Does Lowering Dirtbike Subfram Cost You Suspension Travel?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The balance of your dirt bike, the front and rear end, is important for proper functionality in your bike and riding abilities. If you choose to lower your bike height,

avoid making too many huge adjustments that will affect the way you handle the bike

and the bike’s management of the terrain you typically ride on.

Can you lower ride height on a dirt bike?


Lowering link

This mod is the most common and easy solution for lowering the seat height on your dirt bike. You can just bolt it into the linkage system, and the rear-end height will instantly go down for about 1 inch.

Should I lower my dirt bike?


Do not over lower you bike just so that you can touch the ground better

. Yes, touching the ground is important but not as important as ground clearance. Ideally being able to touch with the balls of your feet is very comfortable but it all goes back to what type of riding you plan on doing.

How much does a lowering link lower a dirt bike?

(6) Lowering link.

Longer link arms can bring the seat height down

as much as 1 inch

. When using a lowering link to drop the rear, make sure to raise your forks in the clamps by at least 2mm to balance the bike.

How much does it cost to lower a dirt bike?

In general most modern dirt bikes have an initial leverage ratio ranging from

3.1 to 4.0

. As an example, with a 3.1 leverage ratio a 3mm spacer will lower the rear end 9.3mm at the wheel. Knowledge of this ratio is critical in making the spacer the proper length.

How much travel does a dirt bike have?

Dirtbikes require lots of travel—

up to 12 inches (30 cm) at both the front and rear

—to deal with jumps, rocks, and ruts. Cruisers often have the least travel—as little as 3 inches (8 cm). SPRING Most modern motorcycles use coil springs.

How does lowering a motorcycle affect the handling?

Even if you lower your bike by the book, handling can be affected to some degree. “When you lower a bike, you also

lower its center of gravity, so it’ll handle a bit better in certain circumstances

,” says Langley. “The negative is that your initial ground clearance is decreased.

What dirt bike has the lowest seat height?

  • Honda CRF150F with a seat height of 32.6.
  • Honda CRF230F with a seat height of 34.8.
  • Yamaha TT-R125LE with a seat height of 31.7.
  • Yamaha TT-R230 with a seat height of 34.3.
  • Kawasaki KLX110 with a seat height of 26.8 (16 inch rear wheel)

How tall should your dirt bike be?

HEIGHT IN FEET (Person) HEIGHT IN cm (Person) SUITABLE SEAT HEIGHT (inches)
9-10 years old kids


140


24-26

5’2”


157


31-35

5’8”


172


34-38

5’4”


162


33-36

Is it OK to lower a motorcycle?


Motorcycle experts will always advise against lowering the front of your bike for both safety and functionality

. You can get away with lowering only the back if you’re going for function, but for appearance, many of you will want to lower the front to match it.

Are Lowering Links Safe?


A lowering link will have no effect on the shock

. The link changes the geometry and uses the same amount of shock travel while delivering slightly less rear wheel travel. Adding a link will impact the handling however. The impact is caused by changing the geometry on your bike.

How much does it cost to lower motorcycle?


Averaging over $200

to have it done professionally, it can cost up to three times as much as it would to replace the dog bone. The benefit of shortening the rear shock: it does maintain the factory ride. When you lower the rear of the motorcycle by replacing the dog bone you should lower the front end to match.

Can you lower a Ninja 650?

Product Description.

Our turnbuckle style lowering link will adjust the rear of the bike infinitely between stock height and a -4 inch drop

. No need to remove the link from the bike. Simply loosen the nuts and rotate the center hex body.

How do I lower my kx250?

  1. Sit on the seat, and assume your normal riding position.
  2. Balance the bike upright with the toes of your boots or balls of your feet instead of leaning the bike to one side, which reduces the compression (sag) of the rear suspension.

Can you lower a street bike?


It is possible to lower a sportbike slightly

, so that at a stop a shorter rider can comfortably reach the ground with both feet. We’re not talking about “slamming” a bike down to the ground dragbike-style; we’re referring to riders who still want to experience the cornering fun that a current sportbike can provide.

How do I lower my yz125?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QK1pl3IRPvQ

Is 120 enough to travel?

In addition, you’re not likely to notice much difference between a 120mm, 130mm, and 140mm fork. Honesty,

a 120mm fork is enough travel for most Trail riders

.

Is 160mm travel too much for trail riding?


160mm of travel is only really needed if you’re hitting big hucks, or you’re smashing really long bouldery fast descents

. Do I need 160mm travel? 99% of the time, no.

Is 80mm travel enough?

I rode it for 3 rides and came to the conclusion that

80mm isn’t enough

. I have to run too much air in it to allow it to be plush. Upping the travel to 90mm made a noticable difference in plushness. If your frame will accomodate, I’d suggest 100mm.

Does lowering a motorcycle affect speed?

By lowering the front end, you are manipulating the bike’s rake and trail settings.

Without getting too technical, this will make your bike quicker turning at the expense of reducing high-speed stability

. If you stay conservative, you may not notice any handling differences.

Are lowering clamps safe?


Definately not totally fine

. You’ll wear out your suspension much faster than normal. What holds those clamps in place? If they move, or if you don’t get it all even, you’ll do strange things to your alignment, suspension, and possibly harm other bits and pieces.

Does lowering the rear of a motorcycle affect handling?

Getting hold of a lowered seat for your bike is probably one of the most cost-effective ways of lowering your motorcycle. Because the bike’s suspension and geometry have not been altered,

the bike’s handling characteristics should be completely unchanged by the modification

.

David Evans
Author
David Evans
David is a seasoned automotive enthusiast. He is a graduate of Mechanical Engineering and has a passion for all things related to cars and vehicles. With his extensive knowledge of cars and other vehicles, David is an authority in the industry.