Improving ground clearance

[Kayaker413]

Afternoon folks,
Is there any cheap and easy why of increasing ground clearance on my 650?
I am on a 650XT but it's same same isn't it.

I have been lining again and the bash plate was getting allot of work!
Don't want to do anything drastic but if there is a simple trick it may be healthy.
Cheers

[Joe Rocket]

Yep, your bike is the same spec as the standard ABS model. Beak and spoked wheels are purely 'adventure cosmetics'. Despite the 19" front wheel the front exhaust should have been lifted and no intention to put a centrestand on it. It's a 95% road bike which will ride bumpy, dusty tracks IMHO. I think it was built to be an all-rounder; town/commute/tour/adventure/performance from a middle-weight V twin. Yes, there is room to use it more seriously off-road though.

Some owners lower and raise the bike to suit their height with linkages so you could raise the rear a little. Or you could take the bash plate off...........?    

If you're really off-roading then deep knobbly tyres will gain some mm's.

Just my views.  

[Kayaker413]

Been riding stuff like the wayfarer- N. Wales, old coach road- lakes, roman roads- peaks/cat and fiddle area.

[Hondaman]

Crank up the preload?

[UK_Vstrom650]

Was thinking the same, either preload or upgrade rear shock?

[Joe Rocket]

Correct me if I'm wrong but cranking up the pre-load doesn't change the length of the shock (therefore the height of the rear of the bike) much, it simply compresses the spring to compensate for heavier load and not bottom or top out........no?  

[mr_diver]

You'd be surprised when a V-Strom will go...





Suzuki belly pan with S/steel plate bolted to the bottom lowering it 10mm
25mm rear jack up
Front forks 5mm lower

She went everywhere the Teneree's went and where the Drz went a few weeks later.

May I add I was the one that didn't fall off

[Hondaman]

Correct me if I'm wrong but cranking up the pre-load doesn't change the length of the shock (therefore the height of the rear of the bike) much, it simply compresses the spring to compensate for heavier load and not bottom or top out........no?  

It compresses the spring reducing sag for any given weight, not ideal but may help within reason.

[Kayaker413]

I have been impressed with how far it will go with relative ease. My mate was on a Tenere and the gearing on that made it much easier to ride off road but then he is at a huge loss when you hit the tarmac.
Equally the thing stopping it is me learning to ride offroad and the fact it's new and I will be very very angry when I break it!

I described it to a "normal" person (ie someone without petrol on the brain) as the equivalent of a range rover- it will do almost everything a defender will and when you get to the tarmac it is still a great place to be but if you want to go offroad all the time things are going to break and get tatty quickly.