Dakar seat height

[Martyn B]

Sorry if I'm revisiting old ground but sifting through the threads I began to lose the will to live..... however:

My friend (really) has just bought a 2006 Dakar off e-bay and while is really pleased with what he got for the price (a 2006 with less than a 1000 miles on it), his wife for whom it was originally intended is 5' and needs a sub-800mm seat height. Thinking it was like the GS he got it anyway and is now stuffed as it were.

Anyway, cut to the chase - does he have any options other than buying her tall boots or getting rid of it. Any vertically challenged folk managed to conquer a Dakar?

Martyn

 

[Mav]

Hi Martyn

There are a few things you can do to sort the height out - you can change the seat to a lower seat, the front wheel on the Dakar is 21", you could put a 19" on (which is the regular size from the std GS), the forks can be dropped a little the clamps, finally, you can also put a kuba (sp?) link in which will change the height of the rear suspension. So there are lots of options.

At 5' I would recommend she sits on a regular 650GS in a showroom to find out if she will be comfortable at that height as that is what you will be lowering the Dakar to.

Good luck.

Mav

 

[kopcat]

I'm 5'5" (admittedly with a shortish inside leg) but have just had to lower my standard GS in order to feel truly comfortable with it..... I used the 1" kouba links and they have worked a treat, the 2" can be used on the dakar, but am not sure that would make enough difference.....

I hope they get it sorted!

 

[Colt]

hi martyn,
well MAV has well covered the options to lower the bike.
all of them will cost and could be hard to get.

you could get an owner of a standard f650gs to swap the bits over?
or find someone with the bits ,although they can be hard to get.

to answer:
"Any vertically challenged folk managed to conquer a Dakar?"
ask Nick Plumb he has .

 

[VAL. H.]

I'm 5'5" (admittedly with a shortish inside leg) but have just had to lower my standard GS in order to feel truly comfortable with it..... I used the 1" kouba links and they have worked a treat, the 2" can be used on the dakar, but am not sure that would make enough difference.....

I hope they get it sorted!

Hi Martyn.

As Kopcat says the lady will need a standerd GS with the lowering kit.

PM Jaq and ask her a few questiong as she is about 5' too.

Probably the cheepest way is to fit the 2" lowering links at the back, and then change the front forks and wheel for the standard 650gs this will get the bike where you want it 'or rather where she will be confident on it'.

My other half is 5'3" and I have had to slide the forks up the yoke to give her a better foot fall.

Ultimately the 650gs is probably the most versatile bike around, so your friend has got a good bike and can use it as a base for a relitively easy modification. There is also a safe way to shorten forks without the expence of getting special ones, Ive done this to a Vmax.

If I can help any further PM me.

Val.

 

[Martyn B]

Thanks to everyone for your helpful replies!

That's gives him a few options to start with. I'll let you know how it pans out.

Cheers,

Martyn

 

[Colt]

cant pm you.
could sell him a 19" front wheel and gs forks.

 

[Martyn B]

Colt,

Sorry been away for a bit. Can you send a mail to the address in my profile while I sort my PM stuff out?

Thanks,

Martyn

 

[finn]

martyn pm sent? did you get it re seat

 

[Colt]

hi martyn just seen your posting.

your email is not viewable.so i have tried a pm.