Need input from light riders – suspension Q’s

I'm 5 10 87 kg i had my Te 450 2008 lowered 2'' it performs so much better in the tight stuff can be lay-ed over and swung around so much easier , it has a lower centre of gravity it used to feel like riding a horse, i can dab the ground in ruts ,turn around easier , manoeuvre the bike so much better , i also took 1 1/4 '' out of the seat foam to make it lower again .i love it . its set up for me . do your self a favour and take the seat to an auto upholster to remove some seat foam and then respring , revalve, and lower that bike .the seat feels fine riding it doesn't make any difference to comfort levels .

My suspension is on its way back from Les! He said that the Husky suspension comes from the factory with one of two springs and mine had the heavier springs, and was overfilled with oil. Like my skinny arse needed those heavy springs! Suspension was revalved and resprung, but not lowered. Les didn't think I needed it lowered, neither did my husband, and by the end of the riding season last year I wasn't worrying about it either. A very nice guy to deal with for sure.

Can't wait to try out the new ride, but won't be anytime soon with all the snow we've got. Been out cross country skiing, ice skating, and snowkiting to keep myself entertained this winter, but sure looking forward to spring.

'09 TE310 - 33" Seat Height

We got the Husqvarna TE310 back from Drew Smith, the suspension guy in western NJ... http://www.werproducts.net/mainmenu.html

Drew re-did everything for the GF (130#, 5'4") - springs, valving, fluid, spacers, and shortened the side-stand. The seat height is now 34 inches unladen and 33 inches with her in the saddle. We haven't shaved foam (yet). Both feet touch the ground w/ street shoes. It's too cold for a ride report, but we expect to be in the woods soon.

See more photo's here - http://www.bmwxplor.com/galleries/show/2853

Wow, that's a pretty low seat! Is she a newer rider? I was sort of uncomfortable with the stock seat height at first, but spent a lot of time working on my balance and in the end decided not to lower my Husky.

+1 on working on balance. We also take lessons & practice (sometimes). We figure having a lowerd bikes saves on a few Band-Aids every year.
She's been off-roading for 5 years (25+ years road riding). She's coming off a Yamaha WR250F (below) that was also lowered at WER.
- M.

Cool pictures! Well I cheat and ride a KX100 for the tougher stuff. My husband doesn't want me tearing my Husky up, so no racing/competing with it. The KX weighs about 100 pounds less than the TE, so it's much easier to be agressive and crank through harder sections.

Hi, does anyone have websites for Les and the others mentioned in this thread? I know I at least need a rear spring as we set my race sag yesterday and it's off. I'd really like to talk to someone about this whose done it. We can do the rear spring ourselves but would like to talk to someone about it. I'm in Wisconsin. Thanks!
Kira

^

Les Tinius les@lt-racing.com
LT Racing www.lt-racing.com
Tel 360-871-2259
FAX 360-326-7282
6487 Knight Dr. SE
Port Orchard, WA 98367

Rick Tannenbaum of Cogent Dynamics
motocd.com

Bottones Jo-Bet Cycle
manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_j66nfx

MX-Tech
mx-tech.com

thank you Chop Suey!

You're welcome! Who did you buy your bike from? We got mine from Stocks Harley Davidson in Manitowoc, WI. Never thought I would buy a bike from a HD dealership!!

LOL! I got mine from Heinen's in Osseo, MN. Brand new 2008 TE250 for $5000, couldn't beat the price or I would have gotten one from Keytime Motorsports in Warrens, WI. I was not real impressed with the service at Heinen's. They lost my paperwork (still waiting on some of it), they didn't have anything ready (we called weeks in advance to do all the paperwork and over and hour in advance of picking it up). I'm sure they figured we wouldn't be using them for any service but I have a lot of family and friends in MN...sigh.

Rumor has it Michigan has some great single track???

Oh, not a very auspicious beginning with your dealer! Michigan has lots of trails and I understand that people come from all over to ride them. Nothing very gnarly, but lots of miles of scenic trail. Michigan made about 25% of their trails statewide accessible for two wheels only (no quads) last year. We live up by the Mackinaw Bridge and want to try some of the trails in the UP this season.