How I lowered my motorcycle seat height
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 เม.ย. 2017
- In this video I share how I lowered the seat height of my dual sport 1997 Suzuki DR350ES from 35 inches to 32.5 inches using a lower seat and a lowering link. These modifications will work on most any bike, not just a dual sport. Parts used:
Seat Concepts lower seat
Kouba Lowering Link
Follow on Instagram: / jimmytmoto
I feel your pain. I'm 5'5". 29" inseam. Seat height is one of my main criteria for the many bikes I've had.
Im 5'9 and just bought a 2002 drz 400s so this video is very helpful!
best bike ever!! i took the seats out and shave the foam down near the tank and left the back alone for cushion when i start moving. this bike is a beast. got mine for 1500. 75k mile and going hella strong.
Great audio quality. Always appreciate that. Nice job!
Hey great video friend. I'm about to do most of these on a klr i just got. Thanks again.
Thanks Jimmy, helps me a lot........hoping to buy a KLR650 and at 5' 8" when I was new and less I think after over 40 years of riding am concerned about reaching the deck....cheers again 🏍
Great vid, thanks! I recently cut my own seat down by about 2” and didn’t dare remove any more of the foam because it might get uncomfortable if so. That wasn’t quite enough lowering for me to feel really stable with feet firmly planted, so rather than lowering suspension, I opted to search for boots with thicker treads and a higher (2”) heel. I found some Doc Martin boots, some by Timberland, some by Harley Davidson, and I’m waiting for them to arrive to see which ones work. The key there is a non-slip tread which is thicker than average, extending leg reach.
Thanks for this video Jimmy
Very helpful topic and great presentation. Liked very much. Thank you for posting.
Simple but detailed video..thank you from Philippines.
So helpful video Sr. Thank you very much.
Great vid on height mod options thank you
Great tips jimmy
Very nice video, clear and easy to follow. One question: do you know where I can find a lowering link set for a Royal Enfield Himalayan? Tks from Chile.
You corrected yourself by writing DR 350ES, it is DR 350 SE, I have one too and it's really tall for me as well and I'm 5' 8", I hate the stock seat too, a thick formed brick is all it is, thanks for the tips.
Really useful! I thing of lowering too.
Jim .... I have a XR650L that was ridiculously high.... I lowered it 4" front and rear... here's how I did it...1) bought handle bar risers which raised the handle bars 1" but allowed me to get them out of the way for the forks to come up. 2) I added 1/2" of steel to an adjustable lowering link that was supposed to drop the bike 2" but that was not enough for me (30" inseam) so I added 1/2" of steel to the adjuster and lowered it to where I could flat foot the bike and locked it down..... touching the ground with just the balls of your feet is not low enough you need to go lower , Yes I am aware that they do not make a lowering kit that lowers any bike more than 2" so make your own plates add 1/2" to 3/4" and make your own or have the welding shop make them for you. take one off and take it to him and tell him to make you 2 that are 1/2" to 3/4" longer between the center of the bolt holes !!!!!
it's that easy i noticed in your video that your handle bars do need raised so you have max control a set of handle bar risers would do you alot of good and allow the front to go down even more....
so the end results is a XR650L (stock seat height 37") lowered to aprox. 31" seat height uncompressed. I softened up the pre load as well and took a long knife to the foam on the seat..... and your right I need a seat concepts seat ! LOL an hours ride makes my butt hurt !
for 2 days !!! it's just too thin a seat !
the rear swing arm on my bike is just shy of horizontal on it it is horizontal and I have no handling problems at all with this setup. being short really sucks !!!
Brother!! Good video nice bike nice advice!
Thanks mate. At 5'4 I'm looking for bike options coming from road bikes. Everything I see on short rivers has been guys at 5'7 or 5"9 and I'm thinking they call that short 😁.
Very helpful info Jimmy thank you. I have a dr650 how does it compare in height with the 350 ? And what is the price for that link ? Thanks in advance for your reply.
I have been riding bike since 1979 and I love that you like the old some bike I have dt100 dt125 kl175 trail bikes but I feel to old now for off road so I ride a old Yamaha xj600 1997 🏍
Great vid! Thank you!
Great video and I'm sure it's going to help me out with my mods 👍 - just one observation regarding the kickstand. Would cutting and welding back not create a point of failure in the future? As in a point for it to break from? I often kickstart from standing on it so it time I think it might have some stress on it, potentially breaking it.
While I still need to document myself on this, I'd say it wouldn't hurt asking around a question or two before modding the kickstand - feel free to share their opinion on this.
Mounting and Dismounting: For short riders, step on the left foot peg, then throw your leg over the bike. Same for dismounting, stand on left peg, swing your right leg over and your on the ground easy peasy. I'm 6'1" and used this method to clear all the shit piled on the rear rack. Happy trails. DR650 for life!
At 5'3 I have done that on many bikes. But on some (past bikes) after sitting on the bike with the side stand still down, I have to shift my weight to the right to get the side stand off the ground. My right foot is on the ground now and my left foot is dangling in the air unable to reach the side stand! I understand how comical this is but I ended up selling my KLR650, Multistrada 1000S, fixin' to sell my Pre '96 DR650, and will have to make a decision on my F650GS DAKAR. I'm on tippy toes on my TW200 and XT225. The '96 and newer DR650 can be lowered just enough, and all DR350's to my knowledge.
Great video!
you are awesome. thanks for sharing!
Great Vid Bro!
Thanks!
great video man. im a shorter rider as well. 5'6 and ride a drz400sm with a 35" seat height.
How do you feel riding on the street? Looking at buying one this week and was thinking i am going to have to tilt to one side in the meantime?
Great vid.
Do you remember what cover option you have, "All carbon fiber", "All black vinyl" "carbon fiber side/low slip top" ? Seat concept website don't have a good pictures and your video shows better image of the seat. I think I like the cover you have. Another question is your seat easy to clean, quick to dry if wet? Thanks for sharing.
thank you for sharing, 🏍🏍
Great video..IAM 5'10 .so think it would work for me if I dropped. Mine that far..or would I need more.
Does the dr350se have fully adjustable suspension?
Great idea greetings from Bolivia
Good video, thanks
Wonder if I can have that done to a CB500X. It’s just too tall for me and i do not have the ability to do that myself.
Others that lowered said the tire rubbed on off road use. How did you deal with that issue?
Hi
about the lowering links (minus 1.5 inch) that you have, can you tell me the distance between holes, center to center.
thanks.
you're gonna fabricate your own aren't you??!?!?
You need a larger foot on the kick stand.
Thank you....
Hi! The tank acerbis is for XR 650? Is it complicated to adapt? thanks
It's probably XR 250 or XR 600, not 650 for sure.
i couldnt find the lowering link for the dr650, they have all the other models on the website but not the dr650
I don't know of any way to lower the pre '96 rear suspension. The 1996 and newer were designed by Suzuki with two attachment options on the bottom of the OEM rear shock and can be lowered easily.
tell me about your gas tank I cant get a clear one, all i can find is for dr650 were you got yours thank you.
Hi Edumundo, mine is actually a clear Acerbis tank designed for the Honda XR650L. I had to make my own rear mounting bracket but, other than that, it fit great. You can find direct fit tanks for your the Suzuki DR350 in natural/clear here, also: www.justgastanks.com/dirt-bike-gas-tanks/suzuki-gas-tanks/dr350/
Greetings Jimmy
What seat brand is that?
Thank you for assisting me🇺🇸🍾🎉🇺🇸
I'm guessing that you watched the video. You'll get your answer if you go back and listen to the video. 🙃
Thanks for sharing. Cool intro (and I hate intros) 😜
Thanks
I had a lowered Transalp and I had problems with the headlight not reaching very far, when the front forks were pushed up, very annoying. So I ended up always riding wearing hiking boots with a thick sole so I could reach the ground comfortably and still see where I was going at night.
the best is choose a bike fit your height
Sometimes engine preferences limit you to what bikes you can choose. I’m 5-6” and ride an XR650L because I want that big engine over a little 250. Yes the 250 is shorter, but wheezes out on the road. After some simple cheap mods it’s now low enough for me to ride confidently.
how about switching to smaller tires...
Street riders will sometimes switch to smaller wheels and tires, like a 17 inch supermoto wheel setup front and rear, and that can lower the bike a couple inches. That can get costly, though, and it's not ideal for off-road riding (the smaller wheels don't roll over obstacles as well and they lower ground clearance). So it's a toss up. I'd recommend lowering the suspension and seat first and only then looking at the wheels as a last resort. I hope this helps!
If you didn’t want to lower your motorcycle, you could actually get an operation in Switzerland to add 4 inches to your legs.
I'm 6' with a 33" inseam, and my 2013 drz400 is too damm tall ,thanks for the info.
Yeah, it's not just short folks like me that want lower seat heights. It's not always a matter of if you "can" ride a certain bike or not, it's really about whether you enjoy it or not. And I've also realized that, as I'm getting older, I don't want to fall too far in case of a tip over!
@@jimmytmoto what the hell suzuki is thinking? Not everyone is 6'6".
@@UncleRobsGarage all dirtbikes/dual sports that are made today are crazy tall. like i get why they do it but damn im not 7 feet tall
Stop complaining u big bitch. I'm 5'6. U can ride any street bike. Dual sports a bit uncomfortable but you'll live. Stop being ungrateful
@@igcbjjfdfhhvxyjn3243 idiot
i'm looking to do this on an XR650L
I’ve done the mods other than the lowering link, which I may do at some point. Shaving the seat down made a huge difference. I’m 5-6” and can ride the big red Honda with these mods.
Did you lower your fork tubes the same amount as your lowering link in the back?
He did not, he raised the fork tubes until they touched the handle bars, He was guessing about 1." Handle bar risers would have helped, especially the ones that are at 45* back instead of straight up.
now thats a petrol tank
Noce video. The only problem is I think you need a bigger gas tank.
About how much did all this lower the bike for you??? I’m 5’5” & buying a Kawasaki KLR650 which stands at 35”
Jo Flo have you gotten it yet? I’m 5’7 and looking into the same stuff. I also worry that the bike will be too damned heavy for me, I’m only 135 lbs
Tommy Ashworth
I had my heart set on the KLR650 for a long while. However, after looking at the Honda CB500, I’m having serious second thoughts. The Honda sits lower, way lower. The Honda also has a great reputation from so many experienced riders as there’s many accessories & kits for it for a different stance as well. I’d look at the Honda. It’s also fuel injected. I think you’re a bit light for the KLR 650 as it sits way too high
Jo Flo thanks a lot. Cheers, best wishes m8
Jo Flo but isn’t the Honda cb500 a street bike only? I’m looking to do mostly off road, but I need a bike that can go on highways
Tommy Ashworth
Apologies, I meant the Honda CB500x
those tanks are huge man.
This tank is probably from XR400/650 - acerbis 5.8gal.
You can also buy acerbis for DR350 and this one is smaller 4.25gal.
Stock fuel tank capacity is 2.5gal :)
Yep, you got it - the XR650(L, I think?) Acerbis tank. It was super easy to adapt using some guidance from advrider.com. While it was nice going all week without filling up, in retrospect I'd probably go with the smaller (4.25) tank.
at 3:33 = bad rust /broken weld on rear brake master cyl' braket !!
You said you weighed 160 in your Ninja 250 video??? You are 5'4", looks more like 140.
Ok just watched a more recent video, you put on a few lbs... lol Thanks for your vids! Thinking about getting another Ninja 250 again after 28 years since my last one!
Ha! Yes, unfortunately the weight goes up...and down...and up... :) Hey, get the Ninja, you'll have a blast!
@@jimmytmoto I am in the same boat brother. Not much taller than you and at 170 right now, can get down to 150 at times...
Expect $230 in 2024.