Okay, so I finally messed around with the seat height on my KLR. Been meaning to do this for ages, just never got around to it. Here’s the lowdown.
First off, why? Well, I’m not exactly a giant. Touching the ground confidently is a big deal, especially when you’re off-road. Stock KLR is kinda tall. I’d been tippy-toeing around, which isn’t ideal.
What I Did:
- Started with the basics: I looked at the KLR’s suspension. Saw the preload adjusters on the rear shock. Knew messing with that could lower it a bit, but also screw up the ride. Decided against it for now.
- Searched around: Hit the KLR forums. Man, those guys are intense. Found a bunch of threads about lowering links. Seemed like a decent option.
- Bought some lowering links: Found some on eBay – used. Figure, hey, it’s just metal. Got a set that promised to drop the rear an inch and a half.
- Pulled the bike apart: Got the KLR on the center stand. Removed the rear wheel – you gotta do this to get to the linkage. It’s easier than it sounds, just a few bolts.
- Replaced the links: Unbolted the stock links, bolted in the new ones. Everything lined up pretty easily. Used some grease on the bolts. Didn’t want them seizing up later.
- Put it back together: Reinstalled the rear wheel. Torqued everything to spec. Double-checked all the bolts. Always double-check!
- Lowered the front forks: Okay, lowering the rear messes with the geometry. So, I loosened the triple clamps and slid the fork tubes up about an inch. Kept things relatively balanced.
The Result:
Definitely lower! I can get my feet flatter on the ground now. Feels much more stable, especially at slow speeds. The handling… well, it’s different. Maybe a bit less agile, but honestly, I’m not riding this thing like a sportbike. The trade-off in stability is worth it.
Things to Consider:
- Kickstand: The bike leans over more on the kickstand now. Might need to shorten it eventually. For now, I’m just being careful where I park.
- Suspension Travel: I lost some suspension travel. Might be an issue if I was doing serious off-roading. But mostly I’m on dirt roads, so it’s fine.
- Headlight Aim: Had to adjust the headlight after lowering the front forks. Didn’t want to be blinding oncoming traffic.
Overall:
Happy with it! It’s not a perfect solution, but it made a noticeable difference in my confidence on the bike. Plus, it was a fun project. Now, I can finally relax a bit when I stop at lights or navigate tricky terrain.
