👍 ...soooo easy to do ! Thanks a lot for showing more an more useful "tricks" arround the CRF 250 L . (I'm a 63 year old "beginner" ... riding bikes since 4 years ) Greetings from Germany!
Good for you Mark. So many TH-cam channels trying to scare people away from actually lowering the seat height but rather suggesting the shorter rider put their body through all kinds of contortions to get one foot to just touch the ground (unless the ground slopes away then you are on the ground with a bike on top of you). My bike has a stock rake angle of 24 degrees so fitting shorter rear shocks increased that angle a tad but all was well. Depending what barrow you wish to push that can either make the bike less nervous or less agile, it's actually fine being more directionally stable but still corners nicely. Best modification I ever did.
I’m 72 and did exactly the same thing but I checked the degree angle of the forks before the lowering link and adjusted the forks to match the stock setting which was 30 degrees.
Thanks for your informative video. I agree that ground clearance is not too important especially if you are going to do trail riding and not take huge jumps… lowering the bike will certainly gives more confidence to any short riders …thanks again 😎
I used to be 6' 2", now 6' 1". My Honda 450 RL with an accessory seat is hard for me to swing my leg over. I installed a lowering link that makes it much easier to mount and dismount.
Excellent! I have been told so many times that this is a really easy job to do BUT with your video I can now see what people mean and would be prepared to do this myself. Thanks a lot. Confidence is a wonderful thing. I now have more!
Any time you do something for the first time, you get a little nervous. But if you dig into it with a brain working, you can usually figure it out,---and man, that is just a cool feeling I love. :) To heck with all the goofy hippies telling about how to be happy. Real happiness, because we have a brain that can figure things out, comes from personal achievement. Somebody does not want us to achieve.
“...but the biggest impact on this bikes geometry is when it’s horizontal in a ditch ...” LOL...as a new off-road rider, I’ve bee there so many times, and a broke fibula 4 months ago, I am ready to sell the bike BUT your vid may keep me riding ...
What the heck, Mark? Since I am getting a new CRF300l Rally shortly, I just happened to be scanning bike vids and, low and behold, here you are with a good CRF video. I watch your fitness videos all the time, but didn't expect to see you over here in Honda CRF land. I thought the matrix was getting wobbly for a moment. Best wishes to you and your lovely wife...and keep up the good work.
Good show - Those "Bar Risers" made it all work - IF the Cuba Link lowered the rear 1 inch and you raised-up the Fork Tubes 1 inch-up from the Stock Setting. Then the Fork Rake and bike geometry is matched to Stock OEM. High speed stability should remain the same. Lowering the C G a Few Hundred Pounds has Huge Benefits in Cornering. Enjoy - Cheers
Thanks for the info - I bought a 2020 CRF250L today and I'm realizing I'm just too short for it :( I will be installing a threaded lowering link similar to this and adjusting the front forks!
There is a Pulling force on it, tension, but not spring tension. When they went from dual shocks on MX bikes to single shock with linkage, (I think Honda was the first in 81), it did a couple of good things. It created a better center of mass, (more mass closer to center between the wheels), and the linkage designs, which are all pretty much the same today, offer more design adjust-ability for a rising rate. They found that when the piston in the shock moves faster as the travel is compressed, it worked the best, and they could design more rates with a linkage than the dual shock offered. I am not sure if it made the bike lighter.
I lowered my YZ250 2-stroke a bit, but changed my mind on the "lowering link" and put the stock link back on. Why? Because I found out, (and should have known in the first place before I bought it.), that it does not shorten the travel, (like a top out spacer in the shock does), but it "shifts" the travel into your fender. So for example, if the link lowered the bike 1", and you use all your suspension travel, (and you should be for best performance), the rear wheel is going to try to go into the fender 1 more inch, (the knobs already hit the plastic when stock when you bottom, and you can tell by the marks under the fender.). So, for one possible example that can happen when riding, if I bottom on a bump, I don't want it to basically "brake" (on the fender, and maybe break the fender), when I want the wheel to roll over the bump. It could help you crash in some situations.
For me on my KLX250 I don't care, as I will be riding it very slowly off-road, and want to put both feet down easily. I had great fun on a little KLX150S doing that and find the 250 too tall for such stuff. So I adjust the suspension as low as it will go, lowered the forks and ordered a lowering kit - my aim is to make it as low as a Honda Cub seat. Then I'll be happy :)
Greetings, As always another brilliant detailed video production 🇺🇸🍾🎉🇺🇸 After installation how much the motorcycle lowered? Thank you so much for assisting me and keep producing more videos.
Great video, thank you, just subscribed. However I didn't get the info on how much lower the bike is now? The original seat height is said to be 88cm. Thank you.
I really like the video, installing a koubalink on my 18 rally now , but koubalink talks about adjusting the sag when lowering, is it necessary? Is there a video for that? Also when you lowered your bike did your chain get tighter?
How much does that actually lower the bike in inches? We use the imperial system here state side. I’m looking at buying this bike. I’m 5’8 would I need to lower it?
I come from a motocross back ground. I’ve been riding for 30 years. So I’m a pretty experienced rider. I was just wondering about riding it on the street. I don’t won’t to side saddle it at stop lights lol 😂 I think I probably could tip toe it stock. I weigh 180 pounds too. So the suspension would probably sag quiet a bit. I’ll set on one and see I guess? Thanks for the response
I Rode one this morning and I can touch just find. I can’t flat foot it. (31 inch inseam) But I can get a little more than my toes down. I just wish the power wasn’t so lazy. If I get it I’ll Change the jutter Clutch out. Put a exhaust on it, open the air box up. And remap the fuel system. I think that might wake it up a bit. Thanks for the response!
I just bought a 2014 with all the mods you mentioned plus a 300cc big bore kit and heavy rear and fork spring. In my opinion it has plenty of power for its intended use. It's never going to be a CRFx or KTM EXC but has off setting benefits compared to the others. @@ShinyKnife
Hi, thank you for this. Can I be a pain and ask how much total fork is now above the clamp to level yhe bike? And how much lower is the bike overall? I'm looking at this as I'm just borderline not flatfotted and of road sometimes there's no ground under my foot! 😂 Thanks again 👍✌️❤️
I wouldn’t use lowering links as yes it does change the geometry- even with lowering the front through the triples . Besides space lowering the suspension ( which isn’t cheap ) all i do is lower the seat and forks through triple clamps around 10mm max . This can lower pretty much any bike by around 2 inches with affecting handing ( only quicker turn in )
Looks like you might have installed the new lowering link upside down...the lettering is upside down. Wont affect how it works...just the aesthetics. I wish you did side x side comparison of the 2 links. Is the new one slightly longer?
TH-cam seems _insistent_ that I watch this video, and has been incessantly recommending it for _months_, despite the fact that the last motorbike I rode was my Hornet about 7 years ago. So now I have, but I'm regretting it because it seems the link was put in upside down - or at least, the writing was upside down - and now my palms are itching. I hope you're happy, TH-cam! 🤣
Looks like you lowered the front by 20mm or so - how do you know the front wheel font hit the fender upon full compression? The travel portion of the fork (silver stanchions) are about 230mm while measuring the tire to bottom of the fender looks like 220mm -> meaning there is about 10mm of travel that won't clear upon full compression :S
Looked at a new KLR 230 for my adult daughter, abit tall I believe, dealer would lower for $450, which seems high, but it is new. Thoughts? btw- bought a yam 50cc quad for the kiddos
I have put the Kouba link in a CRF300L just now. I also have 30 mm bar risers. How far did you raise the tubes trough the top clamp in your video? What do you think would be the safe maximum? Thank you for this video.
All the engineering gear heads that work for Honda, Suzuki, ect can't figure out that half the population is not 6ft tall? I really like the KLS 250S and CRF 250L, but will buy the Yamaha XT 250 (that has very good ground clearance) because I don't like being on tippi toes. Kawasaki and Honda lost a customer!
Hi Mark! I really liked the way you explained everything. Kudoos!! Can you make similar video on Himalayan BS4 bike too. It would be fine if you could review height lowering steps for same as bike may not be available in your area. I would really appreciate this help. Thanks :)
@@MarkLewisfitness I did this mod to my 250L and the stand still worked but you basically had to get off the bike and let it de-sag before the stand would go down but it was fine. I eventually got sick of that and cut about 15mm out of my stand so I could kick my stand down as soon as I stopped while still sitting on the bike and that was fine, probably 20mm would have been better but I am use to it now so will leave as is.
I went through everyone's responses... No one has asked the most important question which is this. All these efforts on lowering the bike has to have an effect on the geometry / handling / suspension. Was it better or worst? Thanks.
Sir please suggest or recommend how to properly lower the height of my HONDA XR200, my height is 5'4, iwhat is the best adjustment without altering the smooth suspension?? Standard size us 18 rear and 21 front...i prefer 17 rear and 18 front, and scrapping the saddle, and sliding up the fork? Best suggestion sir please
Hi Mark. Sorry, I have different question, about the skid plate. I got a crf250l as well, and looking for some ideas to upgrade. What skid plate do you have on the crf250l? How is fixed the back part of it? Did you fix it to the frame? Thanks, and have a good day. 😉
I installed links on my DR-Z 400 and it made a world of difference! Much more confident now. I come from a motocross background and I was wondering how to set up the rear shock with these links installed? The "sag" setting has been taken out completely and I don't know where to set the spring preload for my light weight of only 130lbs. Anyone have thoughts?
So I have got a yzf250 and I'm thinking of putting on a lowering kit on like this, does the front suspension have to be lowered and what would happen if I didn't do this
Great Vid etc etc....... But someone has to say it...... "You put the lowering link in upside down"..... I know it makes no difference to how it works but the righting is upside down lol !!!.... Yeah I did this mod to mine ages ago but I used a variable link in mine and strangely enough the variable link was cheaper than the fixed one that you used!.
I love how the boys are covering their faces in current videos, yet we have likely far more embarrassing videos with them on old Marktube pre fitness content
How much does that lower it? Buddy has a 250L and its a touch to high for me. I was thinking of getting a 300L with the hopes of lowering it at least an inch.
Thank you for making a simple concise video on this. Everyone else's video I watched was overcomplicating this
👍
...soooo easy to do ! Thanks a lot for showing more an more useful "tricks" arround the CRF 250 L .
(I'm a 63 year old "beginner" ... riding bikes since 4 years )
Greetings from Germany!
Good for you Mark. So many TH-cam channels trying to scare people away from actually lowering the seat height but rather suggesting the shorter rider put their body through all kinds of contortions to get one foot to just touch the ground (unless the ground slopes away then you are on the ground with a bike on top of you). My bike has a stock rake angle of 24 degrees so fitting shorter rear shocks increased that angle a tad but all was well. Depending what barrow you wish to push that can either make the bike less nervous or less agile, it's actually fine being more directionally stable but still corners nicely. Best modification I ever did.
I’m 72 and did exactly the same thing but I checked the degree angle of the forks before the lowering link and adjusted the forks to match the stock setting which was 30 degrees.
Thank you for that info!
@@vosburght How many mm does that equal to rise forks?
Thanks for your informative video. I agree that ground clearance is not too important especially if you are going to do trail riding and not take huge jumps… lowering the bike will certainly gives more confidence to any short riders …thanks again 😎
I used to be 6' 2", now 6' 1". My Honda 450 RL with an accessory seat is hard for me to swing my leg over. I installed a lowering link that makes it much easier to mount and dismount.
Your apprentice did a fantastic job !! Thank You for the video.
Excellent! I have been told so many times that this is a really easy job to do BUT with your video I can now see what people mean and would be prepared to do this myself. Thanks a lot. Confidence is a wonderful thing. I now have more!
Any time you do something for the first time, you get a little nervous. But if you dig into it with a brain working, you can usually figure it out,---and man, that is just a cool feeling I love. :)
To heck with all the goofy hippies telling about how to be happy. Real happiness, because we have a brain that can figure things out, comes from personal achievement.
Somebody does not want us to achieve.
“...but the biggest impact on this bikes geometry is when it’s horizontal in a ditch ...”
LOL...as a new off-road rider, I’ve bee there so many times, and a broke fibula 4 months ago, I am ready to sell the bike BUT your vid may keep me riding ...
I broke my right hip last year. That was at 7 miles on the bike. She's now just broken 10k today. DON'T LET GO!
Thank you!! Quick, to the point, I appreciate your concise explanation!
An impossible task without a sidekick! Good job kid!
Glad I watched this. Easy job, I was worried about the front forks, but overall very easy job.
What the heck, Mark? Since I am getting a new CRF300l Rally shortly, I just happened to be scanning bike vids and, low and behold, here you are with a good CRF video.
I watch your fitness videos all the time, but didn't expect to see you over here in Honda CRF land. I thought the matrix was getting wobbly for a moment.
Best wishes to you and your lovely wife...and keep up the good work.
The young helper made me stay to the end of the video. Awesome!
May I suggest simply eating lots of pies and chocolate.
It’s more fun than wrench work. And will lower the bike nicely.
Watching because Mark told me not too. Still quite an entertaining video!
Your son is so funny! He makes the video enjoyable and informativeive
Outstanding "How to"! Thanks you two!
Great video, especially raising the forks, didnt think of that
Good show - Those "Bar Risers" made it all work - IF the Cuba Link lowered the rear 1 inch and you raised-up the Fork Tubes 1 inch-up from the Stock Setting. Then the Fork Rake and bike geometry is matched to Stock OEM. High speed stability should remain the same. Lowering the C G a Few Hundred Pounds has Huge Benefits in Cornering. Enjoy - Cheers
Wheelbase is shorter...that has negative effect on the high speed handling when on the highway. Shorter wheelbase is better for slow speed turning.
Thanks for this I was hoping someone was going to do an installation video on the kouba lowering link.
Thank you so much!!! This was totally helpful and we got the bolt off!!!
Thanks for the info - I bought a 2020 CRF250L today and I'm realizing I'm just too short for it :( I will be installing a threaded lowering link similar to this and adjusting the front forks!
Did it work out ?
Great video. Good camera angles. That’s how you make a video!
Hi great job easy & a good approach to each job u do on the bike .
Having automotive experience my brain told me there would be spring tension on the link similar to an A arm in a front suspension. Super easy indeed!!
There is a Pulling force on it, tension, but not spring tension. When they went from dual shocks on MX bikes to single shock with linkage, (I think Honda was the first in 81), it did a couple of good things. It created a better center of mass, (more mass closer to center between the wheels), and the linkage designs, which are all pretty much the same today, offer more design adjust-ability for a rising rate. They found that when the piston in the shock moves faster as the travel is compressed, it worked the best, and they could design more rates with a linkage than the dual shock offered. I am not sure if it made the bike lighter.
I lowered my YZ250 2-stroke a bit, but changed my mind on the "lowering link" and put the stock link back on. Why? Because I found out, (and should have known in the first place before I bought it.), that it does not shorten the travel, (like a top out spacer in the shock does), but it "shifts" the travel into your fender. So for example, if the link lowered the bike 1", and you use all your suspension travel, (and you should be for best performance), the rear wheel is going to try to go into the fender 1 more inch, (the knobs already hit the plastic when stock when you bottom, and you can tell by the marks under the fender.). So, for one possible example that can happen when riding, if I bottom on a bump, I don't want it to basically "brake" (on the fender, and maybe break the fender), when I want the wheel to roll over the bump. It could help you crash in some situations.
For me on my KLX250 I don't care, as I will be riding it very slowly off-road, and want to put both feet down easily. I had great fun on a little KLX150S doing that and find the 250 too tall for such stuff. So I adjust the suspension as low as it will go, lowered the forks and ordered a lowering kit - my aim is to make it as low as a Honda Cub seat. Then I'll be happy :)
Greetings,
As always another brilliant detailed video production 🇺🇸🍾🎉🇺🇸
After installation how much the motorcycle lowered?
Thank you so much for assisting me and keep producing more videos.
hello brother love your guide lines thank you so much ....my height is like 5.7 inch so it good for me ...love from nepal.
This guy produce a good content on the lowering link, unfortunely he dont bothered to reply others question, give him a thumb down.
It’s a 5 year old video 😂 I get thousands of comments, I have to prioritise new videos!
Great video. Well explained. I'm a shorty great fix for me
Easy peasy, much appreciated!!
Great video, thank you, just subscribed. However I didn't get the info on how much lower the bike is now? The original seat height is said to be 88cm. Thank you.
Nice video How far do you lower the forks? What is the overall decrease in seat height? Thanks for identifying bolt and nut size. Torque settings.
kouba claims 1.75"
Excellent video! Thanks a lot!!!
Great video thanks for the walkthrough
How much does this mod lower the seat height?
I really like the video, installing a koubalink on my 18 rally now , but koubalink talks about adjusting the sag when lowering, is it necessary? Is there a video for that? Also when you lowered your bike did your chain get tighter?
How much does that actually lower the bike in inches? We use the imperial system here state side. I’m looking at buying this bike. I’m 5’8 would I need to lower it?
I come from a motocross back ground. I’ve been riding for 30 years. So I’m a pretty experienced rider. I was just wondering about riding it on the street. I don’t won’t to side saddle it at stop lights lol 😂
I think I probably could tip toe it stock. I weigh 180 pounds too. So the suspension would probably sag quiet a bit. I’ll set on one and see I guess? Thanks for the response
I Rode one this morning and I can touch just find. I can’t flat foot it. (31 inch inseam)
But I can get a little more than my toes down. I just wish the power wasn’t so lazy. If I get it I’ll Change the jutter
Clutch out. Put a exhaust on it, open the air box up. And remap the fuel system. I think that might wake it up a bit. Thanks for the response!
I just bought a 2014 with all the mods you mentioned plus a 300cc big bore kit and heavy rear and fork spring. In my opinion it has plenty of power for its intended use. It's never going to be a CRFx or KTM EXC but has off setting benefits compared to the others. @@ShinyKnife
lmao@0:50. So adorable the way she's holding her hands like a child that did an oopsie.
Ok cool... but how far should the forks come up ??
Excellent video, thanks!
Hi, thank you for this. Can I be a pain and ask how much total fork is now above the clamp to level yhe bike? And how much lower is the bike overall? I'm looking at this as I'm just borderline not flatfotted and of road sometimes there's no ground under my foot! 😂 Thanks again
👍✌️❤️
Thank u .iam from nepal mount everest
I wouldn’t use lowering links as yes it does change the geometry- even with lowering the front through the triples . Besides space lowering the suspension ( which isn’t cheap ) all i do is lower the seat and forks through triple clamps around 10mm max . This can lower pretty much any bike by around 2 inches with affecting handing ( only quicker turn in )
Good video... most important info absent. What was the seat height before and after ? Can't believe I have to ask.
Kouba website says their links lower a regular 250L 1.75" (44.5mm), and a Rally 1.5" (38mm)
Thank you so much for the info.
Do you have a TH-cam channel?@@ElementofKindness
Great video. Can someone confirm if these links are used then I’d be suitably sat on the bike, I’m 5’7” ?
Great vid ....... as looking at the new 300 that's coming out soooooon.
Hope you paid your staff well lol
I suspect he gets enough through his apprenticeship to cover room and board + extras!🤣😂🤣😂
Looks like you might have installed the new lowering link upside down...the lettering is upside down. Wont affect how it works...just the aesthetics. I wish you did side x side comparison of the 2 links. Is the new one slightly longer?
Great video, thank you so much!
I need to get one! I'm only 5,3
Hopefully you got it now.
Maybe obvious but I assume you lower the fork tubes 1.75" to match the rear link?
Very well explained
TH-cam seems _insistent_ that I watch this video, and has been incessantly recommending it for _months_, despite the fact that the last motorbike I rode was my Hornet about 7 years ago. So now I have, but I'm regretting it because it seems the link was put in upside down - or at least, the writing was upside down - and now my palms are itching. I hope you're happy, TH-cam! 🤣
Been nice if we had a before and after measurement
thank you vrey much!
You did not mention shortening the kickstand. How many inches was the bike lowered. The links did not look much different from one another. Thanks
fancy puttin it on upside down....nice and easy tho ...deffo gunna do this to my crf450
doesnt answer questions so i wont ask by how much did it lower the bike
Looks like you lowered the front by 20mm or so - how do you know the front wheel font hit the fender upon full compression? The travel portion of the fork (silver stanchions) are about 230mm while measuring the tire to bottom of the fender looks like 220mm -> meaning there is about 10mm of travel that won't clear upon full compression :S
Thank you ... ❤
Looked at a new KLR 230 for my adult daughter, abit tall I believe, dealer would lower for $450, which seems high, but it is new.
Thoughts?
btw- bought a yam 50cc quad for the kiddos
I have put the Kouba link in a CRF300L just now. I also have 30 mm bar risers. How far did you raise the tubes trough the top clamp in your video? What do you think would be the safe maximum? Thank you for this video.
Is this the same process for the Honda 250L Rally?
Great video!
Thank you thank you thank you!
All the engineering gear heads that work for Honda, Suzuki, ect can't figure out that half the population is not 6ft tall? I really like the KLS 250S and CRF 250L, but will buy the Yamaha XT 250 (that has very good ground clearance) because I don't like being on tippi toes. Kawasaki and Honda lost a customer!
The Yamaha XT 250 has the dorkiest front fender ever! What made them think splitting it like that was a good look for a DS?
yea i dont get it either east asia is known for having smaller people too lol apparently they dont ride the bikes they make?
Hi Mark!
I really liked the way you explained everything. Kudoos!!
Can you make similar video on Himalayan BS4 bike too. It would be fine if you could review height lowering steps for same as bike may not be available in your area. I would really appreciate this help.
Thanks
:)
Super video for my friend jockey :-)
Great video! Just a question, is it possible to make an extra hole at the botton of the rear shock to lower the bike?
No!
Great video mate, how much disk you you lower the front forks?
Hello , nice vid . Is the optional helper for rent ? and How much cost it ? ☺
SICK!! 👌🏾
Not that it matters, but just strange to install it upside down.
Did you need to get a shorter kickstand after installing this lowering link?
@@MarkLewisfitness I did this mod to my 250L and the stand still worked but you basically had to get off the bike and let it de-sag before the stand would go down but it was fine. I eventually got sick of that and cut about 15mm out of my stand so I could kick my stand down as soon as I stopped while still sitting on the bike and that was fine, probably 20mm would have been better but I am use to it now so will leave as is.
Great video thanks !
I went through everyone's responses... No one has asked the most important question which is this. All these efforts on lowering the bike has to have an effect on the geometry / handling / suspension. Was it better or worst? Thanks.
Any idea of the seat height drop? ty.
Do you have to adjust the chain ?
What about cleaning the linkage and pins and putting it all back with some grease?
Sir please suggest or recommend how to properly lower the height of my HONDA XR200, my height is 5'4, iwhat is the best adjustment without altering the smooth suspension?? Standard size us 18 rear and 21 front...i prefer 17 rear and 18 front, and scrapping the saddle, and sliding up the fork? Best suggestion sir please
Hi Mark. Sorry, I have different question, about the skid plate. I got a crf250l as well, and looking for some ideas to upgrade. What skid plate do you have on the crf250l? How is fixed the back part of it? Did you fix it to the frame? Thanks, and have a good day. 😉
I installed links on my DR-Z 400 and it made a world of difference! Much more confident now. I come from a motocross background and I was wondering how to set up the rear shock with these links installed? The "sag" setting has been taken out completely and I don't know where to set the spring preload for my light weight of only 130lbs. Anyone have thoughts?
So I have got a yzf250 and I'm thinking of putting on a lowering kit on like this, does the front suspension have to be lowered and what would happen if I didn't do this
Hi Mark
Just a quick question
Do you raise or lower the front fork the same among as the back was raised or lowered??
Cheers mate
He didn’t even mention how much the bike was lowered….good video but the important point wasn’t covered 🤔
So… how far did it drop the bike?
How much does this mod lower the seat height?
Great Vid etc etc....... But someone has to say it...... "You put the lowering link in upside down"..... I know it makes no difference to how it works but the righting is upside down lol !!!.... Yeah I did this mod to mine ages ago but I used a variable link in mine and strangely enough the variable link was cheaper than the fixed one that you used!.
I watch every mark Lewis training video but TH-cam algorithm keeps recommending me this one of video of him lowering a Japanese photocopier
Even with it lowered will it be too tall for a person who's 5'3?
lol bait...
Hi,
How much did you lower it by?
is this similar to the 150L?
What if it looks like your bike dosent have a place to add a lowering link? Am I just sol?
I love how the boys are covering their faces in current videos, yet we have likely far more embarrassing videos with them on old Marktube pre fitness content
Yep - they were thought the videos would never get watched by anyone back then 🤣
How much does that lower it? Buddy has a 250L and its a touch to high for me. I was thinking of getting a 300L with the hopes of lowering it at least an inch.
What went wrong with this installation? Why shouldn’t we watch this video? Thank you
Hi Mark, what the height of you bike lift or what height is required to lift crf250L?Thanks
manteb gan joss ...lanjutt