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Lowering XT600 Lowering XT600
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Yamaha Tech Originally the Yamaha XT600 Tech Forum, due to demand it now includes all Yamaha's technical / mechanical / repair / preparation questions.
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  #1  
Old 4 Sep 2014
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Lowering XT600
I've put this same note in the Yamaha section but its a bit quiet in there so I thought Id throw it in here.


I know lowering bikes has been cover in this forum a lot but has anyone ever cut and angled the swinging arm to lowered a bike that way?
I love my 2003 XT600e but sadly my leg length is way to short for this bike. Ive had two silly falls due to not getting my footing quickly and the weight of the bike has beaten me having me going over sideways.
I know there are lowering links out there that will give 35mm lower but Id like a lot more, plus they're expensive for a small 35mm drop.
I know it will sacrifice suspension travel but for the type of riding I do 2 or 3 inches lower shouldn't be a problem.
Ive picked up a second hand swinging arm off ebay so when it arrives the project gets started.

Any ideas or comments more than welcome. Hooroo, Kevin. (Short arse Kev )
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  #2  
Old 18 Nov 2014
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A serious bump on this thread!

all the lowering kits out there offer the most 35mm.

im planning on getting one of those and then i guess the only thing left for me to do is to rebuild the seat somehow.
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  #3  
Old 18 Nov 2014
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Sounds like youre on the right patch.

You can make the seat slightly narrower up front aswell, that will help you over so slightly.

You can also slide the front forks a bit up in the trible clamp, to lower the frontend aswell.

A suspension-shop should be able to professionally lower the suspension, but sounds like its too pricey for ya.

The best of luck, and please remember to update the thread
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Old 18 Nov 2014
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i know that a lot of people who rebuilds bike to scramblers/caferacers use very thin materials in their seats.
Im thinking going with some of the new silicon based materials that normal bikers use on their seats?
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Old 18 Nov 2014
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I dont know, the original seat doesnt make much room for lowering. Remember its not much left when you sit on before you hit the plastic bottom and not easy to fit for the tank and rear fender. Maybe the old XT would be better choice for you, like the 500.
Last edited by xtrock; 18 Nov 2014 at 22:20.
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  #6  
Old 18 Nov 2014
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Before I cut up a swingarm I would look at converting a rear shock from another bike. I converted a rear shock from a 84 xr500 to mine to get better spring rates , more adjustment . The 81- 82 rear shock is much shorter than the 83-84 shock I am using. You would have to do a little work on your stock linkage to make it fit. The bottom is a fork not round like the stock shock. It can be done. I did it and Jimmy Lewis the Baha racer did it back in the day. The old xt is actually higher than the xt600 e . It has 18 rear wheel and a longer rear shock. THUMPTHUMP
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Old 18 Nov 2014
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Iam thinking about this

Yamaha XT500

Its not higher than new models and its possible to lower rear shock. Rear wheel canbe changed to 17.
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  #8  
Old 19 Nov 2014
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You would have to do a lot of frame bracing to convert from a mono to a duel shock, but would give you the clearance to use any carb setup you want.THUMPTHUMP
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