Lowered seat or lowering kit

Gary

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Oct 12, 2016
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Hi, (apologies if this is in the wrong section)
I will be buying a 2nd hand s10 and have a question for those who have short legs like myself. Which would be a better mod - Lowered seat or lowering kit. I have an inside leg of 31" which would be an issue on a standard s10. I test rode one with a lowered seat and found it fine.
I see the likes of http://www.lustracing.co.uk/suspension/yamaha-xt1200z-super-tenere-lowering-kit.html available which would be a straightforward swap out and I could keep the originals if I wanted to sell on to a taller rider in the future.

What other adjustments would be needed if I chose the links ?
 

Nissbird

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Jul 16, 2015
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Hereford
Hi Gary,
I tried the OEM lower seat and found it did not help when it came to getting more foot area on the ground, also it was less comfortable than the standard seat so I returned it. Then I lowered the rear by 25mm and the front by 10mm which helped a lot but not enough for me so I took the plunge and purchased a "Wliber" 40mm front lowering kit and cut some more dog bones to lower the rear by 40mm. In addition the main stand is coming off and the side stand will be reduced by 30mm. This operation should be completed by the end of October when all the parts have arrived.
 

EricV

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Gary - What bike are you coming from?

I have an inseam of 29" and ride a non-lowered Super Ten with customs suspension and seat that actually make the bike taller, not shorter. I have no issues. I do have a lot of riding time though.

Get the low seat or a custom seat before you modify the suspension. It's always better to avoid changing the suspension, if possible. After that the most important part that will make you more comfortable is riding time.

You do NOT need to flat foot the ground. If you feel this is something you absolutely need, don't buy the S10.
 

Gary

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I would be coming from an FZ1 which I am quite comfortable and flat footed on. Having tried the S10 I was comfortable on it while stopped etc and am not worried about it being too high. I guess I am just looking at options (over thinking things) more than anything. :)
Thanks for your replies guys ::008::
 

EricV

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I have also had an FZ-1. It's an easy bike to ride well. Loved the ergos, but wanted more fairing and hard luggage, so moved to a FJR after about 6 months. I put 160k on the FJR before moving to my first S10, put 109k on that and moved to a Gen II S10 that I now have.

Stop worrying about the bike, buy some ADV style boots and just ride. You will quickly get used to the differences and taller bike. Besides, ;) You only put a foot down when stopped. You didn't buy the bike to stop, you bought it to ride. Riding is 98% of the time you're on it, so why start modifying it for the 2% of the time you're on the bike and stopped?
 

WJBertrand

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Seems like lowering the seat, if at all possible, would be the better option than messing with the geometry and clearances of lowering the whole bike. This depends on whether a lowered seat will work for you, clearly it won't work for every one. I have a 30" inseam and ride my Tenere with the seat in the high position. I'm also running a 30% stiffer rear spring so less sag when sitting on it too. On the ES there's not much room under the seat so raising it to the higher position makes room for my Starcom1 unit. Secondly, my knees are crap and the higher seat position reduces the bend I have to endure. I don't have any issue at all riding around, stopping and starting or getting both feet to the ground. Though not flat footed I can get the balls of both feet down and that seems plenty secure. If I scoot to one side a little I can flat foot at least one foot. The only situation that I don't like so much about the tall seat is climbing on the damn thing, especially with luggage on the passenger seat. I have to mount it like a horse, step up on the peg first and then throw a leg over, sometimes tricky when on the side stand and less than perfectly flat terrain.
 

Riteris

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Let me throw this out there (I am considering options to make my ST work better for my 29" inseam.

My suggestion is, that unless you need maximum ground clearance, do both. Sort of.

Make your seat lower by cutting some foam out or get a custom seat made. I think you might find the "low" seat does not have adequate padding.

Lowering the bike slightly will help as well. By doing it minimally, you should not have too much trouble with geometry. The center and side stands will probably be fine as well.
 

groundhog

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Mine came with a 1 inch lowering kit fitted to the bike when i bought it. I would be fine without it but have left it as it is as i can flat foot nicely. The forks have been lowered about 10mm and it handles just fine.
 

Nissbird

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We all adjust our motorcycles in some way or another to suit our personal tastes and adjusting the ride height is no different. taking an inch off the rear will increase the castor angle sure which in turn will make the bike want to turn in ever so slightly less but so what? We are not on a Grand Prix circuit where such things are vital to winning. Anyway if both front and rear are lowered the same amount, the castor angle stays the same. Some guys it seems are happy to slide off the saddle to put one foot flat on the ground and others to use the balls of their feet and if that works for them fine and this is what I am doing at the moment, but no one can persuade me this action is in any way as secure as planting both feet flat on the ground, especially with luggage and a 5' 3" wife struggling to climb on as pillion. That is why I'm lowering my bike by 40mm front and back and believe it will make insignificant difference to the way it rides.
 

Checkswrecks

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I had to lower the KTM 690r after doing the seat and haven't had the need on the Tenere. I would agree with lowering the seat before doing suspension changes.
An idea for you:
https://seat-concepts.myshopify.com/products/yamaha-2010-16-xtz1200z-super-tenere-low
 

fac191

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Just make sure you have some good engine bar's on it so if it does go over it will just lie on them.
 

bigbob

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I had mine lowered and like it. But make sure the side stand is shortened enough. The guy who did mine is a 10 genius, the forks are right. He did motor work an it is perfect. Just finished a 4K trip today and the 10 was perfect. Only two problems.

I was tired and did not check the group slope. Got off and it almost got away from me.

Was in my daughters garage and pulling on a strap from the high side and pulled it Over on myself. Thankfully I fell against the wall and the bike fell on me and I was able to put it up and start over going the other way.
 
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