690 Enduro Forum
Technical => Suspension => Topic started by: Dane1960 on April 05, 2014, 10:17:49 pm
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One of the first mods I will be doing is lowering the bike. I have a 30" inseam so a bit tall for me. Any thing special I should know about this bike?
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I did mine with a Kouba link and dropped the forks in the triple clamps 3/4" worked out great. I reset the sag on the rear shock after installing the Kouba link
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You might run into trouble with a Kouba Link unless you ride only pavement or rather smooth dirt roads. The link due to it's longer lever arm essentially softens the shock spring everything else being equal and may also give a bit more travel. It feels good. So depending on your weight with the stock spring and preload adjusted the rear tire may contact the underside of the tank. Mine did with the 1 -5/8 inch link over a rough weekend in Death Valley. I tried a 1" link but didn't stay with it. I decided against a chance meeting between the tire and tank.
I now have the shock modified by Super Plush reducing the overall travel 1 inch. For the front raise the forks up in the triples. In the next life hope your parents are taller.
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It sure would help if I could shrink it in the dryer about ten percent. I haven't had any contact issues,with the 1" link out in the Oregon high desert, but then again I'm a light weight!
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Guys thanks for the information, good to know I'm about 215lbs. May need a heavier spring if the stock shock can take it. I think KTM talks about a heavier spring available, I think I saw it in the manual.
Whats the cost on the shock mod?
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My first mod was a 1" Kouba link. Have not had any trouble with it..
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I have a 31 inch inseam, and put on an inch and five eighths link. Still too tall for slogging through the woods. Got thicker shoes, and next will be going from the 140 80 tire to a 130 80. This should at least get the balls of my feet down instead of just the toes. Hate to admit how many times I dropped it just trying to get the stupid kick stand up! do not believe your dealer when they tried to tell you it's not necessary to shorten the stand. anybody trying what the manual says, and just remove the seat & under covers to lift the shock out and adjust it?
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Have Seat Concepts redo your seat. It will lower additional ?? mm. Cut the stand off. I have the 1" link & cut 1" off. You may need to do more.
You do not need to take the shock off to adjust. Loosen the top tank bolts & remove the bottom. Lift up the tank. Spray the shock threads with WD40 before moving the adjuster ring. The threads gald easy.
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I put on the LOW Seat Concepts seat and that got me about 1/2" then installed the 1" Kouba link and left forks in stock position. I can now get balls of both feet down..I have a 29" inseam..
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.....remove the muffler from the header pipe as well.
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Have Seat Concepts redo your seat. It will lower additional ?? mm. Cut the stand off. I have the 1" link & cut 1" off. You may need to do more.
You do not need to take the shock off to adjust. Loosen the top tank bolts & remove the bottom. Lift up the tank. Spray the shock threads with WD40 before moving the adjuster ring. The threads gald easy.
I have a 2014 690 Enduro R. I'm trying to access the shock to adjust the spring preload right now, in fact.
I tried using this technique, but I can't get the tank to lift up more than a few inches, which doesn't give me enough room to get to the shock.
The problem as I'm seeing it is: the battery bolts are hitting up against the airbox cover as I try to pivot up the tank. So in addition to the steps quoted, I think you also have to remove the airbox cover. Is this something specific to the 2014 model?
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I have a 2014 690 Enduro R. I'm trying to access the shock to adjust the spring preload right now, in fact.
I tried using this technique, but I can't get the tank to lift up more than a few inches, which doesn't give me enough room to get to the shock.
The problem as I'm seeing it is: the battery bolts are hitting up against the airbox cover as I try to pivot up the tank. So in addition to the steps quoted, I think you also have to remove the airbox cover. Is this something specific to the 2014 model?
Update: so I didn't have to remove the airbox after all. I merely filed down the corner of the airbox that was blocking the front right battery bolt bracket. Only had to be filed about 1.5mm.
Mission accomplished.
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Good Tip!
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I got a good deal on a '14 with 330 miles on it. The previous owner put the 1-5/8" lowering link on, at 210lbs I also had a problem with the tire rubbing the gas tank. I just took it off yesterday. I haven't had a chance to ride it in stock form yet. I was tippy toes with the link. I might have to look into the 1".
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I got a good deal on a '14 with 330 miles on it. The previous owner put the 1-5/8" lowering link on, at 210lbs I also had a problem with the tire rubbing the gas tank. I just took it off yesterday. I haven't had a chance to ride it in stock form yet. I was tippy toes with the link. I might have to look into the 1".
Welcome to the forums and congrats on getting a deal on your '14! Everybody has to dial their bike in to suite their needs and the 690 has enough options to satisfy most it seems.
So the 1-5/8" will enable the back tire to hit the gas tank unless you shorten the stroke of the shock? However, the 1" link doesn't shorten the travel nor cause tire to tank rubbing? Just making sure I'm getting this right as a buddy of mine has a 29" inseam and I'm starting to talk him into a 690 if we can get the seat height a little more reasonable.
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Now that I can't use my lowering link because of my weight and how I ride, I now have a kouda link 8-2 for sale. Only used for about 200 miles. Still looks like new.
Will get pictures up later. Doesn't like to post them from my phone.
$100obo.
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I have a new 2015 690 Enduro. At 5'9" with 29" inseam I could not even get my leg over the seat. Got on by using the foot peg and in my attempt to get the stand up fell over, reminded me of Laugh In. I since have put the 1-5/8" Kouba link on but do not believe it did anything. Lowered the front 1" and set the sag to 100 mm. was able to almost be at ease. Have since had Munn Racing in TX. lower the forks and shock 1" and set sag at 98 mm. Forks in second stock line. Will probably put the stock link back on to correct the geometry. Will let you know. Can now ride with confidence but have not been able to go off road yet we are under water every where here in Louisiana.
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Freedom, I run the stock linkage and had a friend of mine shorten my side stand by 1/2" and add a loop for me to help raise the stand. 1/2" seemed to be all I needed. I wouldn't go more than 3/4". I have also installed Traction's hydraulic remote preload adjuster on the shock. Way easier to change preload from carrying a load to not. You may want to try the "low" seat from Seat Concepts. I went the expensive route, Renazco Racing. I really don't think they lowered the seat much for my specs, but it did help a little. Also, I found if you turn the front wheel all the way to the left, it makes the bike more vertical, puts the weight on the toes of your right foot (we short people can't get our feet down), and gives a little more ground clearance to raise the stand.
Freedom, if you or anyone else wants photos of the modded side stand, pm me and I'll e-mail them. I don't have a place to post pictures.
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Phillip I just finished my last 150 miles to break-in. I had Munn racing do the 1in. lowering and I cut the stand 2ins. It was ok and I liked the feet on the ground. Yesterday before my ride today I reinstalled the stock link to see how it would fit. Not too bad. I have to slide to one side but can get my foot flat. I could not find a pre-load adjuster when at Munn otherwise I would have done that. I will be doing camping and such and that will come in handy for re-setup.I'll look in to the one you have. My first trail rides will be next so I will have a lot more feeling for Kato when I'm stump jumpin.
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Nice. I got the preload adjuster from ktmtwins.com. Not inexpensive, but worth it. I've done a trip to the Eastern Sierras here in Cali. It worked out great. My next trip is coming up 4th of July weekend. Planning on Utah, Arches Nat. Park and Moab. This is probably where I'll get trail time on the Rekluse.
Munn is great. I've gotten quite a few things from them over the years.
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Ya I just found it on Twins, OUCH! But It will go in the wish list. I think once I get other stuff paid down the Clack LHRB is my next big bite. I will be taking a ride this July but it's on my Harley. My little sister and I are going to do another 7K summer run to see family. She is like me loves to ride anytime any where. Then for me it's Kato and I off for some trail and camping.
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Mine is used mostly for street, sometimes easy single-track, sometimes urban antics, like going up and down stairs. I find the seat height awkward getting on, but once going, it's fine. So, if the lowering link merely changes leverage on the shock, and not seat height with no weight on the seat, my situation is not helped. What about installing a shorter shock?
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Be careful when tilting the tank up to get at the shock. It's important to disconnect the quick disconnect fitting on the fuel line prior to lifting the tank up to vertical. Otherwise it puts a lot of strain on the cheap plastic connector and many folks have had them break while doing this.
I had SuperPlush take an inch out of the shock and forks and provide the proper springs. They got the valving all wrong in the forks but that's another story. They also put on their stainless preload adjuster ring that makes it possible to adjust preload without galling the soft aluminum threads of the shock body. A local welder took an inch out of the sidestand and I added one of the KTM big foot accessories, and now I can raise and lower the kickstand while astride the bike.