Really need some rear suspension help

[JGonier]

Well, here is my problem. I just purchased a 2000 Kawasaki KX125 for my daughter and at 13 years old, 160+lbs. and 5'6", she can't touch the ground on either side.

11043

Anyhow, my question is this.... Is it possible to lower the seat height by making an adjustment with the Shock Linkage or Tie Rod to get maybe 2" out of it without buying a lowering kit for it?

I understand lowering the seat height runs the risk of bottoming out the tire in the wheel well, but I figure if I just tighten up the suspention a little more I will prevent the tire from bottoming out.

Does anyone have some magical solution that will not run me any more money at this time (strapped myself with the purchase of two bikes)?

Any help would be great as my daughter is dying knowing she now has a bike she has been asking for for years, but cannot ride yet.:mad:

Thanks.
James

[28]

Well, here is my problem. I just purchased a 2000 Kawasaki KX125 for my daughter and at 13 years old, 160+lbs. and 5'6", she can't touch the ground on either side.

11043

Anyhow, my question is this.... Is it possible to lower the seat height by making an adjustment with the Shock Linkage or Tie Rod to get maybe 2" out of it without buying a lowering kit for it?

I understand lowering the seat height runs the risk of bottoming out the tire in the wheel well, but I figure if I just tighten up the suspention a little more I will prevent the tire from bottoming out.

Does anyone have some magical solution that will not run me any more money at this time (strapped myself with the purchase of two bikes)?

Any help would be great as my daughter is dying knowing she now has a bike she has been asking for for years, but cannot ride yet.:mad:

Thanks.
James

Hi James,

Alot of people have this problem and search for solutions, cutting the seat foam down should help a little.

Being 5'6 is not really too small for a 125, some of the very top riders are only that size, and although it may be slightly awkward to start, once she gains more confidence the touching the ground issue won't really be an issue once riding.

I'll leave the technical aspects of lowing a bike to someone else....

[Hollywood Senior]

Before you make any drastic changes check the rear sag. Ideally you should have about 1 inch of bike sag and 4 inches of rider sag which would be correct for her size and weight.

You should beable to get this if the bike is standard but as it's S/H it may have been altered at sometime, so if you are way off you will have to change tha rear spring.

There should be no need to alter the linkage, it's quite normal for riders to only reach the ground with one foot on modern motocross bikes.

By the way, you didn't say what your lucky girl's name is.

Good luck, Bryan.

[JGonier]

Hi James,

Alot of people have this problem and search for solutions, cutting the seat foam down should help a little.

Being 5'6 is not really too small for a 125, some of the very top riders are only that size, and although it may be slightly awkward to start, once she gains more confidence the touching the ground issue won't really be an issue once riding.

I'll leave the technical aspects of lowing a bike to someone else....

I have had other people tell me that touching with just the toes is normal, but she still has a good two inches to go before she can get to that point. She can touch with her toes when sitting on the bike without the seat on, but she cannot ride it like that. Her seat is already thin and I dont think there is enough foam in the seat to remove and still get 2" out of it.

Before you make any drastic changes check the rear sag. Ideally you should have about 1 inch of bike sag and 4 inches of rider sag which would be correct for her size and weight.

You should beable to get this if the bike is standard but as it's S/H it may have been altered at sometime, so if you are way off you will have to change tha rear spring.

There should be no need to alter the linkage, it's quite normal for riders to only reach the ground with one foot on modern motocross bikes.

By the way, you didn't say what your lucky girl's name is.

Good luck, Bryan.

Her name is Brittney. Ok, here goes..... I keep hearing about this bike sag and rider sag issue and I am not sure what this means. I know that when she sits on the bike, the rear of the bike drops about 1 1/2" - 2" and that is it. how is the sag adjusted? Do I just turn the screw towards "S" to soften up the suspension to give it more sag?

[Hollywood Senior]

It sounds complicated but it is not too difficult to adjust the sag.
!/ Place the bike on a centre stand so that the rear wheel is off the ground.
2/ Measure the distance from the cenre of the rear wheel spindle to a point near the rear of the saddle. the seat mounting bolt is a good place. Make a note of the measurement
3/ Now with Brittney dressed in her ridding gear, boots helmet etc,get her to sit on the bike in her normal ridding position with both feet on the footrest while balancing herself by lightly touching anything available, like a wall or van.
Bounce up and down a few times to settle the suspension and keep the bike upright.
4/ Now take the measuement again and note the differance, it ought to be 4 inches. This is the rider sag.
5/ To adjust the sag put the bike back on the stand and with a soft drift, I use a brass or alloy punch ( some people use a screwdriver, ouch!) loosen the top knurled nut on top of the rear spring. If the measurement is less than 4 inches
loosen the other nut on top of the spring. If you are lucky you will beable to do this by turning the spring and the nut will turn with it, if not lever it round with a large screwdriver while still turning the spring. If the measurement was too big do the opposite and tighten the lower nut.
6/ Now repeat 3/ & 4/.
7/ When you have the correct sag tighten the top nut.
8/ Repeat 1/ 2/ and 3/ but without Bittney sitting on the bike, she can just balance the bike to stop it falling over while you take the measurements. This is the bike sag and if you have the correct spring it will be about 1inch.
If it is much less than 1/2 inch you need a harder spring and if it's much more than 2 inches you need a softer one.
These guidlines are for racing, a little bit of lea -way will be ok for trail ridding. Have fun.

[dtroyt]

Tess (Factory tess #251 on here) is about that size... on her yam after springs sagg etc we cut seat foam down on about 15mm from height but also narrow the width at top by 40mm and round off the sides to keep legs less spread .....straiter legs = longer legs

She still has to start with both feet on tip toe but is ok the rest of the time :)

[Hollywood Senior]

I have had other people tell me that touching with just the toes is normal, but she still has a good two inches to go before she can get to that point. She can touch with her toes when sitting on the bike without the seat on, but she cannot ride it like that. Her seat is already thin and I dont think there is enough foam in the seat to remove and still get 2" out of it.



Her name is Brittney. Ok, here goes..... I keep hearing about this bike sag and rider sag issue and I am not sure what this means. I know that when she sits on the bike, the rear of the bike drops about 1 1/2" - 2" and that is it. how is the sag adjusted? Do I just turn the screw towards "S" to soften up the suspension to give it more sag?

Sorry I got called to dinner before I had finished my reply.
Take the bike off the stand when carrying out task 3/.

The screw on the side of the shock marked comp will not alter the ride height only how fast the spring will compress.
Turn it clockwise until it stops, dont force it past the last click, and wind it back 12 clicks. The screw on the bottom of the shock is the rebound damping and controls how fast the spring retuns.Do the same as for comp but turn back 14 clicks. These figures are guidlines, they will depend on the condition of the shock Use this as a starting point and change one at a time in one or two click steps.

[JGonier]

It sounds complicated but it is not too difficult to adjust the sag.
!/ Place the bike on a centre stand so that the rear wheel is off the ground.
2/ Measure the distance from the cenre of the rear wheel spindle to a point near the rear of the saddle. the seat mounting bolt is a good place. Make a note of the measurement
3/ Now with Brittney dressed in her ridding gear, boots helmet etc,get her to sit on the bike in her normal ridding position with both feet on the footrest while balancing herself by lightly touching anything available, like a wall or van.
Bounce up and down a few times to settle the suspension and keep the bike upright.
4/ Now take the measuement again and note the differance, it ought to be 4 inches. This is the rider sag.
5/ To adjust the sag put the bike back on the stand and with a soft drift, I use a brass or alloy punch ( some people use a screwdriver, ouch!) loosen the top knurled nut on top of the rear spring. If the measurement is less than 4 inches
loosen the other nut on top of the spring. If you are lucky you will beable to do this by turning the spring and the nut will turn with it, if not lever it round with a large screwdriver while still turning the spring. If the measurement was too big do the opposite and tighten the lower nut.
6/ Now repeat 3/ & 4/.
7/ When you have the correct sag tighten the top nut.
8/ Repeat 1/ 2/ and 3/ but without Bittney sitting on the bike, she can just balance the bike to stop it falling over while you take the measurements. This is the bike sag and if you have the correct spring it will be about 1inch.
If it is much less than 1/2 inch you need a harder spring and if it's much more than 2 inches you need a softer one.
These guidlines are for racing, a little bit of lea -way will be ok for trail ridding. Have fun.

Sorry I got called to dinner before I had finished my reply.
Take the bike off the stand when carrying out task 3/.

The screw on the side of the shock marked comp will not alter the ride height only how fast the spring will compress.
Turn it clockwise until it stops, dont force it past the last click, and wind it back 12 clicks. The screw on the bottom of the shock is the rebound damping and controls how fast the spring retuns.Do the same as for comp but turn back 14 clicks. These figures are guidlines, they will depend on the condition of the shock Use this as a starting point and change one at a time in one or two click steps.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH. This was just the information I was looking for. So adjusting the two lock nuts on the rear spring IS what adjusts the sag of the bike. I had been reading the manual and was starting to figure it out, but this just clerify's it for me.

Thank you!!!:xbeer