Big-bore dirt bikes with sub 32" seat height?

[Dogmeat]

Big-bore dirt bikes with 32" or lower seat height?

I've looked through about every type of trail/enduro bike that the big makers offer, and can't find what I'm looking for.

Basicaly what I want is a dirt bike, preferably an enduro/trail style bike, that has at least a 400cc motor. I don't care if it's a 2 or 4 stroke, but the kicker is..

It needs to have a 32" OR LESS seat height. And it HAS to be a dirt bike. not a motard or dual sport or any of that.

The bike is for my dad who is like 62 years old and can't get his legs up around the 2007 Honda 450 he bought, but still wants to ride a dirt bike.

Any ideas?

If I could find a restored 70's Husqvarna bike I'd probably go for that, but it'd have to be in really good shape.

 

[spring snow hero]

buy the bike he likes and mod the suspension. look at the dirt track bikes.........they are not born that low.

 

[bigfoot]

buy the bike he likes and mod the suspension. look at the dirt track bikes.........they are not born that low.

That's about the only way I can think of to get what you are looking for. Modern bikes are tall.

 

[FriscoProx]

I had a buddy that had his KX450f lowered about 3". I know the rear was done with a drop bracket for the shock linkage. Not sure if they cut the forks\spring in the front. It was done in Grand Junction, CO at the Kawi dealer.

 

[Mjunkie]

My 63 year old dad has a CRF450R that he put a lowering link on the rear. I'm not sure how much it lowered it, but it was enough for him. There are aftermarket things you can do to the bike he has now to get it where you want it, just look at the aftermarket companies.

 

[Motley Doo]

Yup, they make a lower link for those that drops the bike a few inches for shorter people, works great I guess, doesn't really screw up geometry like just dropping preload.

 

[Supplicate]

Lowering links mess with the geometry of your rear suspension, especially if its a progressive link style like the Honda's. THe best bet is to have the suspension professionally shortened. They can do up to 4" IIRC.

 

[powpow]

Have a suspension shop lower it,,,,,shave the seat, and it should be there for ya

 

[LM.]

We have a guy in our group that is pretty short. He has always shaves the seats down with a bread knife.

 

[Killerk]

I am Mjunkies brother... I was skeptical about the lowering link, my dad and I have identical bikes except mine is stock... You can barely tell a difference between stock and the one with the lowering link... In fact, his at times is better in the whoops, and corners more easily.
Not sure what stock height is, but you can do a lowering link, raise the forks in the clamps, and buy a freestyle seat or lower the stock one.
Still may be hard for him to throw his leg over the rear fender IDK.
I would not worry about it hindering the suspension... My dad flies on his, and I doubt your pa is going to be pounding the whoops and catching big air to where it will matter.
If not, look into an XR250 my pa has one of those too, and prefers it for trail riding.

 

[xrated]

Yup, they make a lower link for those that drops the bike a few inches for shorter people, works great I guess, doesn't really screw up geometry like just dropping preload.

they make one for Yamis that lowers seight height around 1-1.5" and the suspension retains stock feel after lowering the forks a few mm.

What about an old XR?

 

[xrated]

could always cut the subframe down as well.

 

[Dogmeat]

I had a buddy that had his KX450f lowered about 3". I know the rear was done with a drop bracket for the shock linkage. Not sure if they cut the forks\spring in the front. It was done in Grand Junction, CO at the Kawi dealer.

We tried that with a Kouba lowering link on the Honda CRF-450X .... not low enough. It was a 1 3/4" drop.

 

[Dogmeat]

Lowering links mess with the geometry of your rear suspension, especially if its a progressive link style like the Honda's. THe best bet is to have the suspension professionally shortened. They can do up to 4" IIRC.

Who do I talk to about that?