How do I lower the ride height on my TE450 ?

[JustBendIt]

I want to lower the ride height of my new TE450 so both my feet are flat on the ground when I sit on the bike - very important to me as my KDX was too high for me and I donnered over in every Enduro I ever did when I got tired and had to stop on uneven ground.

I have dropped the forks in the triple clamp about 25 mm - this has helped but the rear is still too high.

I don't want to slack the preload off the rear spring too much.

Can I cut the spring shorter ? Or should I get a shorter spring ?

I estimate I need to lower it by about 30 - 40 mm to get the desired height

Any suggestions from the experts ?

[Pistonpete]

Resole your boots an extra 10mm?
Less to do on the bike!

[ChrisL - DUSTRIDERS]

pm Superfoxi.
He might know a trick or two.

[M3X3Z3]

Although they dont list Husqvarna, maybe thay can still help you.

http://www.koubalink.com/

Regarded by many as the best way to lower a bike.

[NISMARK]

I have a solution! 

Sell to me at the same price you stole it for! 

[superfoxi]

The only "right" way to lower a bike is by shortening shock and forks.
Lowering links will obviously make the back of the bike lower but also mess up the progression curve of the linkage system.
You won't need a shorter shock spring as the linkage ratio is +/- 3:1. That means that the back of the bike will get 30mm lower when you shorten the shock by 10mm. Those 10 to 20mm can easily be compensated by re-adjusting the pre-load.
The shock has to be taken apart (not a bad idea to give it a service anyway...) and a rebound spacer has to be installed.
Shortening the forks works in a similar way. But you might have to get shorter springs if no pre-load spacers are installed from the factory.
Both changes are completely reversible.
I have lowered many bikes for guys doing the Roof Of Africa and other technical races where you want to be able to reach the ground.

[JustBendIt]

The only "right" way to lower a bike is by shortening shock and forks.
Lowering links will obviously make the back of the bike lower but also mess up the progression curve of the linkage system.
You won't need a shorter shock spring as the linkage ratio is +/- 3:1. That means that the back of the bike will get 30mm lower when you shorten the shock by 10mm. Those 10 to 20mm can easily be compensated by re-adjusting the pre-load.
The shock has to be taken apart (not a bad idea to give it a service anyway...) and a rebound spacer has to be installed.
Shortening the forks works in a similar way. But you might have to get shorter springs if no pre-load spacers are installed from the factory.
Both changes are completely reversible.
I have lowered many bikes for guys doing the Roof Of Africa and other technical races where you want to be able to reach the ground.

Thanks Mike 

I am going to do a setup first and try a pooratech method - if that does not work I will call you

[superfoxi]

Cool1
Just don't try to lower the back of the bike by reducing shock pre-load.  The bike will handle kxk!

[axehead]

grind 20mm of all the knobblies 

[alanB]

I'm quite a short arse. 

I dropped the front so the forks sit a bit lower on the triple clamps ( a few millimeters) but otherwise just set it up properly.

Its never bothered me that I cant get both feet on the ground.  -You only need one foot to get down which is doable in 99.99% of the times.

I do topple over every now and then when I make a mistake in uneven technical terrain buts its always a slow motion fall without any real damage to me or the bike, and only happens quite seldom.

I would suggest before you do anything drastic that will permanently alter the handling of the bike (which is one of the main features of any competition orientated bike), is just to ride it for a while.  There's a good chance you will get used to it faster than you think.

If you find it intolerable then maybe consider something.  But try and resist.

Personally I think its actually a good thing - it forces you to commit  to handling the bike while on the pegs, which is the better way to ride, and stops you from paddling when you shouldn't.

As I said it doesn't bother me at all.


PS set the rear sag properly (the sag's should be available on the internet), if its currently set too hard that might solve some of the problem while setting the bike up properly for your weight.

[AgentO]

Let the tires down?