XR650L - Lowest seat possible?
 

Hi everyone! My wife and I are planning a Central and South American trip and want to know how far the XR650L seat can be lowered with seat / fork / shock mods?

Thank you for your help!
Chris & Sharon

How tall?
 

The question I would ask, is how tall are you both?

I assume you are riding two bikes, rather than two up on one?

My friend Charlotte and I are planning to ride long dıstance on two XRL`s, and she has had hers lowered (by me!) with a lowering link, which made a significant difference. We will also drop the forks through the clamps by maybe 30mm.

We did not need to mod the seat, but this is certainly an option, to do yourself or maybe corbin or renazco.

I would talk to her direct, search for Charlotte Goose
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...harlotte-goose

I have just broken 8000km on my trip, from UK to Eastern Turkey, without any real dramas. Some carb issues which I will cover on the Honda Tech forum, posting in next few minutes.

I love the bike, would not change it. Extremely capable off road, quick enough on-road (though keeping it under 100kmph means excellent fuel comsumption), just travel as light as you can.

Have a look at my site for the prep I did on the bike...
www.GABE-RTW.co.uk

Let me know how you get on.. Ride safe

Well, thanks for the upbeat report on the XRL's! I will drop Charlotte a letter about her experiences and height right after this sends. We own two Honda bikes now and love them; especially their durability. However, when researching for long trips very few people seem to take the XRL, most go for the TransAlp or African Twin which are WAY too street biased for what we want to do. Thanks again for your feedback and we will keep our eyes out and minds open when it comes time to make the big plunge (i.e. - sink the bank account and buy the bikes:)

Cheers,
Chris

oops, forgot to answer your question about OUR height:
Chris - 6'
Sharon - 5'4" (and unfortunately for moto riding, long torso, short legs:)

Lowest seat & Trip to Central/South America
 

Chris/Sharon,
You can lower your XR650L about 2 inches with a $89 kit from these guys: (Suspension & Engine High Performance Parts Suspension & Engine High Performance Tools)

You seem like a nice couple: re-evaluate your trip to Central & South America! There's hardly a place from Texas to Argentina I haven't been through - A nice pair of "Gringos" on a bike(s) in that area will be like a traveling lamb roast through a Lion park! The entire area is teeming with turmoil, the drug lords rule and you will be risking your, and your wife's lives - trust me, you DO NOT want to go there. Unfortunately, the world has changed (for the worse) and things aren't how they used to be. I know the "adventure" part is the alluring part, but I suggest you look at taking more "controlled" trips where you have more control of your start, in-between and finish.

Raul