I have this '04 XTX that's been basically converted to an XTR.

It already had the USD fork from KLX 250 when I bought it.

We've put the front rim on the back and built a new 21" wheel for the front.

It's been fitted with Metzeler Karoo 3s (arguably a well balanced 50/50 tire), the entire idea of the bike is to do Adventure style riding - with some light offroad, but also be able to have fun in the twisty tarmac. Both short day trips and multiple day tours.

After we've put the big wheel on the front, the bike became considerably taller. I'm 6'4" (or 194 cm) so I can still touch the ground with both feet (almost flat footing it), however it becomes challenging when I need to back the bike up on an uneven terrain, the bike as everyone knows here is top-heavy and with a seat so high, it's often challenging to move it around at slow speeds, even with my long inseam.

We've also had to make the side stand extra long to accommodate this bike height.

Haven't measured the bike height before changing the front wheel and I don't have any other reference.

The top of my lower triple clamp (in the center of the fork leg) is 90.5 cm from the ground - that's with the bike standing straight, of course.

Could anyone with an XTR please check what's their height? I'd really like to compare my current bike's height to a stock XTR (I'm pretty sure it's taller).

I'm on the fence of lowering the bike a little bit for:

- Easier maneuverability at low speed/offroad
- Moving the whole weight and body position a bit closer to the ground and having more confidence leaning the bike over in the twisties

I think there should be still more than enough ground clearance for the light offroad that I do want to ride on this bike.

Thoughts?

Would you lower the bike only at the front, or at the back too?

Wow!..That's a pretty awesome conversion. Building a 21 inch front up and swapping the original to the rear is no easy job either. Really liking the KLX suspension too.

I wouldn't know how to qualify my answer but if you want some off road ability, isn't the original rear shock already limited? Lowering clearances may exacerbate the problem, plus it would quite dramatically change the steering ability "in the twisties" for the worse....I think.

But big kudos for the build in the 1st place.

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I have a lot of growing up to do. I realized that the other day inside my fort.

Hi mate what down pipe cover is that on your bike looks good . thanks Ian

Thanks for the input guys! It turned out that we only had about 1 cm on the top of the fork left to play with so we just lowered it that 1 cm. This made the decision very easy.

Most mods were done by the previous owner, and this one is a bash guard from an older (XT600) Tenere that just needed some drilling