-
- Member
- Posts: 32
- Joined: 09:47 am May 16 2010
- Country:
- Location: Jacksonville IL
At 5'6" i know how you feel, I tried a link and didn't like the handling. I just have my forks up in the trees and had 10mm of shims installed in rear shock.Dropped rear a little over 1". Works ok for me but I still have to stand on something to get on bike. Other people say the KDX 1 link works well and with the shims might be good. Bur still trying to keep front and rear the same drop. I believe the KX forks are longer.
-
- Member
- Posts: 7
- Joined: 12:30 pm Sep 07 2011
- Country:
- Location: PDX, OR
Hey thanks for the reply. Yea from what I can dig up information wise, the KX forks are longer but you can have them reduced in length with a spacer... and I know you can shim the rear in conjunction with a link.
If I recall I think my link dropped me 1.25 so with shims could gain approx 2"? That's the kind of info I'm looking for...
Thanks
If I recall I think my link dropped me 1.25 so with shims could gain approx 2"? That's the kind of info I'm looking for...
Thanks
2001 KDX200 (currently down... so riding the 87 KDX200)
- zomby woof
- Supporting Member I
- Posts: 295
- Joined: 11:42 am Oct 22 2009
- Country:
- Location: SW Ontario
- fuzzy
- KDXRider.net
- Posts: 3437
- Joined: 01:29 pm Jun 18 2003
- Country:
- Location: Fredneck, MD
What is your weight, and can you get the sag set right with the stock rear spring? Likely you need a lighter one, which would get it lower in the process. As zomby metioned most have not needed to cut the forks to keep the geometry right with the standard kouba link.
'91 KDX 200 Project $300 KDX
'95 KDX 200 Project $600 KDX
'94 WR 250 Always a project
'95 KDX 200 Project $600 KDX
'94 WR 250 Always a project
-
- Member
- Posts: 7
- Joined: 12:30 pm Sep 07 2011
- Country:
- Location: PDX, OR
Hey ya I'm about 150 geared up (little fella :) ) - I'm running a link right now and the geometry is fine with the triple drop - but with the idea of going back to stock seat foam I'm looking for a further drop hence investigating "cutting" it down.
Appreciate the replies guys
Appreciate the replies guys
2001 KDX200 (currently down... so riding the 87 KDX200)
- scheckaet
- KDXRider.net
- Posts: 3740
- Joined: 12:09 am Nov 10 2005
- Country:
- Location: edmond oklahoma
make sure your spring is the correct rate and set your sag properly. there is a link somewhere on the site if you don't know how.
At 5'7 i don't have any problem, however i don't care about having both feet flat on the ground (or need to), 1 flat 1 tip toe
At 5'7 i don't have any problem, however i don't care about having both feet flat on the ground (or need to), 1 flat 1 tip toe
02 KX 200 hybrid: RB head and carb
Sold ☹ DRZ 400 SM
bike build: http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... ike+stable
bike profile http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 0709#30709
newb info: http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 57#p117919
jetting guide: http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 105&t=1156
Sold ☹ DRZ 400 SM
bike build: http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... ike+stable
bike profile http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 0709#30709
newb info: http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 57#p117919
jetting guide: http://www.kdxrider.net/forums/viewtopi ... 105&t=1156
-
- Supporting Member II
- Posts: 239
- Joined: 09:16 pm Aug 04 2010
- Country:
Re: Professionally lowered?
I am gonna bring up an old post, and prolly start a fight!!!!! Links are a crutch to an easy shock fix. I lowered two kdx's now. One for the wife, one for a shorter guy. Started with the links kouba 3's. The extra leverage really softens the spring rate. Plus your shock will not bottom with them, it will shove the rear tire through the fender and possibly lock up the rear tire. For about $50 you can shorten your shock internally. It is so easy. Race Tech will sell you the shims for about $30. This will let you go as low as 2". add oil and nitrogen recharge and you have a shock which is shorter, will bottom and retain factory links. Adding the shims is as easy as changing the seal head. As for the forks. The factory kdx forks were made for shortening. All you need is a special tool that consist of a nut welded onto a piece of pipe. Break the fork in two, remove the lower spring, add a pvc spacer the length you would like lowered, reassemble, then cut the amount of your spacer off the the steel spacer on top of your spring. All done. Really some should try this as it is easy and the proper way of lowering a dx. I like to raise the oil height 10mm to add some bottoming resistance in the forks. Give it a whirl, it's not as bad as one would think.
04 kx220 hybrid
03 kx 250
05 kdx 200
03 kx 250
05 kdx 200