lowering 2004 ec 300

[webmaster]

Some years ago I had the same situation -- my wife could not touch the ground with the GG 300 vertical. We first tried the lowering links and raised the forks in the triple clamps. That helped about an inch or so. Did not try lower profile tires or shaving the seat, those would help I think, in terms of lowering the bike.

One related "fact" to deal with is rider weight. Ofter shorter riders weigh less than the weight the stock fork and shock springs are set up for. So even if one lowers the bike sufficiently, there is the problem of whether the fork and shock springs are correct for lighter weight riders, so the suspension works right for them.

After a year or two, we took our forks and shock to a suspension tuner (Les at LTRacing, well known to this forum) with instructions to put the correct springs in the forks and shock, and "shorten" them to achieve a 1" seat height drop. This turned out to be a very good decision -- Les did a very good job, well worth the money, we could not be happier with his work. Only downside is the skid plate is lower, but that is a price one has to pay no matter what, so shorter riders can touch the ground. She is very satisfied, the suspension works great. Were I you, I'd send the forks and shock in to be lowered, but that's an individual choice.

Not sure you can shorten the forks and shock by 3". Maybe you can get 2" there (not sure), and another inch out by one of the other methods (tire profile, lowering link, raising forks in triple clamp, etc)? Good luck whatever you decide!

I think the price for "lowering" through Les will mainly be cost of custom springs... With a revalve - he doesn't charge that much for the service itself.

www.lt-racing.com

A lowering link isn't a great idea if it lowers by too much - it changes the linkage ratio curve by too great an amount....

A specific Q and A on suspension lowering can be found on Les' website here :

http://www.lt-racing.com/html/suspension_topics.html#SuspensionLowering


jeff

 

[sweeper]

Yeah you could also do that.

You may be able to find a complete front end that is suitable for her style of riding which is shorter from center of axle to top of the trips,but doesn't ruin the bike for you.Of course youd have to swap the whole front end.At her weight you can pick up quite a bit with a spring change and sag adjustment.You can also set the compression and rebound in a way that when she has to kick it to start it she can load the rear end and it will sit some.Its tricky but if you do it properly you will get that action and the bike will be very rideable for her still.If done properly when she kicks it through it will not come back up into her and throw her balance off..Once its set up you can have different settings for yourself and depending upon your weight a couple spins with the spanner and you are in business when you want to ride it,relative to the primary considerations.
As far as seat foam is concerned A member is spot on considering that cutting down the saddle is a good target spot,but Id shave the back part of the seat that she wont be using down and at an angle to the rear so she can swing a leg over and more importantly can step off the bike if she needs too.
As the riders age they stand up less when they ride as a general rule,there are exceptions,the seat foam may be something you have to live with shaving wise,some but not crazy.The bike still has to be a comfortable ride for her. You could get a different seat base and modify the base some and play with a different type of foam.

 

[houndog]

Boys, she can ride the 450!!!!!!!!!!!!! Just got back from a test run in the field. She can Balance it, start it and haul her ass on it!. Not ready for the woods but damn, We'll be riding the back roads this weekend!

I raised the rear spring and the fork tubes....it was just enough and the best part is that I'm not good enough to notice the difference!

Have links and a 120/80 tire coming for the 300...........I'm now excited, I just saved a ton of money and if the 300 is even easier for her the woods are possible!
Ed

 

[houndog]

We rode about 20 miles on the dirt roads yesterday. Our dirt roads are not exactly smooth......BIG ruts, slick clay and mud and deep, deep sugar sand.
Helen, again, rode it like she stole it. No issues at all

I'm astonished that this has worked out so well....she idled it around the yard like a trials bike. Weaved in and out the trees and over the dog holes at idle.

She'll not be able to do tight woods on it I don't think but fire breaks and dirt roads are safe and easy.

I'll be putting the links on the 300 (came today) and a 120/80 tire on it as well....if it is lower than the 450 when done, the woods become a possibility for her.

The handling has not been destroyed for me either. Since I do not race and do not go over big jumps or ditches I've not noticed a problem with clearance or bottoming on either end.....I only weigh 135.

Thanks for all the suggestions and comments, I really appreciate it.
Ed