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22 Nov 2006
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XT600E to tall for a 5'8 Female ??
Me and the missis are planning a long trip. Iv already got my XT600E all kitted out and really want us to use the same bikes..
Well, shes 5'8 and although not small, im thinking the bike will be to tall for her as im 6 foot and find myself on tip toes at times.
So !! What dya reckon ? lowered seat ?? Does anyone make a lowering linkage for the shock ? Are they any good.
Cheers in advance !
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22 Nov 2006
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Lowering an xt600e
Hi, If you do a search a company called KEDO based in Germany sell a lowering link and a front fork lowering sleeve, cost is about 140 euros from memory. I am only 5'6" 29" inside leg and have used this kit on a 17000 km jopurney through Europe an Russia with 2000 km off road. Kedo also sell oil temp filler plug gauge. Hope this helps. Have fun.
Jimmy
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23 Nov 2006
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by jimmy46
Hi, If you do a search a company called KEDO based in Germany sell a lowering link and a front fork lowering sleeve, cost is about 140 euros from memory. I am only 5'6" 29" inside leg and have used this kit on a 17000 km jopurney through Europe an Russia with 2000 km off road. Kedo also sell oil temp filler plug gauge. Hope this helps. Have fun.
Jimmy
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Just what i was after... ta very much.
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Fix them for a living.
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3 Apr 2007
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Did you get the lowering kit???
I'm just over 5ft 5" and I am usually on tip toes. Most of the time it doesn't bother me, but when I'm on a steep hill (and there are lots of those in Spain) my legs aren't quite long enough so I'm seriously thinking about lowering my XT.
My husband is only 5ft 8" and has very short legs (28") so he has a similar problem on his XT.
One thing to think about, when the bikes are fully loaded up, the bike will be about an inch lower anyway but they are also more difficult to keep upright if your feet aren't firmly on the ground (as I found out several times travelling through Europe last year).
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3 Apr 2007
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I put a Talon lowering link (on my drz400sm) and left it on for a week, then took it off. The problem is that the linkage moves the range of travel of the shock away from the optimum. It uses up the soft initial range and makes the shock feel much cruder and harsher. Just be aware of this.
I sorted my height problems by shaving 1.5in of foam from the seat (from the underside so the seat appearance wasn't affected). Comfort is no worse and I can now flat foot one foot. I'm 5' 7".
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4 Apr 2007
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TM...the lady I purchased my XT from was...5'4" ! She did lower it but I'm not sure how she did it, probably lowering links. I'm a 5'8" stature and it fits me well with my feet flat on the ground and a stock seat.
Have you considered buying your wife assjacks?? ( thick soled boots) 
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4 Apr 2007
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I must admit that being “altitudinally challenged” (the politically correct name for a short arse  ) I have been going through the same thought process recently, i.e. lowering the suspension or modifying the seat.
I have read the comments on shock performance when combined with a lowering kit with some interest, which is something I had not previously thought of. Duh!!
So for now I think that I may be going with the "zero cost" option of modifying the seat and see how I get on with that. Thanks for the info.
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10 Apr 2007
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XT seat height .....
I'd never ridden my hubbys XT until last week (that's him above in case anybody was wondering ). He took a spill in Gibraltar a couple of weeks ago (thank you to the nice car that pulled out in front of him and then drove off after putting him into the path of the white van who hit him).
I had to drive it to the menders to get it fixed (the bike, not my hubby) and I realised why he's always complaining (soz hun) that his seat is too high - it must be an inch higher than mine!!! Why is that? We've checked both bikes and can't see why there would be any difference in seat height. Apart from his is a 2004 and mine is a 2003, they are identical in every way - same panniers etc.
He's decided against a lower kit and took his seat off the other day so I could trim it off a bit. Luckily, before we took the seat cover off, we realised that my staple gun wouldn't reach all the way round to staple it back on. Anybody got any suggestions???
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15 Apr 2007
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Glue and staples
I bought a can of contact glue (Bison/Bostic or something similar) then I just stapeld a couple of places to hold the cover in position,applyed the glue and fitted the cover back on.
Good luck.
Tom
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24 Apr 2007
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Arrow staple gun
If you buy a good quality heavy duty staple gun it will definitly take care of the job.
I done a few seat recovers and mods and have always used the staple method. Caution what length staple you use, you don't want them poking out the other side.
You can also buy stainless steel staples. (glue may work but what do yamaha do? Staple)
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25 Apr 2007
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I'm 5' 8", my Tenere is not a problem...
The reason why bike heights may differ could be down to the shock absorber. At one time I had two 3AJs, it was quite obvious that one was higher than the other. During rebuild/s I pulled both rear shock abserbers and compared them - one was slightly longer than the other.
A bit more research revealed that a shock from a TT600 will fit into an XT600, but the TT600 shock is a little longer - resulting in higher ride height. My shock is from a TT600 - and I appreciate the extra height/travel when offroad and loaded up.
If you're going to replace your shock anyway, most decent shocks have adjustable links (maxton, wp, ohlins) - so this may solve the problem. Also you could just drop the forks through the yokes a little to balance things up - but check clearance front wheel against exhaust pipes...
B
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25 Apr 2007
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Hi Ted,
I'm a 5'9" bloke and my XT is no problem, and women tend to have longer legs and be more flexible than us blokes. Shouldn't be a problem I'd think.
I went from an enfield to an XT and it felt monstrous for a while but within a week or two it felt natural.
Matt
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*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!
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26 Apr 2007
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The franglais-riders
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dakota
I'd never ridden my hubbys XT until last week (that's him above in case anybody was wondering ). He took a spill in Gibraltar a couple of weeks ago (thank you to the nice car that pulled out in front of him and then drove off after putting him into the path of the white van who hit him).
I had to drive it to the menders to get it fixed (the bike, not my hubby) and I realised why he's always complaining (soz hun) that his seat is too high - it must be an inch higher than mine!!! Why is that? We've checked both bikes and can't see why there would be any difference in seat height. Apart from his is a 2004 and mine is a 2003, they are identical in every way - same panniers etc.
He's decided against a lower kit and took his seat off the other day so I could trim it off a bit. Luckily, before we took the seat cover off, we realised that my staple gun wouldn't reach all the way round to staple it back on. Anybody got any suggestions???
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I would suspect the shock absorber is adjusted differently. When changing my settings (in function of the load) on my previous rear shock I could have my seat lower or higher by an inch!
I have now changed for a WP one (without the possibility of adjusting to weight) and the seat is now set much higher (when the bike is unloaded)
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19 Jan 2010
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Updating! lol
Where do you get them?! the lowering links that is... and how much do they lower?
Depending on how my XT behaves with the rear shock repositioning I might have to lower it just a little bit... which might also help if I do go Supermoto on her...
Vando 
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19 Jan 2010
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35mm lovering kit from kedo (did you search  )
KEDO - Product Details
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