My father and I are looking at buying a used KDX 200. I am only 5'3''. I have heard of lowering kits that can be purchased to lower the seat height, but I was wondering just how low can it go? Also, would installing a lowering kit require new rear suspension?
Use the Forum's search function. This topic comes up about once a week, and there is a ton of info about it. The long and "short" of it is that you'll need to take an electric turkey knife and cut down the seat foam, and then get an adjustable suspension link to make the rear sit lower. Moving the forks up an inch in the clamps helps too. BTW, i'm 6'2", and my KDX is too tall for ME! you've got a long way to go, but i'm sure you'll get it where you want it.
What do you mean by new rear suspension?
All you need is the longer dogbones (and with the Kyouba? ones you need the KX bolts too - think that's right but previous threads have covered it along with a link for them).
As for how low can you go? With 5mm longer dogones, it lowers it about 2cm.
That doesn't seem a lot, but it made a huge difference for me. I'm 5'3" (2.5" really lol) and it took me a few weeks to be sure I was happy with the lowered bike (a hell of a lot longer to be completely happy with the bike). When I've gone into new terrain where I've been uncomfortable I felt the bike could be lower, but after riding there a couple of times, no longer felt that way (and feel more comfortable on the bike everywhere now).
I have to lean the bike over slightly to flat foot it (one side obviously), and watch where I'm about to mount it (i.e. not in that damn hole) but you live with it. I'm never going to grow (36yo) so the only thing I can do is get used to taller bikes or stay on kiddies' ones (no thanks).
You can cut down the foam too & put an extra sole on your boots. But the best way is to stop falling off & learn to read the terrain for where to stop.
Hope that has now answered your question & feel free to email me (but remember I waffle).
Michelle ;)
will get you some pull rod info. Don't bother going there right now, as it's 'under construction'. Big help, 'eh??;)
I recall you could get more'n 2cm drop out a set of them (the 'long' ones. I don't recall exactly how LONG those are). Give 'em a call to check for sure. Phone? I dunno. Hopefully their website will be back up soon.
Devol's only drop the rear about 3/8" inch or so.
Michelle makes an excellent point:
But the best way is to stop falling off & learn to read the terrain for where to stop
It may be hard to start the bike (probably take some left-footing), but once you're up and on, you'll be a MUCH better rider if you ride WITHOUT the crutch of sticking your legs out.
The seat is a big + on the kdx. Take a spin on an orange-crusher and you'll be loving the kdx seat!
Oh, Devol's pullrods DO require KX250 bolts and washers. Those bolts run something like $15 each! They are 'adjustable' in that an insert can be removed/reset to give you oem/+/- lengths.
There's an added advantage to a longer pull rod. Actually, the reason for a longer rod is NOT primarily to lower the bike, but to change the leverage against the shock spring. It smooths it out a good bit. With a good bit longer set, you may be needing a heavier spring.
Be sure to reset your sag after you put ANY pullrod set on.
Thanks for the input guys. But another question just popped into my mind. THe KDX has been around for a while, so is there a particular model from a particular year that the links will not work on?
I can't say what year kdxs work with what length links. Check with kouba would be the best bet on that one, I'd think.
I'm not a bike historian, but I don't think there is much in the way of a kdx that has NO use of pull rods. I'm sure there is a non-mono oldy out there SOMEwhere.
If you have a single rear shock..then I'd suppose you have a pull rod type suspension. Heck...just take a look at your bike to see if it has a unitrack arm/pull rods and such. If it has 'em...SOMEone makes longer ones, likely.
There's quite the BS answer that doesn't really answer anything, huh??
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