Hi all, i'm newb to adventure bikes coming from fast Vtwins. having done the rounds my choices are either a dakar/sertao. or more preferably a 660 tenere. The catch, i'm a 5ft9 short arse and could barely stand the thing up in the show room let alone on some sloppy hillside. So my question is will a lowering kit make enough difference and will it screw up the geometry and so handling. i know the front will need dropping to match. But will lowering it by an inch change the bike in any other way. I dont want to spend 400� on a new seat either. the sertao fits but i really do like the tenere.
thanks for your help.
Regards dave

5'9".... You are taller than me....
The bike should sag around 75mm when you sit on it..
Any bike with 20kgs of fuel in the tank will be a ******
to pick up... I know mine is...

(I did once see a BMW with a lifting handle...
a length of pipe bolted vertical on the side of the bike with a smaller
length in side it that slid 75% out to give a long handle to give
leverage for the first 3/4 of the lift from the ground..)
They are a 1/4 ton bike with out any gear on loaded on...

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Harley Davidson..
The easyest way to turn gasoline into noise with out the side efect of horse power...

Welcome to XT660.com Dave

Sorry, but when someone mentions being a short arse, I can never resist posting this image...



Seriously though, there are plenty of riders on this forum who are of your stature and get on fine with the Tenere in standard trim. Maybe get one, ride it for a while (as it comes), then make a judgement on the height and if you feel the need to lower it, then do it. Yes, you may have to adapt your mounting, riding and dismounting style, but it shouldn't be a big problem and you never know until you try?

Lowering shouldn't have too much of a detrimental effect on handling if done properly at both ends (and if you don't go too extreme), an inch will be fine. Other than reducing ground clearance, the other side issues of lowering are the increased possibility of swingarm wear when/if fully laden and the longer linkage bones will make an already soft shock feel even softer.

Anyhow, in my totally unbiased opinion, a Tenere is a great choice of bike!

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There are other ways around it too, you can have a few inches of foam sliced out of the seat scoop.

and to

Try to avoid lowering if possible. I had my first XT660X lowered and the handling was really crap compared to my next bike which I kept in standard trim and I soon got used to the seat height. Try it and see what you think.

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(Now sold on, sob) 2011 Blue XT660X with gold wheels, was 26,500 km.
Engine mods: K&N Stage 1 filter, DNA Stage 2 filter, snorkel removed, Kev fuel mod fitted.
Plus: smoked Puig screen, Yam aluminium sump guard, Yamaha / Acerbis handguards, Givi Trekker aluminium side cases, Leo Vince X3 cans plus Kev front fork mod and Fender Xtender. Just fitted Michelin Road Pilot 3 tyres.

SOLD the XTX for a Super Ten 1200. And just bought a Raptor 700 so staying on here for some tips....

I'm 5'6" on a good day in my high heels (another story for another day) and have left the height of my XT660Z as is until I add all the accessories I intend to fit for overland expeds.

The only thing I have done is raise the forks 10mm through the yokes (lowering the front end).

If after doing all my mods I need to lower it at all then I know that any changes I make will not be altered by additional luggage, whistles or bells.

In my mind I do not believe I will need to alter it with shorter fork springs or lowering links. I believe that my weight and that of the luggage etc. will make it a more manageable height and will just need small changes which can be done with standard suspension.

Remember that riding a tall adventure bike is a completey different style to riding fast v-twins and you don't usually need both feet flat on the ground. The height/suspension travel is there for a reason.

Off road, you only ever need to get one foot firmly planted and the other will be up on the opposite footpeg. Your style and technique will change quickly and you'll wonder what all the fuss was about.

Get one and enjoy it!!!

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2011 XT660Z, in BLACK of course!
Mods done:
Lost the will to keep track!

Thanks people for the insight its much appreciated,
gonna get a test ride booked and all being well get it baught.
Nice to know its at least possible to learn to ride it.
i had visions of a tumble at every lights and being and owning a wreck after a weeks ownership. Ill update as to the out come. cheers again