Setup for the height-challenged

[Sharktank]

I have an EX on the way and I'm 5'-5", 140lbs w/o gear. Usage will be trails/single track. Am not a very experienced dirt rider but have a lot of experience as a roadracer. Will likely try a supermoto and flat track setup at some point too.

I ordered a koubalink to drop an inch but nothing else yet. Any other experiences/suggestions from similarly height-challenged riders?

 

[Toom38]

Zeta Racing offers lowering devices for KYB. They are installed inside the suspension. Since my last bike was a Husqvarna I was trying to get the Varg lowered because I really liked how much better The Husky handled compared to it's longer travel brothers. I learned that the stock spring rates and valving didn't work very well lowered so I went back to stock travel with Race Tech valving.

 

[FYR]

I have an EX on the way and I'm 5'-5", 140lbs w/o gear. Usage will be trails/single track. Am not a very experienced dirt rider but have a lot of experience as a roadracer. Will likely try a supermoto and flat track setup at some point too.

I ordered a koubalink to drop an inch but nothing else yet. Any other experiences/suggestions from similarly height-challenged riders?

Those machined link guys often have a beautiful looking product, but its expensive and doesn't work as well as suspension travel reduction spacers. Do some quick internet research, you'll find all the info you need to lower the Varg KYB suspension.

 

[Sharktank]

Thanks guys, I wasn't sure what to even search for.
When you say Race Tech valving, do you mean numbers from Race Tech or having them actually do the valving work for you?

 

[Erwin P]

Lowering devices should only be used together with less pre-load otherwise you lack negative SAG and it will be hard to control near the top of the stroke.

Furthermore you have the exact dimensions of my Girlfriend wich rides an un-lowered Beta 200 and also often my Stark. It's on the tall end but does work fine.

I would also suggest looking for a lower seat. Gives you all the benefits but without the setback of unbalancing the suspension.

 

[Sharktank]

I searched for lower seat options, but I didn't find anything. I only found talk of race or comfort seats or discussions around that. If you have any leads I'd love to hear it. For street bikes it's not uncommon for people to get a seat foam carved out, but those stock seats are quite thick. Removing a bunch of the padding wouldn't be great for trail riding anyway.

 

[Toom38]

I bought the Gold Valves and installed them myself. Race Tech provides the recommended shim stack specs. At my age and weight I couldn't get the stock valving to work for me.

 

[Sharktank]

Roger, thanks.

 

[Erwin P]

I searched for lower seat options, but I didn't find anything. I only found talk of race or comfort seats or discussions around that. If you have any leads I'd love to hear it. For street bikes it's not uncommon for people to get a seat foam carved out, but those stock seats are quite thick. Removing a bunch of the padding wouldn't be great for trail riding anyway.

I know seat concepts makes different models for the Stark. Incluiding lower more comfortable ones.
No experience with them though. I'm 1,83m and 85kg and keep with stock or higher seats most of the time.

 

[Sharktank]

I know seat concepts makes different models for the Stark. Incluiding lower more comfortable ones.
No experience with them though. I'm 1,83m and 85kg and keep with stock or higher seats most of the time.

Seat Concepts doesn't make a low seat for this bike and doesn't intend to. I don't think there's enough room to make a meaningful drop.

 

[Erwin P]

Hmm i thought i saw they did.
Haven'n looked into it since im not in the market.

 

[Osika]

Great way to get on..I'm 5 10 but always just start moving with right foot on peg then swing your leg over..dismount the same way.

 

[FYR]

Even though I would not necessarily be considered "height challenged" (at a tick over 6' tall with a 34" inseam), I can still wholeheartedly agree that the Varg seat height can be a challenge in certain situations. My 300XCW was very similar (if not close to exactly the same) and it too, was a challenge when the technical terrain got to where the front wheel was elevated above the rear and a dab was required. Hopefully, your boots are subtle enough to allow a toe-point downward to help compensate at the instant it is needed. My trials bike obviously has no such issue, but oddly enough, my other enduro setup rig seems less affected. I will say though, that setting your suspension sag to an appropriate height will go a long way to getting your bike tuned for your particular build.

Note: Almost all of the advice/suggestions that you will find about "sag" will be based on what skilled MX racers deem as correct. Don't be afraid to lower your settings more than the suggested, and give it a try

 

[Erwin P]

Even though I would not necessarily be considered "height challenged" (at a tick over 6' tall with a 34" inseam), I can still wholeheartedly agree that the Varg seat height can be a challenge in certain situations. My 300XCW was very similar (if not close to exactly the same) and it too, was a challenge when the technical terrain got to where the front wheel was elevated above the rear and a dab was required. Hopefully, your boots are subtle enough to allow a toe-point downward to help compensate at the instant it is needed. My trials bike obviously has no such issue, but oddly enough, my other enduro setup rig seems less affected. I will say though, that setting your suspension sag to an appropriate height will go a long way to getting your bike tuned for your particular build.

Note: Almost all of the advice/suggestions that you will find about "sag" will be based on what skilled MX racers deem as correct. Don't be afraid to lower your settings more than the suggested, and give it a try

Indeed and with the wide range of finetuning the rear shock can do you can offset a lot of the side effects of lowering the SAG.