need help in lowering 1998 XTZ660 Tenere
 

Hi folks,
just bought (online)a 1998 XTZ660 Tenere. Beautiful bike. did 600ks around Victoria in 2 days. Dropped twice at low speed. Embarrassing on road! Its too high for me and also too heavy. I'm 5'7, 68kg slim build. Done many adventure/tour in Enfield 350's in India.
I'm planning to travel around AUS in this...possible to India by road.

two thoughts, sell this buy much lower enduro bike,....if any!
or lower the bike to suit my height...and deal with the weight later!

need your advise on this....
Thank you in advance
raj
Picture of XTZ660... http://tinypic.com/r/2vijoex/5

Lowering bikes
 

As I am myself quite small (163cm / about 5'4'' ??) I have the same issue with any travelling/touring/ dual bike.

With all my bikes I starts by the same thing:

1 - Set the rear shock (if adjustable) to medium or even light, it DOES make a significant difference. Unless you are already very heavy and/or carry lots of luggage/pilion....

2 - Find a company to scoop out the seat (Remove ALL foam on the rider side) and insert instead a Gel seat. Many companies offer this service and it is not costly. Cheaper than a corbin seat etc.... Again it makes a big difference. And the gel seat is very comfortable.

3 - If not enough: drop the front forks

4 - Last: fit a lowering link. You will need to cut/adjust the sidestand.

In function of the bikes I have owned over the years, I have done some, or all of those solutions. For my current Versys, I have done all of the above as it is a tall bike.

Cheers.

I have never been thinking aboiut this problem, always getting them higher. But i was thinking what about cutting springs? On round in the back would make a huge difference, and in front you can cut or move up the fork if possible. Maybe it will be a problem in the back if you jump with bike and the spring will not be held with weight down?

a set of lowering links will drop the bike down a fair amount - have a search around for 'lowering set', 'lowering links' and 'dogbones'. however, i'm fairly sure that the tenere links changed between the 1998 and earlier models and the newer, 07 onwards models, and that the new model links won't fit on your '98 - make sure that you have the right set for the bike!

as already mentioned, you'll also need to adjust the side stand

Take off one of your std dog bones, get an engineer to make up a set or two in differing lengths - test them out, loaded - unloaded etc.

You could try 10mm longer links?

We lowered an XT660R but 50mm was the maximum.

?
 

hi have a look at kedo.de they do front and rear kits, lower or higher, you would have to ask if they do for your year of bike ,hope this helps ,steve