Just curious if anyone knows of ways to lower an XT225?

My wife is interested in getting back into motorcycling and joining me on my rides! She is petite (not much over 5' tall), and doesn't want a bike that she cant touch the ground with both feet. We are looking at Trail 90's right now, which she will likely start out on, but I want to do a little research, as there may come a day when she wants to "upgrade" to an XT!

From what I've read on the forum here and elsewhere, is that you should be able to adjust the preload on the rear and take maybe an inch or so out of the height. You would also want to adjust the dampening once you do that. Here is a link on how to adjust that.. Shock Adjustment

I'm sure you could also but a new rear shock spring for around $100. I have my old stock spring that you could potentially modify (heat or cut down) to get a shorter spring. I'm sure there are a variety of solutions. And tell your wife that the XT is NOT too big!

I believe Reggie is 5'4" with a 28" inseam. I'm not sure if he can flat foot it, but he can touch....

There is a lowering link for the XT225, do a search here and you'll find it. That's a fairly cheap and easy way to drop the seat height. The seat can be modified some too but there's a big trade off in comfort when going that route.

edit- Sorry, no lowering link for the Xt225, only for the XT250. Emig Racing said they had one, now say they don't.

Thanks MotoinMoab - I did a search and I see that this topic has come up before! There have been some good discussions.

Just let some of the air out the back tyre, and you'll see a difference in height <JOKE!> When I collected my bike I could quite easily reach my feet to the floor, it got a little bit more of a stretch once a put the correct pressure in.

btw, I'm 5'3" and bought my serow on a whim - based on the fact I'd read Lois on the Loose, and thought if she's only an inch taller than me, I must be able to ride it!

Okay, I'm not helping this thread, or doing myself any favours here am I? Lol

Anyway, what is nice about the Serow, is not just that it's reasonably low for short riders, is that it's so light - that fear of leaning it over a little too far, just isn't the same as it is on a heavier bike - and that counts for a lot too :o)

Mike C, you and your wife are like me and my wife. She rode an old 125 in her youth, and some time later is getting back into riding. I bought her an 06 XT225. We lowered the preload down to it's lowest point. Unfortunately that also made the bike nose heavy and harder to stear in rough conditions. On the street not a big problem.

She is 5'4", can put her foot flat with her boots (not sneakers). After several months she finally got used to her XT225 and we raised the preload back up to improve the handling.

Hindsight, I might have been better off putting her on a TW200. They sit lower and the big tires are easier off road.

We are in the process of rejetting. We have left our Florida and are now in the Rockies. 7000 foot difference, lots of rocks versus sand. Time will tell.

D2

Thanks for the input, everyone!

My brother loaned us his 1970 Trail 90 for the summer, and we went for a ride this evening (sorry, no photos!)... Her on the CT90 and me on the XT225. She likes the small size and ease of operation (automatic clutch!) so I am happy with that. Mostly, I'm just glad she wants to ride with me! We rode for about 45 minutes around our neighborhood and then down a remote country road to the Willamette River. Pretty fun! I cant wait to take the bikes out in the woods!

A lot of people had a lot of fun on the CT90.

Alexd

Sounds like you've got her started... now just keep working on her and you'll have another xt225 in your stable in no time.