Need a lower bike, but dont want to sacrifice jumping ability

[Gunz]

Im starting to get into my jumping more and more. The stock (07 se w/all the clickers) is ok, but Im needing something a lil nicer and more suited for jumping. Any suggestions out there? I was thinking about getting mine revalved for my wieght and riding style. I was also thinking about getting some yfz450's and revalving them, but I wasnt sure if that would be a good idea or not. I want to lower the bike so that I can control it better on trails, but I dont want to compromise my jumping ability. So whats up steer me straight here.

[exentix]

dont buy a lowering kit if you jump more than 10 ft or so... they also make it ride rough. your only real solution id say is new suspension 

[Gunz]

dont buy a lowering kit if you jump more than 10 ft or so... they also make it ride rough. your only real solution id say is new suspension 

I was afraid of that.

[Colorado700R]

how about less tire height to keep your suspension travel full up?

Maybe 19" fronts and 18 rears?

[Bert]

I've got a GtThunder rear link & CRJ adjustable rear link,  they lower the rear.  You can flip the rear shock link to lower the rear as well.  Like Colorado mentioned shorter tires up front.

[Gunz]

how about less tire height to keep your suspension travel full up?

Maybe 19" fronts and 18 rears?

Um, thats gonna have to be a BIG Hell No. I see what 18's and 20's do to people down here in my neck of the woods. People like my brother that refuse to go bigger then 18's are a lil on the stupid side. Always get;n stuck and high center;n way to much. lowering the back is a simple solution, Im really focused on the front. I've been thinking about shaving an inch off the seat. Wonder if anybody has done that yet.

[GregKJ]

If I were you, I'd back off the spring preload a bit and firm up the high speed compression settings on all 3 shocks.

Your spring preload controls the ride height and doesn't effect much else.  Anyway, taking some of the preload off will take your ride height down.  When you hit a jump, your shocks will fully expand and will still settle nice when you land.  However, you'll not have your normal full suspension travel when you hit a bump, so that's why you may need to increase your high speed compression.

On second thought, maybe just try backing off the springs first.  Then if you find yourself bottoming out on bumps, you can increase your HS compression a bit while on the trail.

There's got to be a side effect from what you're after.  If there wasn't, Yamaha would set them up from the factory like that.  Your side side effect would be that you're ride will be a little firmer on the trails when you maybe don't want it to be.

how about less tire height to keep your suspension travel full up?

Maybe 19" fronts and 18 rears?

You're thinking outside of the box, but I don't think that would work.  His center of gravity is essentially going to stay the same.

[Bert]

You're thinking outside of the box, but I don't think that would work.  His center of gravity is essentially going to stay the same.

Greg, wouldn't the overall CG be affected with the quad lower 1" 

[Colorado700R]

If I were you, I'd back off the spring preload a bit and firm up the high speed compression settings on all 3 shocks.

Your spring preload controls the ride height and doesn't effect much else.  Anyway, taking some of the preload off will take your ride height down.  When you hit a jump, your shocks will fully expand and will still settle nice when you land.  However, you'll not have your normal full suspension travel when you hit a bump, so that's why you may need to increase your high speed compression.

On second thought, maybe just try backing off the springs first.  Then if you find yourself bottoming out on bumps, you can increase your HS compression a bit while on the trail.

There's got to be a side effect from what you're after.  If there wasn't, Yamaha would set them up from the factory like that.  Your side side effect would be that you're ride will be a little firmer on the trails when you maybe don't want it to be.

how about less tire height to keep your suspension travel full up?

Maybe 19" fronts and 18 rears?

You're thinking outside of the box, but I don't think that would work.  His center of gravity is essentially going to stay the same.

his center of gravity would lower by 1" and he'd maintain optimum geometry and shock travel.    But I understand his reasoning for not wanting to go that route.

Aaron

[1badazz_700r]

i have a front and rear lowering kit, i dont recommend these unless you want to feel like you just got run over by a mack truck after riding. you loose travel,ground clearance, and your back. for those who trash the plain 700 shocks, just install a lowering kit for awhile. you will appreciate your shocks

[Bert]

i have a front and rear lowering kit, i dont recommend these unless you want to feel like you just got run over by a mack truck after riding. you loose travel,ground clearance, and your back. for those who trash the plain 700 shocks, just install a lowering kit for awhile. you will appreciate your shocks

Yea a lowering kit with 2006 pogo sticks isn't the best ride 

[Gunz]

I've been riding sand for a couple of months now, anyhow I swapped my paddles and put my dirts on Sunday. I forgot what a difference it is to run dirt trails with dirt tires, over wide open sand with paddles. I didnt have that feeling of wanting to be tossed on a hard cut. Its amazing how narrow your thinking gets when are riding one style for a long period of time. I went from riding trails 90% of the time to riding sand for the last 12 weekends in a row. After riding yesterday and airing it out on dirt, I think im gonna stick with what I got a little longer.

[GregKJ]

You're thinking outside of the box, but I don't think that would work.  His center of gravity is essentially going to stay the same.

Greg, wouldn't the overall CG be affected with the quad lower 1" 

Yeah, 1"...which is essentially the same.  He probably wouldn't even notice a 1" difference and other things (ground clearance for trail riding = important) would suffer.

[Bert]

IDK Greg, on my flat track I get away with a front lowering kit &  the rear link flipped & I can drift corners. Without the front lowering kit drifting becomes pucker factor 10

[GregKJ]

Maybe 1" is more than I think.  I have to admit that I don't have any seat of the pants feel because I haven't tried it before.

I still think that he should try backing some of the preload off of the springs.