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KLR 650 seat hight

3K views 4 replies 5 participants last post by  lineman1234 
#1 ·
Hi there
I am a 5.5" guy with the inseam I guess it's called, basically from my balls to the ground 30" barefoot. It is crazy the deals that are right now on KLR 650 in BC. Listen up 2018 brand new in the box. 6500$ Canadian plus taxes and crap. And I am too short. I tried one today with a lowering ling on it, still too high. How many inches can you lower from the front fork and rear suspension?
Thanks
 
#2 ·
Welcome to the forum.

Part of the answer depends on your weight & how much gear you intend to add & carry. And what kind of roads you intend to ride on & how much riding experience you have.

When one installs lowering links, it Softens the rear suspension. So I'll suggest links which give a maximum of 1.5" static drop, slide the forks 1.75" up thru the clamps and either cut 2" out of the front 3/4s of the seat or purchase a low seat from Seat concepts, Sargent or Corbin. And cut 2" out of the sidestand.
 
#4 ·
Here's the dealio.

What's really important is whether or not your feet reach the footpegs when you sit on the bike.

Yeah, the KLR is a tall bike. So is the DR, the XR, the GS, the 690, yadda yadda.

You don't need to be able to flat-foot the bike to ride it. You don't even need to be able to touch both feet to the ground by tippy-toe. If that were the case then the only people capable of riding off-road or these so-called dual-sport or adventure bikes would be people that are generally 6'2" tall. That's just not the case. In fact, I'd say the average KLR rider is of average height. Stands to reason.

It can be disconcerting to come to a stop and have to slide around a bit and put a toe down. You get used to it. Same with maneuvering the bike backward, dealing with uneven terrain, and all that goes with riding this sort of bike.

I have a 32" inseam. I have raised my bike 1" with a Cogent shock, another 3/4" with a Gen 1 suspension pivot, and probably another 1/2" with firm foam on my seat to carry my lard ass around in greater comfort. That puts me at about the same tippy-toe posture that you'd be in. I have no problem with it.

Frankly, the most I'd recommend as an accommodation of lack of excessive stature would be a lowered seat. Everything else is a poor compromise to the bike's performance that is not necessary as riding confidence builds.
 
#5 ·
( I got flack for posting this before but doing it again) try to think outside the box.
Im 5;11 and have a 34 inch inseam. Im used to low Harleys, and with no padding. So, I took a kitchen electric knife to the stock seat, and maybe left an inch or less.
So its about as low as the seat can go, without making ones own pan, out of fiberglass. Its not a fashion show, for me any more. I have a lamb skin, gel seat pad for longer rides, or bumpy riding. The second pic is my last bikes seat.
It lowers ones seating hight for the road, so its like a taller wind screen, and taller bars. All for the price of some staples. I can ride in flip-flops and almost flat foot, both feet.
If one isn't comfortable doing ones own seat. Take it to a place and have it done.
Nex time I run into a good one, ill have them neaten up my saggy, nice and low seat, with a short butt stop.
I wish I would have kept the other seat, as it would look cool on the klr.
 

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