need to lower bike

What I do now is when I see Taffy & FE350 if the crap starts flying don't read that post go to next post if same move till I find one that's helpful or I learn something........... There confidence over comes there good judgement?????????

webfoot said:

need to lower my 2014 fe 350, I've lowered the seat and would like another 2 inches,,,need direction,,,

webfoot

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webfoot said:

I've ordered a x bushing and cut my seat down, i raised my bars when i installed my scott damper.. how much did or can you raise the forks in the triple clamps?

webfoot
ontario canada

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webfoot said:

i mostly confused now....i think!!!

webfoot

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Okay, you're going in the right direction. You've already got a low seat and now the X-bushing will drop it about another inch. How much you need to drop the front to compensate is a personal preference. I dropped the front on my GF's bike about 3/4 of an inch to compensate, and it works great but it's an older RFS KTM with open chamber forks. Here's an old article on the X-bushing for reference. Synergy Seals X-Bushing - Dirt Rider Magazine | Dirt Rider

You'll have to experiment with what works for you, just be sure and lower it less than the point the tire makes contact. As FE350 says, the 4CS forks are super-sensitive to height changes as I found when I played with the front end height on my TE300. Handling gets more unpredictable if you lower it IMO. You're results might be different, especially since it's a different bike, and with the X-link you will need to find the set up that suits you.

I also think a lower rear tire can reduce your seat height a noticeable amount and yes it will change the geometry a bit and might or might not affect handling in a positive or negative manner. This may require you to adjust youre set up to compensate.(The difference in front tire sizes are negligible IMO) The 110/100-18 on my TE300 is roughly 1 3/4" inches taller than say a 110/80-18 Pirelli MT21, which would lower the rear almost another inch, or at least 1/2 of 1.75". https://www.rbracing-rsr.com/tirediamcalc.html

The professionals at suspension shops use spacers to lower, which is the "proper" way, but will reduce travel and still require you to set up their changes to you liking.

Taffy said:

FE350

last week you said that the X-bushing was rubbish - what cock!!!!

now your telling people not to move their forks because the bike will 'flop'? you're also giving people suspension info that you said people couldn't possibly know about!

well Mr. Expert, don't stop there, so now tell him how to get over it! you're the expert!
:finger::finger:

or have we reached the limit of your knowledge (vast it isn't)

Taffy

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I am curious to where and what post I said the X bushing was rubbish?? This was the start of the attack and I don't even know anything about this? I have had one since last spring and love it???????????? I somehow think during your rage, you have misread the user who said this and assumed it was I???
Please let me know where I can read this???

Huskyfatman said:

Okay, you're going in the right direction. You've already got a low seat and now the X-bushing will drop it about another inch. How much you need to drop the front to compensate is a personal preference. I dropped the front on my GF's bike about 3/4 of an inch to compensate, and it works great but it's an older RFS KTM with open chamber forks. Here's an old article on the X-bushing for reference. Synergy Seals X-Bushing - Dirt Rider Magazine | Dirt Rider

You'll have to experiment with what works for you, just be sure and lower it less than the point the tire makes contact. As FE350 says, the 4CS forks are super-sensitive to height changes as I found when I played with the front end height on my TE300. Handling gets more unpredictable if you lower it IMO. You're results might be different, especially since it's a different bike, and with the X-link you will need to find the set up that suits you.

I also think a lower rear tire can reduce your seat height a noticeable amount and yes it will change the geometry a bit and might or might not affect handling in a positive or negative manner. This may require you to adjust youre set up to compensate.(The difference in front tire sizes are negligible IMO) The 110/100-18 on my TE300 is roughly 1 3/4" inches taller than say a 110/80-18 Pirelli MT21, which would lower the rear almost another inch, or at least 1/2 of 1.75". https://www.rbracing-rsr.com/tirediamcalc.html

The professionals at suspension shops use spaces to lower, which is the "proper" way, but will reduce travel and still require you to set up their changes to you liking.

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I think this was the advise that everyone was giving you and somehow Taffy started in on. Huskyfatman is right on the money IMHO

guess i can add thicker sole to my boots as well....

webfoot

Huskyfatman is indeed on the money but makes the same mistake as you FE350. it is only a small mistake but here you have it.....

as you know FE, the very first thread we argued in was over a TE300/300EXC and the handling. I said that IMHO, the KTM suffered from a lack of trail/too much offset.

this takes the form of making a machine hard to 'drop into' the corner and a slightly shaky steering head. that is why HFM, you didn't want to raise the forks anymore as it induced even more headshake.

this is of course handling. if I haven't touched the forks workings in anyway but have altered the rake of the bike I have altered the HANDLING.

because I have always been a chief advocator of the X-bushing here at UHE and pushed it long before you got here FE, I can say that the X bushing is thee answer and may I suggest that Huskyfatman gets a set of TCs with 2mm less offset. this will stop the headshake, make the steering less twitchy, make it faster steering but ever so slightly heavier to turn.

so slightly heavier to turn but faster to turn. also steadier and safer.

the good news is that HFM can ask his GF if she generally has the strength to turn the bike now and then weigh up whether a steadier steering bike is worth the little extra effort required to turn it.

you can never be sure till you do it but at least you now know the answer.

FE
people will stop listening to this piece of advice soon I hope: ....that lowering a bike back and front equally;
"would throw your rake and trail way out"

anybody here requiring advice on any of this please do PM me because I have had 30 years of this and love the subject to bits! I have done so much development of it that I designed and modified a Husaberg with a trials bike headstock angle. the machine is called a BEARUP. there is a thread on it here at UHE. just put BEARUP in a search.

after you've seen it and read the words of praise for it from my friend who rode it, perhaps some of you might at last give me some credit for knowing my stuff.

Taffy

I have given you lots of praise about things I have read and told users that you know allot Taffy. Even with this and me being kind, you started in on me as a spoiled child would when they didn't get their way.

This is the reason I stood up. But now your saying and telling forum users to PM you about this topic. I laugh as I have not asked users to PM and have received tons of PM's as well responded.

So with that said just as you, some trust my advise as well.
All advise should be used on this forum and then worked through to get the answer to what works for you as an individual, not only what one user says.

This is the reason we all use forums and don't just call one shop.

the PM thing...
get a life. i'm inviting them to correspond over the technical details and not the topic (thread)

if they ask you it is because they like you not because they respect your opinion on the subject.

all we need now is somebody to ask a question about gearing.................

Taffy

Taffy, I follow what you're saying here, and agree about the handling issues. I've been riding for over 40 years, and enjoy dialing in my bikes and playing around with different mods and set ups. I chased the handling issues on my '02 520SX back in the day, and found the 2mm offset tripples were indeed the cure.

I understand how raising and lowering the front end affects handling. We found that lowering the front end on my GF's KTM close to how much the rear was lowered was the hot ticket, for her at least. We also run steering dampers, which helps out here especially in the high speed sections of our trails.

There are problems however with the 4CS forks that are suspension related and can affect the handling on these models which can't be sorted out with adjustments to the chassis geometry. That is an is an in depth subject for another thread though. I've spent hours reading about these issues and proclaimed cures over at cafehusky and will probably just swap a set of older open chamber forks, which I know work well for me, onto the TE300.

FE350 said:

All advise should be used on this forum and then worked through to get the answer to what works for you as an individual, not only what one user says.

This is the reason we all use forums and don't just call one shop.

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Great advise! Skill level, terrain, personal preference and how much time and $ you want to spend should dictate proper set up. You can find tons of info on the internet these days, and don't forget how much good advise can be gleaned from the often overlooked owners manual.

Since you're setting your bike up for your enjoyment no one else can do it for you. Hell, there's plenty of people who never set the sag or turn a clicker and are completely happy.

I have no affiliation with Jeff Slavens, other than being an occasional customer, but his website has a wealth of information and great how to videos for many things KTMabergavarna.
Video | Slavens Racing 719-475-2624

webfoot said:

need to lower my 2014 fe 350, I've lowered the seat and would like another 2 inches,,,need direction,,,

webfoot

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This is what this thread was about. Keep it that way guys. You are arguing in every thread now.

I have no affiliation with Jeff Slavens, other than being an occasional customer, but his website has a wealth of information and great how to videos for many things KTMabergavarna.
Video | Slavens Racing 719-475-2624


I have bought tons from Slaven's and find Jeff is a great guy with a wealth of info. The service is second to none IMHO