Setting the sag on an XR 400...

[RadHawk]

I love the XR for woods duty but I am just a bit short of leg, as they say...

I have installed a lowering link and brought the front legs up through the top tree by about 5/8" and it is still just a tad too high for those times when I have to put a foot down quickly and still remain moving forward, hopefully not going over.

How much can I lower the rear shock and not loose good woods terrain action...?

As another option, does anyone have experience with shaving some material off the top of the seat to lower...?

Thanks,
rad

[ChR1s]

Sag should typically = 1/3 of available travel, to get the most use out of the dampers (shock & fork). The longer pull rods ("lowering links") you've installed have altered the mechanical advantage the swingarm has on the shock's spring -- it will now compress easier. You can increase the compression damping and back off the rebound damping to compensate. With the bike lowered, the swingarm angle is also changed. That reduced swingarm angle reduces rear wheel traction. Relaxing the shock preload may help you to touch down, but the bike might become scary at speed over rough terrain or cornering, or during ascents.

I'd try cutting the seat foam down. Some have reported success using an electric carving knife? Some riders lower the subframe by shortening the lower tubes, to get the seat lower.

[RadHawk]

Sag should typically = 1/3 of available travel, to get the most use out of the dampers (shock & fork). The longer pull rods ("lowering links") you've installed have altered the mechanical advantage the swingarm has on the shock's spring -- it will now compress easier. You can increase the compression damping and back off the rebound damping to compensate. With the bike lowered, the swingarm angle is also changed. That reduced swingarm angle reduces rear wheel traction. Relaxing the shock preload may help you to touch down, but the bike might become scary at speed over rough terrain or cornering, or during ascents.

I'd try cutting the seat foam down. Some have reported success using an electric carving knife? Some riders lower the subframe by shortening the lower tubes, to get the seat lower.

Wow, good stuff there bud...

I guess I'll go out to the garage and look at that seat then... I do not want to change the handling characteristics too badly.. Well, any more than I have.

Thanks,
Rob

[OreoGaborio]

are you trying to flatfoot the thing or are you that short & the bike that high?

Dirtbikes are meant to have ground glearance. Just get used to only having one foot on the ground at a time. When i'm on the KX I can hardly have one foot on the peg when ive got the other on the ground.

[RadHawk]

are you trying to flatfoot the thing or are you that short & the bike that high?

Dirtbikes are meant to have ground glearance. Just get used to only having one foot on the ground at a time. When i'm on the KX I can hardly have one foot on the peg when ive got the other on the ground.

Not trying to flat foot it... Just trying to keep from pulling a groin muscle...! I am about 5'-8", 30" inseam...

That is a good description of the reach that I experience on the XR... I'll live with it I guess, posibly shave teh seat just a tad...

Thanks,
rad

[Paul_E_D]

Nice post Chris,

I'm 5'7" with a 29" inseam. I haven't lowered my dirtbikes. Instead, I have trained myself to stand while riding. Avoids a lot of potential leg injuries to keep your feet planted on the pegs. It actually makes the knarly stuff easier to ride.

Check out Shane Watts video called Dirtwise.

Oh, yeah, I also had to learn to always stop/crash with my left foot on high ground. Makes the height issue go away, and kickstarts a lot easier...

[gmdboston]

One of the best off riders I know is about 5'2", in heels.....You can't tell if Mark is standing or sitting, but he flies. He's trained him self to tackle everything. Dabbing is not option for him.

[RadHawk]

Yeah, it's not that I have to dab but it happens... I have ridden off road for many years and I load the pegs more than sit also.

There are times that say you are in some tight woods stuff making a short radius turn to the left and no matter how hard you try not to put a foot down, you just loose that balance for a nanosecond and the foot goes down.
Helps also that same tight turn have a medium sized tree sitting at a 45 degree angle to the trail... ! And it's wet...

Practice makes perfect or in my case, not so much...

rad