This is one of the first aftermarket web sites I've seen that specifically calls out the '06 KLX250S as a supported platform:

http://www.koubalink.com/KLX250-300.html

May many more follow!

 

If you post it they will come.

 

bmdhd, thanks for posting the link (no pun intended)....i have a question about mirrors....can you all recommend mirrors for my KLX 250x that will flex upon impact.....remember the old trials bikes? i'd like to do the really slow meticulous riding on the klx someday and that will mean going down, could remove the OEM mirrors but i've got a decent road ride to the spot- your thoughts please.

 

Norm (Kouba) sent me the first "test" pair of links made for the 06 KLX250S as the test-bed, before putting the links for sale on his site.
Done that several times -- right now, even have some secret links that nobody knows about yet, since I lower so many of my bikes, and I supply him with full spec reports -- he obviously can't get one of every bike that he sells links for. No, I can't tell what the "special" links are, not even in a PM -- gave my word. Lowered the first-ever DRZ400SM last year, too.
Makes great stuff, and a good, trusting guy to deal with.
I'm also a test-bed for certain bar-risers, too -- have some on most of the bikes I lower, to allow extra room for sliding forks up in the clamps, and usually gives a more comfortable riding position, too, especially if you stand on the pegs sometimes -- makes it easier, without leaning over so much.

 

I sent Norm Kouba an e-mail asking about links for the KLX250S. Not lowering links, but raising links. He reponded that he had never had anyone ask for a pair, but would be happy to give them a try. He also mentioned that he could see the logic of my request - to add both height and less leverage to the rider. That way you could support more weight with less preload.

Hope to have a pair soon and I'll let you know how they work.

 

I've seen more and more queries about "raising" links in different forums -- if he makes you a prototype pair, maybe he'll add them to his site, to see if they sell well enough to make more for other bikes, too. But, maybe not, since so many bikes are already too tall for most riders -- we shall see what happens.

 

OldDualSporter,

One of the fellows I adventure ride with is 5' 4" tall. He has been riding dirt bikes since he was 5 years old and is an excellent rider. No make that an outstanding rider. Perhaps the reason for that is that he is vertically challenged and needed to find a way to hold the bike upright without being able to put both feet on the ground simultaneously.

He has a BMW R1150GS that he rides many miles. He uses the footpegs to mount the bike and his tip toe to take it off the sidestand. It's interesting watching him ride, as he has no fear of leaning a bike way over to make it handle extremely well. He is so good, I would put my money on him in a ride off between him and Jerry "Motorman" Paladino on any sized bike.

The reason I am mentioning this is that he has been on my KLR650, which has a seat height of 37.25 inches. That doesn't bother him aside from the nosebleeding it causes.

I am seeing many folks that are selling their lowering links to get the bike back up to normal height once they become accustomed to the height of the bike.

Also knowing that 'fit' is one of the things that will allow a rider to better control a bike, I feel that adjusting the height is something that will allow a rider to become comfortable on a motorcycle.

Another disadvantage of lowering links is that it provides a negative leverage to the spring - it takes less weight to compress the spring on the shock. So a person that is heavy and short will have more problems with bottoming as the lowering link also decreases the travel of the suspension.

Quite a few KLR riders have asked to take my bike out for a ride with the raising links on it. Many of those have ordered a pair of the links for their bikes. It's amazing how much better the bike handles both on and off road.

 

1) Uhmm...."Another disadvantage" part of that statement is a blatant non-sequitur, for one thing.
2) The leverage /less weight/compress situation -- is exactly what the lowering links are made for....
3) For many people, it many times enables a person to buy/own a bike, that they otherwise may not buy/own, because of the seat height.
4) There are advantages and disadvantages to everything -- and using raising links will modify the suspension geomtry the same (but inversely) as lowering links. If the rear is raised a significant amount, then the front of the bike will have to be raised also, or serious handling problems can occur at higher speeds (speed wobbles/tank-slappers) from lessened rake and trail -- very dangerous situation. Of course, raising the front is also usually considerably more involved than lowering it. A way to avoid "raising" links, is to simply use a stiffer rear spring, if a *very* heavy rider is involved, if assuming that increasing the pre-load in not enough for them.