Dr350 probably a better bike for job and lighter for sure.
No need for new shorter forks and monoshock, the suspension guys will modify your originals, loads cheaper and reversible as well. I didn't understand how this would be possible until i started doing the research.

Lois
you might just be onto something ;-). The TTR250 is quoted at 28bhp and the DR350 at 35bhp...so with the additional weight of the DR there's not much in it.

The DR is not in production anymore although the same engine is used in the Beta Alp 4 but the TTR is still in production and sold from dealers in the "sensible" southern hemisphere. Both are very scarse though as 2nd hand here in the UK.

ponder ponder ponder...

See if you can find a Zongshen Sierra 200 (that is what it's called in the US). I am fairly sure they are available there and have a seat height of only 28." Engine size is limiting, though, at 200cc's. Read this article:

http://www.danielmontejo.com/Picture...themachine.htm

It might be an o.k. bike for your purposes.

just maybe...
 

try looking here

http://www.royal-enfield.com/low_seat_option.htm

the new lean burn engine model has a 720mm seat height option., without touching anything else. these bikes are very different animals from the older enfields, even though they look very similar. claimed weight is 160kg. the company has open days on 22/23 rd july where you can try out the bikes. may not be a wste of time.

glad you had good trip, I stuck to the n240 and 260 mostly because that was as far south as my map of France went :)

regards Larry,, from Le Frene... of course I am not biased any :)

Dr350
 

Just to confuse things further:

There are several different models of DR350, sporting kick or electric start. The SHC has an upside-down fork and suspension height front and rear can be changed with a knob on the bars while riding. Just so you don't try one model and then buy another...

The height of the seat off the ground is not the sole criterium, as the suspension sags when bum hits seat and the width of the seat in the front makes a difference, too, whether or not she can reach the ground.

There are lots of custom bikes (choppers) that are fairly low.

Thanks Beddhist

Just to clarify. My partners Funduro unladen seat height is 730mm. There is very little sag in the suspension as the bike is as low as it can go so the seat height will be minimum 700mm with her on it. With a lighter bike with a narrower seat the laden seat height must therefore be less than about 720mm.

Larry....I'm an tempted. We might just go up for the open day...but the prices new are a bit very steep and you can't get an electric start 2nd hand anywhere.

Yes, they have been producing the electra (make sure this model, not the older one) since 2002, and I haven't seen one for sale for a long time. Think this is an indication of rider satisfaction. some peeps with 60's and modern triumphs seeking to p/e for them in real-classic.co.uk Used to be lots of hardly used enfields for sale. But if you try it an dont like it, then you know, vice versa if you do.

Dr 650 Se
 

The DR 650 Se is 830 mm with the lower suspension setting. Might sound a lot but you have to keep in mind that the seat and tank are lots narrower and allow short people to get their feet down a lot easier than on the 650 BMW's. I know that the low DR feels a lot lower than the standard BMW F650 GS which is 780mm as far as I remember.
A 50 kg driver compresses the DR's seat height down to about 780mm. More weight or luggage does not get the bike a lot lower as you run into the progression of the suspension. I don't think it's a good idea to significantly reduce the preload on the rear shock as the loss of performance of the suspension might be prohibitive (too little positive travel, shock tends to bottom out. Can cause serious damage on shock, wheel and frame). My wife is 5'5" and she's perfectly fine with the DR650SE although she does not stand feet flat. But both feet safely down. I had customers on the low DR's as short as 5'1" and took them up to the Kunene (admit they were experienced riders)
Anyway I think the BIG plus of the DR is the much lower weight compared to the BMW (which in comparsion feels like an Army tank also due to different geometry). Also: The DR is tough: Drop it and you might as worst case scenario break a clutch lever or brake lever, both cheap and easy to fix. The DR has an excellently working suspension system no matter if set high or low. This does not seem to be the case with the BMW.

Does anyone based in the UK know of a supplier of after market suspension linkages for the 250 Serow that will have the effect of lowering the seat height please?

The DR650SE in the low setting is approx. 780 to 800mm depending on preload / sag of the rear.
Higher than the BMW F 650 (770mm) but in direct comparsion the DR actually feels a lot lower as it is much lighter and also much narrower whilst the BMW forces you into an "ironed over a barrel" statue.
The DR only looses very little of her off road capability when you drop the suspensions.
Get the DR650SE and learn to shift (stop with one leg down & hanging off the seat). Forget all the lowering link crap. It will leave you with punctures, torn spokes, cracked and dented rims and collapsed wheels or worse.

The DR350 gives very little advantage over the DR650SE (SP46A after 1996) being nearly identical in weight and height but loosing out badly as soon as it comes to reliability of the engine.

Morning Hayastani,

I don't know of anyone that does a lowering kit for the XT250 Serow anywhere, never mind in the UK.

I own one myself and, only being a little chappie, find it perfect for my needs.

I weighed it on our scales at work and find, with a tank brimmed to the top and with a rear rack fitted, she comes in at 129kg.

So far I've covered 46,000kms in 22 months and love it!

Thank you for the info Cameraman. A possible alternative I have come across is the AJP PR4 200 which can be supplied with a lower seat height. If only platform soles were still fashionable!

My wife is 5'2 and copes without issue on a factory lowered 650GS with low seat option.

A friend who is 4'9 is having custom made hagon shocks, and a scultped low seat to cope. This is costing about £750 to make the necessary changes.

I seriously rate the bikes too - and a doddle to maintain.

My dad lowered a DL650 so much that I have to lean it to the right to put the kick stand up, he's about 5'5" but he's got short legs. He then moved the bars back an inch, which helped a bit too. We (me and my dad) purchased our lowering links from ebay for around $30ish a set. The guy who sells them is a machinist and could probably be talked into making other lowering devices for other bikes.