Short rider advice - Lowering an F650GS with KoubaLinks

[fritz]

For the benefit of others short of leg (and I mean short!) I’m posting some findings following Bev’s new purchase, a 2000 F650GS.

Bev has a 27" inside leg and is 5Ft 1" tall so definitely on the short side, but lovely with it.

We saw a 2000 model for sale that looked good and was a good price (cheers Jim Mc) so deemed it worth trying.

Bought some 1" KoubaLinks and set about all of a few minutes work to swap standard links. As you’ll know the Kouba's are longer, leading the shock to sit lower and still work. To match the rear we dropped the fork tubes a corresponding inch through yokes - again very easy done.

The net benefit can be seen in pictures that follow - basically Bev is in the same position she was with Serow, but has a lot more bike and can barely stop smiling - she's loving it and doing great. I hope this helps some of the other ladies (or guys) gauge heights etc. Bev is short, and you can go even lower with the F650s.

 

[fritz]

Last bike

Bev on the Serow she's had two years, not exactly flat footing!

 

[fritz]

650 'as is'

With F650GS as standard - it seems it has at least got a lower seat
Note feet - they are NOT on the ground either side!

 

[fritz]

standard shock link

The bog standard link

 

[fritz]

KoubaLink

With 1" KoubaLink (about $150 new from states, we got these from Timolga s/h - cheers mate ) fixed one end - you can see the effect they will have

 

[fritz]

Lowered both ends

After lowering the forks a corresponding inch the outcome is to be in about same position as with Serow, but Bev's happy!

 

[fritz]

Lowered F650GS

Though toes are not great for stopping Bev can slide across seat to put one foot on rest and other flat on floor.


I'm sure the bike will be tricky when on uneven / unexpected ground, but fine most of time with practice. A factory lowered bike is lower still as we saw one. I believe the older Fundura lowers more too. You can get a 2" KoubaLink but it's not really recommended for the plain F650GS unless you are very light or a very none aggressive rider - really the 2” link is for the PD.

I can ride it fine lowered (if I get chance ) - but it does touch down very quickly, but they are very low bikes to start with, not hard for me to get scratching with standard settings.


Anyway, hope this helps others in similar position, and thanks to those of you that offered advice and assistance along the way

It's a simple job even for someone without mechanic skills - cheap - easy - effective

 

[Room 101]

Fantastic.... Bev looks made up.. I like the stealth colour too...!!

You can get some serious miles done on that... now where are you off to..?

All the best SnJ

 

[fritz]

To the land of vlad.....

 

[Melanie Cheeks]

Another short-legged rider here (5' 2) very happy with the Kouba link lowering. The disadvantage is I can't get it on the centre stand, and even the side stand isn't very far over so you have to watch any camber.

I'm about to try a Wunderlich lowered seat instead...will see how that goes!

Health to ride it Bev

 

[Stumpy]

Looks in quite good nick for its age

 

[fritz]

Another short-legged rider here (5' 2)
I'm about to try a Wunderlich lowered seat instead...will see how that goes!

Health to ride it Bev

Be interested to hear how you get on with the new seat, might try shaving a standard one for Bev if I can find one cheap enough. The one on doesn't look to be lowerable easily...unless we remove it entirely

 

[fritz]

Looks in quite good nick for its age

Cheeky :monkyswin