Lowering for shorter riders

[troll]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

Hey there shorty, I tower over you at a stunning 5' 6 1/2" with a 28 5/8" inseam. you can search posts by me on what I have done to make this tall bike work for me. I have raised the fork tubes higher than you mention and it does in fact distort the upper triple clamp a small amount at the tube clamp interface. I will be shimming the space between the tube and the clamp to match the tube diameter, but in 20,000km I have seen no ill effects from the clamp distortion. I used 1" fixed lowering links on the rear and run the rear preload high and the front preload backed all the way off to get better/faster turn in on the steering. I also lowered the OEM low seat beyond what the "as delivered" provided. I still can't flat foot the bike, but it is a lot less intimidating now in all situations. I think I have documented all this work in different posts here on the forum over the last two years. This is a great bike even for shortys like us. You will lose ground clearance, but a good skid plate takes some of the worry out of this issue. ::26:: ::26::

 

[jajpko]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

I like solid links, but these seem pretty nice. I would start with opening the links 1" longer than stock on both sides. Then raise the forks by 12mm.
This should give you a good handling bike. Remember 1mm will make a huge difference in handling.

Also don't forget, you will have to raise the kickstand and the center stand. If you want more lowering, I would not go more than .5 inch.
Good luck

 

[greg the pole]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

yep, try the one inch.
I recently lowered a buddy's v-strom 1000, by two inches in the rear, oh my it's an instant low rider. more here:
http://thetenerist.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/v-strom-build/

 

[GLADIATOR88]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

But if i lower rear by one inch and front by 13mm which is 1/2" wont the handling be off?? I was going to lower rear 1/2" and front 1/2"

This way i am even on both ends??

 

[troll]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

But if i lower rear by one inch and front by 13mm which is 1/2" wont the handling be off?? I was going to lower rear 1/2" and front 1/2"

This way i am even on both ends??

Your line of thinking is correct. If you drop the rear more than the front you are changing the head angle from the original design. The same holds true if you raise the rear. Read some posts by Wasp on this issue. He was the first to produce lowering and raising links for the Super Tenere. He describes very well how it effects steering and turn-in. Although the ST handles very well in stock trim, it can be described as sluggish as it relates to steering/turn-in. You can change the handling characteristics of any bike by shifting up or down with either the front or rear suspension. This head angle tuning can also be tweaked to some degree with front or rear sag as well. Some riders have raised the rear and dropped the front on the SupaT to quicken up the steering.

You will find many opinions on suspension tuning here on the forum and some very good advice. Many of the fellows here have extensive racing backgrounds and thier tuning advice will reflect that. I started riding on dirt and evolved to building choppers. I have played with some pretty radical head angles and some pretty limited suspension travel. The choice will be yours in the end. Play with the settings, learn what the outcomes are and learn what suits you and then ::021::

 

[jajpko]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

But if i lower rear by one inch and front by 13mm which is 1/2" wont the handling be off?? I was going to lower rear 1/2" and front 1/2"

This way i am even on both ends??

No your handling won't be off at 1 and 13mm. I had mine set that way and ran it for 13k and it handled just fine. I did play with the forks up and down until I like what I had. In fact at the end I was closer to 12mm.

Now having said that, try what Troll has advised. In the end you will pick what you like and be just fine. You'll know if the bike is not handling right..

 

[troll]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

Many riders do not mind a sluggish turn-in, it makes for very comfortable and un-demanding steering until the head angle gets too flat then it is like hearding a cow at slow speeds. A steep head angle requires refined steering control often needing steering dampers to diminish unintended steering inputs. Tweaking your ride is all good fun.

 

[EricV]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

T he choice will be yours in the end. Play with the settings, learn what the outcomes are and learn what suits you and then ::021:

That part is the real gem. I lowered my S10 for my 5'4" wife with a 30" inseam. 1" fixed links in the rear from Ride On ADV with 13 mm in front, factory low seat and 1.5" bar back risers. She was able to ride it comfortably with the balls of her feet on the ground when stopped.

I suggest you try that combination first,then go from there.

 

[88millimeter]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

Just be careful when lowering, if you have large panniers they may drag, especially if you have a passenger and soft suspension settings. Make sure you adjust your preload accordingly. I speak from experience, im still paying for that mistake.

 

[avc8130]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

If you lower the forks, be 100% certain the front fender won't bottom out into the triple tree/lights or anything else you have mounted there (baja squadrons, horns, etc). Make sure you have ~7.5" of space between the top of the fender and anything above with the front wheel off the ground.

ac

 

[vmaxaust]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

Don't know if this will help anyone who is short like me but I'm posting it in case there are some whom it may be useful for. I'm 5'6" with just under 30" inseam. Gave my new 2013 Tenere to Krooztune in Melbourne (Australia). They fitted their own billet alloy lowering blocks (dropped about 1 1/4"), dropped forks in the triples and adjusted the stock factory front and rear settings.
Bike feels great. No huge difference compared to stock but still has great steering feel and my feet are on the ground at a full stop.
I've fitted adjustable footpegs from Mottorad Garage to position pegs a little lower since I removed the seat adjuster and rear rubber dampers from seat base to drop and straighten seat. This meant more cramping of legs which is a problem for me since I have hip problems.
The side stand was too long after the lowering. We cut the original foot off and removed about 1/4" off the side stand tube. Made a new foot from some old checker plate and corrected the angle. Bike sits perfectly.
I'm not really into serious off road adventures so the lowering will never disadvantage me with crossing rivers, tree trunks and the like. Don't mind the dirt or unpaved roads where this lowering will never be an issue for me.

Sam

 

[Mzee]

Re: Adjustable Raising / Lowering Links

I didn't have time to say thanks to Jaxon, therefore i'll do it now. THANK YOU! What a huge difference those small dog bones made, i still can't belive. With my 6'4'' figure, i finally fell like i'am sitting on a big enduro bike. ::003::

Cosmic did you lower your bike or raise it?

 

[~TABASCO~]

Re: Adjustable Raising / Lowering Links

I didn't have time to say thanks to Jaxon, therefore i'll do it now. THANK YOU! What a huge difference those small dog bones made, i still can't belive. With my 6'4'' figure, i finally fell like i'am sitting on a big enduro bike. ::003::

No problem my friend, glad you love them

 

[kumakahn]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

I would not try to accomplish the leg-reach issue with any one approach. Having a 30-inch inseam in a tall bike world, I have dealt with this issue for several years. One approach I use is to go to a good cobbler and add either a thicker sole or a mid-sole or both to my boots. It's amazing what another 1/4 to 3/8 inch in inseam length does. Having just bought a Super T, I plan to lower mine one inch and follow the advice here regarding the forks and settings, get the lower seat and lower it further, and use my modified boots. In my experience with other bikes, that should get me comfortably to the ground. I may lower the pegs if I have to, but there is already a lot more leg room on the ST than on my Connie.

 

[k7tbt]

Re: LOWERING MY TENERE SETUP QUESTIONS

I have the same issue and have a 30 inch inseam so you are not alone.

 

[cakeboy]

i am thinking of getting a set of rear dog bones to lower the rear suspension ..i just wondered what the tourque setting is on the bolts when ive fitted them ?

 

[Donk]

Does anyone know of 10-20mm lowering links for the S10? There are several companies making 30mm but I don't need to lower the bike that much and I'm afraid there isn't enough room to lower the front end to match on the '14ES without the electronic adjusters hitting the bars.

 

[HHH]

Re: lowering an ES model

A different size dog bone and lifting the forks on the triple clamp will do, just like it on the non ES model. The lowering will be on the mechanical attachment points.

 

[bigbob]

So what are the ramifications of putting lowering links on my bike. Getting one inch more foot/toe contact would make things like pushing backwards out of my garage so much easier. But what else does it do?

 

[satdishes]

Thankfully just putting the seat in the lower position did it for me.

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