Seat Height Issue Question
 

After looking and testing motorbikes trying to figure out which one to buy, I have come up with the Suzuki DL650 V-Strom.

However just to make sure I have covered everything I would like to ask what may appear to be a "dud" question.

Another bike I like is the Suzuki DR650 but the seat height is just too high. At 885mm it is 65mm higher than the V-Strom. I"m 5' 8" and the V-strom at 820mm is about as high as I can go and be comfortable stopping with the bike under control.

How do others get on with high seats. Does it mean altering the suspension drastically or do tall persons only buy bikes like the DR650?

Thanks in appreciation of any comments.

Alex :helpsmilie:

Hi Alex I am about 5"5 3/4' and have owned both the Wee Strom and the DR650. I had both of them lowered. The DR seat doesn't seem that high because of the bike being narrow and fairly light. I now have a Tiger 800 I am not going to get it lowered but will get about 1/2 to an inch cut out of the seat to give me a bit more foot on the ground.

Sent from my GT-N5120 using Tapatalk

Lowering Suspension
 

Thanks for the reply.
Will have to talk to the guys at the shop and then make an informed decision.

Cheers
Alex bier

This site is useful to work out which bikes are worth going to see:

Motorcycle Ergonomics

There is no substitute for trying one though. At 5'8 with a 29" inside leg I was fine on my WeeStrom as standard, but lowered it an inch to be comfortable two up, rode a higher XT600E with no trouble and yet really had to think with my old BMW behemoths. These are lower than the XT but the wide seat shaped and covered to stop you sliding across it makes it harder work.

Andy

Thanks Threewheelbonnie
 

Interesting site...thanks for posting it Threewheelbonnie. Lets me know how much I need to lower whatever bike I'm looking at.
Cheers
Alex

Ride Before You Lower
 

I would not worry too much about seat height with either bike. More important is how the bikes themselves suit you. Pick the best one for you and your travels ... go with it. Seat height is easily dealt with.

On the DL650 you can have a custom seat made ... lower. Or you can install
lowering links in the shock linkage and raise fork tube UP in the triple clamps an inch or so. (cheap and easy to do!)

With the DR650 for serious travel, you'll need a better seat for sure.
A custom one can be made a bit lower. But with the DR650 it comes with the ability to lower front and rear about 1.5 inch. Any good dealer should have informed you about that feature. If not, go elsewhere.

It's a quick change to lower it: change out a pin in the shock linkage and reverse preload spacers in forks. This set up should be FREE and part of the sale as it's a factory installed system and is detailed in the service manual.

If the factory lowering is not low enough you can add lowering links to the DR also and get another 2 inches if desired, and bring up fork tubes in triple clamps. We set up a DR650 for a woman 5'2" tall. It was fine ... balls of feet both on the ground!

I own a DR650 and am just 5'6" with 28" inseam. Absolutely no problem.

Once you've ridden the bike for a while and got used to it, I'm betting no lowering would be needed. You have plenty of leg length.

Seat lowering alternative
 

I had the same problems - liked my bike rather than lower
Seated models and didn't want to alter the bike much or spend a great amount of cash more, so I

http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...er-style-71956

But depends on the factors I mentioned in the post

Cheers
Dom

It is quite simple. Don't buy a bike that is too high. Falling sales will perhaps prompt more manufacturers to make sensibly sized bikes. I have to say, this is hard won knowledge. I bought a BMW and was never happy on it through three years of rying. completely at home on my much shorter Enfield with the bonus it was easy to switch gear change sides. If I ever get another bike it will be a MG Breva or V7 because i know I can reach the ground easily on those.
Mind you part of the problem is the dry sump engines they make these days, it raises the engine by 3 or more inches. This means the fuel tank has to be higher and that means the seat also... If you look at an old Velocette for instance you will notice that the centreline of the crankshaft is below the wheel spindles. now look at modern bikes :(

Lower centres of gravity make for an intrinsically more stable ride, just what you need when running over a fox in the dark.

Seat Height Fixes
 

mollydog, sellheim and oldbmw.

Some great ways to fix the height problem...where there is a will, there's a way!!

Mollydog, The sales guy was less than keep to advise on seat height adjustments, so I might just talk to other Suzuki sales yards. :thumbup1:

Cheers all,
Alex