Lowered the bike 2". It's spongy and handles like crap. Any fix other than removing the links?

 

New springs.

 

wanna sell your oem links? if it's not an '09, I'd be interested in buying your stock links to raise my '09 rear suspension to the pre '09 level. I'll do the forks when it's not below zero outside with an ice storm on the way.

 

Raise the forks in the triple clamps the same amount?

 

Changing out the links changes the leverage on the linkage and hence the shock. You'll need a stiffer spring to compensate, but by how much I could only guess.

 

if this is geared to me, then you evidently don't know the '09 suspension story. they just lowered the bike with shorter links in the rear and added spacers up front to do the same. if you look at the kawi pics at totalmotorcycle.com, you can see the large shot of the red bike and it has the pre '09 rear link on it because the number is posted into the link and it's visible. here:

http://www.totalmotorcycle.com/photo...i-KLX250Sd.jpg

117 is pre '09 rear link size. the production size is like 108 or something shorter. I doubt they put a different spring on the shock for a change that small.

 

Couldn't you just check out the part #'s for each part on each year?

I know nothing of links and all that, but I do remember seeing that picture of the 09 with that link. I'm pretty sure I saw pics of an 09 with a curved kickstand. I don't know anyone with an 09 and curved kickstand. I could be wrong.

It might be that those pics were very early models of the 09 that weren't "official". I never paid any attention to my link so I could be wrong on that.

I've seen the same thing happen with other products. I own a coleman multitool prototype that they never put into production because it infringes on a Leatherman patent.

Hope you see my point.

EDIT: Looking at that photo and one of my bike at nearly the same angle the link looks exactly the same.

 

it's the number on the link that is important. the old one is 117 I believe, the new one is shorter which lowers the rear. the '09 bike in the pic shows 117 on the link.

 

The stock links I took off are actually shorter than the lowering links I installed. Maybe the 09 has a completely different suspension setup if your bike needs longer links to raise it.

 

I'm confused about which way to go here. larger or smaller on the links to raise the bike. I would think smaller but I'm not to sure. Kouba Link's website lists there lowering links for our bikes. They state that there links for our bikes will fit a 2003 Suzuki RM250 which has a stock seat height of 38" compared to 09' klx which has what a 34" seat height. So if thats the case it might be worth it, at least for the taller bunch to check into links off a 03' RM250. They say it will lower the RM by 1 1/4" so 36 3/4" thats a hair better