Hi folks,
Thinking of purchasing an XTZ 660 Ten for a 2-3 month trip Alaska - Mexico and perhaps further (if the money lasts!). Being a 5' 8" I am a bit tippy tow on the bikes I have tried on so far and would need to get a lowering kit.
My question is however ... has anyone installed a lowering kit with a Yam centre stand in place. Does anything interfere i.e. shock versus support shaft of the centre stand.

Cheers all

and to

Someone will sure answer that shortly (no pun intended )

I recently bought 40 mm lowering links for my Ten thinking it was too high. I'm 29" inside leg.

I fitted them and could get both feet nearly flat on the deck but it just felt all wrong, far far too low and I went back to standard height.

At the most I think it should be lowered at the back by 20mm.

Instead of messing with the back end I have dropped the yokes 20mm down the forks to lower the front slightly. This has helped a bit and I could probably drop another 10mm if needs be.

However.......this is all with the bike unladen for a serious expedition. My intention now is to load the bike up as I prepare for my next trip and see what effect all the luggage and kit has on the ride height.

There is no point in lowering your bike until you know the all up adventure weight with you, bike wear, helmet, luggage, tools, food, tent, water, fuel etc.

You could end up with the centre stand dragging on the ground, I nearly fell into this trap!

Just my opinion of why I want to wait before lowering and chopping the centre stand. I have lowered my R1200GS 30mm front and back and can manage fine with the normal height centre stand so I am hopeful that it will not need to be done on the XT (famous last words!!!).

Sandman.

Welcome on board mate.

Haven't lowered my bike personally, but the Yamaha centre stand will fit fine with a lowering kit. However, the low suspension makes it a bit more of a challenge to pull the bike up onto the stand.

As Sandman suggests - Try your bike (when you get it) first and see how you get on with it at stock height. You'll be surprised how you can adapt to it.

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Many thanks for the quick reply and advice - cheers. Mike

Post script.......

Just been out for a blast on the GS, blown some cobwebs out my head and remembered something else regards the initial question.

The first lowering links I tried were the "multi position" ones from Projection Components. These ones http://www.projection-components.co....model-88-p.asp

My experience of them was that with the genuine Yamaha centre stand fitted these links did not work. The link fouled the left hand mounting bolt on the centre stand. Not in every position (there are four height settings) but in two out of the four they hit the bolt and this was enough to make me send them back for a refund.

I do not see this as an overall problem with Projection Components products, just this particular style of "multi position" links.

Hope this helps a bit more.

Sandman.

Don't necessarily rule out the Projection Components adjustable links if you have a centre stand fitted. They are good and give you a chance to play around with what suits.

I have the their adjustable raising links, which have the same clearance problem in two positions and there is a simple fix to make them work in all positions.

Replace the LH centre stand pivot bolt with one with a standard hex head (not flanged) and insert it from the inside, so the nut is on the outside. This arrangement allows the PC links to clear the pivot bolt in all positions. (You cannot reverse the OE bolt to achieve this as its flanged head is just as big its nut.)

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Hi there! Just my 2c worth: it is a grunt to heave a fully-loaded, standard-height Tenere onto the centrestand. I imagine lowering the bike by 40mm is much the same as having a nearly-flat rear tyre, and I've found that getting a loaded bike onto its stand in that situation is hernia material.

A small block of light wood of the right thickness helps heaps. Just roll the rear wheel onto it, from where it's a simple matter to use the stand. It's a bit of a pain if you have to use it every time, but it sure makes life easier.

I too lowered my Tenere when I first got it and of course the side stand was too long so I ground off some of the bracket which limits the travel when the side stand is down. This allows the side stand to swing further forward so the bike could lean safely. However I did not like the feel or look of my bike so I put it back to standard but because I had adjusted the side stand my bike then leaned over far enough for me to get my leg over easy.
Steve.