Best mod for shorter riders - Lowering Link installation on a Honda CRF250L

[@pairofdogs]

I’m 72 and did exactly the same thing but I checked the degree angle of the forks before the lowering link and adjusted the forks to match the stock setting which was 30 degrees.

[@vosburght]

Thank you for that info!

[@ohmylanta4558]

@@vosburght How many mm does that equal to rise forks?

[@LuckyNikitaBoba]

Your son is so funny! He makes the video enjoyable and informativeive

[@maxlopez1437]

Thank you for making a simple concise video on this. Everyone else's video I watched was overcomplicating this

[@heidebiker]

👍 ...soooo easy to do ! Thanks a lot for showing more an more useful "tricks" arround the CRF 250 L . (I'm a 63 year old "beginner" ... riding bikes since 4 years ) Greetings from Germany!

[@ja-p]

Thanks for your informative video. I agree that ground clearance is not too important especially if you are going to do trail riding and not take huge jumps… lowering the bike will certainly gives more confidence to any short riders …thanks again 😎

[@davidsalo8397]

I used to be 6' 2", now 6' 1". My Honda 450 RL with an accessory seat is hard for me to swing my leg over. I installed a lowering link that makes it much easier to mount and dismount.

[@dogphlap6749]

Good for you Mark. So many KZbin channels trying to scare people away from actually lowering the seat height but rather suggesting the shorter rider put their body through all kinds of contortions to get one foot to just touch the ground (unless the ground slopes away then you are on the ground with a bike on top of you). My bike has a stock rake angle of 24 degrees so fitting shorter rear shocks increased that angle a tad but all was well. Depending what barrow you wish to push that can either make the bike less nervous or less agile, it's actually fine being more directionally stable but still corners nicely. Best modification I ever did.

[@phillangford4059]

Excellent! I have been told so many times that this is a really easy job to do BUT with your video I can now see what people mean and would be prepared to do this myself. Thanks a lot. Confidence is a wonderful thing. I now have more!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Any time you do something for the first time, you get a little nervous. But if you dig into it with a brain working, you can usually figure it out,---and man, that is just a cool feeling I love. :) To heck with all the goofy hippies telling about how to be happy. Real happiness, because we have a brain that can figure things out, comes from personal achievement. Somebody does not want us to achieve.

[@dunnkruger8825]

“...but the biggest impact on this bikes geometry is when it’s horizontal in a ditch ...” LOL...as a new off-road rider, I’ve bee there so many times, and a broke fibula 4 months ago, I am ready to sell the bike BUT your vid may keep me riding ...

[@audiogarden21]

I broke my right hip last year. That was at 7 miles on the bike. She's now just broken 10k today. DON'T LET GO!

[@zrkn1]

Your apprentice did a fantastic job !! Thank You for the video.

[@jemirandav]

An impossible task without a sidekick! Good job kid!

[@kosta16auto]

The young helper made me stay to the end of the video. Awesome!

[@bossman5k767]

Thank you!! Quick, to the point, I appreciate your concise explanation!

[@toddwebster1093]

Glad I watched this. Easy job, I was worried about the front forks, but overall very easy job.

[@jonchester9033]

What the heck, Mark? Since I am getting a new CRF300l Rally shortly, I just happened to be scanning bike vids and, low and behold, here you are with a good CRF video. I watch your fitness videos all the time, but didn't expect to see you over here in Honda CRF land. I thought the matrix was getting wobbly for a moment. Best wishes to you and your lovely wife...and keep up the good work.

[@larslinebarger6712]

Having automotive experience my brain told me there would be spring tension on the link similar to an A arm in a front suspension. Super easy indeed!!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

There is a Pulling force on it, tension, but not spring tension. When they went from dual shocks on MX bikes to single shock with linkage, (I think Honda was the first in 81), it did a couple of good things. It created a better center of mass, (more mass closer to center between the wheels), and the linkage designs, which are all pretty much the same today, offer more design adjust-ability for a rising rate. They found that when the piston in the shock moves faster as the travel is compressed, it worked the best, and they could design more rates with a linkage than the dual shock offered. I am not sure if it made the bike lighter.

[@theantgodfather1]

Watching because Mark told me not too. Still quite an entertaining video!

[@benkanobe7500]

Outstanding "How to"! Thanks you two!

[@EarthSurferUSA]

I lowered my YZ250 2-stroke a bit, but changed my mind on the "lowering link" and put the stock link back on. Why? Because I found out, (and should have known in the first place before I bought it.), that it does not shorten the travel, (like a top out spacer in the shock does), but it "shifts" the travel into your fender. So for example, if the link lowered the bike 1", and you use all your suspension travel, (and you should be for best performance), the rear wheel is going to try to go into the fender 1 more inch, (the knobs already hit the plastic when stock when you bottom, and you can tell by the marks under the fender.). So, for one possible example that can happen when riding, if I bottom on a bump, I don't want it to basically "brake" (on the fender, and maybe break the fender), when I want the wheel to roll over the bump. It could help you crash in some situations.

[@bigglyguy8429]

For me on my KLX250 I don't care, as I will be riding it very slowly off-road, and want to put both feet down easily. I had great fun on a little KLX150S doing that and find the 250 too tall for such stuff. So I adjust the suspension as low as it will go, lowered the forks and ordered a lowering kit - my aim is to make it as low as a Honda Cub seat. Then I'll be happy :)

[@melanieandrews2560]

Great video, especially raising the forks, didnt think of that

[@SMSJoeSchmid]

Good show - Those "Bar Risers" made it all work - IF the Cuba Link lowered the rear 1 inch and you raised-up the Fork Tubes 1 inch-up from the Stock Setting. Then the Fork Rake and bike geometry is matched to Stock OEM. High speed stability should remain the same. Lowering the C G a Few Hundred Pounds has Huge Benefits in Cornering. Enjoy - Cheers

[@bultacowally]

Wheelbase is shorter...that has negative effect on the high speed handling when on the highway. Shorter wheelbase is better for slow speed turning.

[@majabdou31]

Thanks for the info - I bought a 2020 CRF250L today and I'm realizing I'm just too short for it :( I will be installing a threaded lowering link similar to this and adjusting the front forks!

[@dmoney8177]

Did it work out ?

[@grahamhigby4372]

Thanks for this I was hoping someone was going to do an installation video on the kouba lowering link.

[@SheWillRide]

Thank you so much!!! This was totally helpful and we got the bolt off!!!

[@Whereismyball]

I watch every mark Lewis training video but KZbin algorithm keeps recommending me this one of video of him lowering a Japanese photocopier

[@damiankuzina7266]

Great video. Good camera angles. That’s how you make a video!

[@robertlawrence6606]

Easy peasy, much appreciated!!

[@rolandstaines3249]

Hi great job easy & a good approach to each job u do on the bike .

[@prantaantu7743]

This guy produce a good content on the lowering link, unfortunely he dont bothered to reply others question, give him a thumb down.

[@MarkLewisfitness]

It’s a 5 year old video 😂 I get thousands of comments, I have to prioritise new videos!

[@rosarioroberto5823]

Greetings, As always another brilliant detailed video production 🇺🇸🍾🎉🇺🇸 After installation how much the motorcycle lowered? Thank you so much for assisting me and keep producing more videos.

[@tarabahadurgurung942]

Thank u .iam from nepal mount everest

[@ThomasG77]

Great video thanks for the walkthrough

[@biscuitsalive]

May I suggest simply eating lots of pies and chocolate. It’s more fun than wrench work. And will lower the bike nicely.

[@riderdady4160]

hello brother love your guide lines thank you so much ....my height is like 5.7 inch so it good for me ...love from nepal.

[@alexandermccausland1106]

Great video. Well explained. I'm a shorty great fix for me

[@iCitizenTube]

Great video, thank you, just subscribed. However I didn't get the info on how much lower the bike is now? The original seat height is said to be 88cm. Thank you.

[@ForTheLoveOfWheels]

Excellent video! Thanks a lot!!!

[@coolbananaboy5075]

Excellent video, thanks!

[@speedunknown]

How much does this mod lower the seat height?

[@audiogarden21]

lmao@0:50. So adorable the way she's holding her hands like a child that did an oopsie.

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

I wouldn’t use lowering links as yes it does change the geometry- even with lowering the front through the triples . Besides space lowering the suspension ( which isn’t cheap ) all i do is lower the seat and forks through triple clamps around 10mm max . This can lower pretty much any bike by around 2 inches with affecting handing ( only quicker turn in )

[@rolandwheeler4842]

Great video, thank you so much!

[@johnmason5042]

Nice video How far do you lower the forks? What is the overall decrease in seat height? Thanks for identifying bolt and nut size. Torque settings.

[@andiman45]

kouba claims 1.75"

[@springy-2112]

Hi, thank you for this. Can I be a pain and ask how much total fork is now above the clamp to level yhe bike? And how much lower is the bike overall? I'm looking at this as I'm just borderline not flatfotted and of road sometimes there's no ground under my foot! 😂 Thanks again 👍✌️❤️

[@TheStener]

I need to get one! I'm only 5,3

[@letbraski]

Hopefully you got it now.

[@user-ll1ky9do3d]

Very well explained

[@jeffreysmith3183]

I really like the video, installing a koubalink on my 18 rally now , but koubalink talks about adjusting the sag when lowering, is it necessary? Is there a video for that? Also when you lowered your bike did your chain get tighter?

[@yadisetiadi7284]

Thank you ... ❤

[@pauls3117]

Been nice if we had a before and after measurement

[@V8pauly888]

Ok cool... but how far should the forks come up ??

[@wokeupandsmellthecoffee214]

Great video. Can someone confirm if these links are used then I’d be suitably sat on the bike, I’m 5’7” ?

[@DarenC]

KZbin seems _insistent_ that I watch this video, and has been incessantly recommending it for _months_, despite the fact that the last motorbike I rode was my Hornet about 7 years ago. So now I have, but I'm regretting it because it seems the link was put in upside down - or at least, the writing was upside down - and now my palms are itching. I hope you're happy, KZbin! 🤣

[@ngzcaz]

Good video... most important info absent. What was the seat height before and after ? Can't believe I have to ask.

[@ElementofKindness]

Kouba website says their links lower a regular 250L 1.75" (44.5mm), and a Rally 1.5" (38mm)

[@rosarioroberto5823]

Thank you so much for the info. Do you have a KZbin channel?​@@ElementofKindness

[@lazysonnicon]

thank you vrey much!

[@dfxdarrell6734]

I installed links on my DR-Z 400 and it made a world of difference! Much more confident now. I come from a motocross background and I was wondering how to set up the rear shock with these links installed? The "sag" setting has been taken out completely and I don't know where to set the spring preload for my light weight of only 130lbs. Anyone have thoughts?

[@fredburris5428]

Maybe obvious but I assume you lower the fork tubes 1.75" to match the rear link?

[@chrislecouteur2360]

Great vid ....... as looking at the new 300 that's coming out soooooon. Hope you paid your staff well lol

[@grominwithrob1339]

I suspect he gets enough through his apprenticeship to cover room and board + extras!🤣😂🤣😂

[@chrismiskimen4368]

Looks like you might have installed the new lowering link upside down...the lettering is upside down. Wont affect how it works...just the aesthetics. I wish you did side x side comparison of the 2 links. Is the new one slightly longer?

[@SurRon_OffRoad]

fancy puttin it on upside down....nice and easy tho ...deffo gunna do this to my crf450

[@lauriewise6271]

doesnt answer questions so i wont ask by how much did it lower the bike

[@marktaylor7997]

He didn’t even mention how much the bike was lowered….good video but the important point wasn’t covered 🤔

[@retromoto9456]

All the engineering gear heads that work for Honda, Suzuki, ect can't figure out that half the population is not 6ft tall? I really like the KLS 250S and CRF 250L, but will buy the Yamaha XT 250 (that has very good ground clearance) because I don't like being on tippi toes. Kawasaki and Honda lost a customer!

[@jgandtherobots1672]

The Yamaha XT 250 has the dorkiest front fender ever! What made them think splitting it like that was a good look for a DS?

[@codybassett8183]

yea i dont get it either east asia is known for having smaller people too lol apparently they dont ride the bikes they make?

[@_Tp___]

I love how the boys are covering their faces in current videos, yet we have likely far more embarrassing videos with them on old Marktube pre fitness content

[@MarkLewisfitness]

Yep - they were thought the videos would never get watched by anyone back then 🤣

[@ShinyKnife]

How much does that actually lower the bike in inches? We use the imperial system here state side. I’m looking at buying this bike. I’m 5’8 would I need to lower it?

[@ShinyKnife]

I come from a motocross back ground. I’ve been riding for 30 years. So I’m a pretty experienced rider. I was just wondering about riding it on the street. I don’t won’t to side saddle it at stop lights lol 😂 I think I probably could tip toe it stock. I weigh 180 pounds too. So the suspension would probably sag quiet a bit. I’ll set on one and see I guess? Thanks for the response

[@ShinyKnife]

I Rode one this morning and I can touch just find. I can’t flat foot it. (31 inch inseam) But I can get a little more than my toes down. I just wish the power wasn’t so lazy. If I get it I’ll Change the jutter Clutch out. Put a exhaust on it, open the air box up. And remap the fuel system. I think that might wake it up a bit. Thanks for the response!

[@fredburris5428]

I just bought a 2014 with all the mods you mentioned plus a 300cc big bore kit and heavy rear and fork spring. In my opinion it has plenty of power for its intended use. It's never going to be a CRFx or KTM EXC but has off setting benefits compared to the others. @@ShinyKnife

[@amdomag]

Any idea of the seat height drop? ty.

[@roygumpel8415]

i only wish you had shown her sitting on it before and after so we see what it all means.

[@charlesfoster141]

You did not mention shortening the kickstand. How many inches was the bike lowered. The links did not look much different from one another. Thanks

[@dunnkruger8825]

Thank you thank you thank you!

[@dougie6221]

What about cleaning the linkage and pins and putting it all back with some grease?

[@vivekm6997]

Great video thanks !

[@jagermaister3301]

Super video for my friend jockey :-)

[@michaelsabatella]

Is this the same process for the Honda 250L Rally?

[@oliverauld1476]

So I have got a yzf250 and I'm thinking of putting on a lowering kit on like this, does the front suspension have to be lowered and what would happen if I didn't do this

[@LukeTeel]

Not that it matters, but just strange to install it upside down.

[@ryanprice1467]

Thank you

[@Davz2SS]

Great video!

[@raysfildsoyland682]

Sir please suggest or recommend how to properly lower the height of my HONDA XR200, my height is 5'4, iwhat is the best adjustment without altering the smooth suspension?? Standard size us 18 rear and 21 front...i prefer 17 rear and 18 front, and scrapping the saddle, and sliding up the fork? Best suggestion sir please

[@powertool4uau]

Great Vid etc etc....... But someone has to say it...... "You put the lowering link in upside down"..... I know it makes no difference to how it works but the righting is upside down lol !!!.... Yeah I did this mod to mine ages ago but I used a variable link in mine and strangely enough the variable link was cheaper than the fixed one that you used!.

[@grandpa7278]

Looked at a new KLR 230 for my adult daughter, abit tall I believe, dealer would lower for $450, which seems high, but it is new. Thoughts? btw- bought a yam 50cc quad for the kiddos

[@vinaykaushik4862]

Hi Mark! I really liked the way you explained everything. Kudoos!! Can you make similar video on Himalayan BS4 bike too. It would be fine if you could review height lowering steps for same as bike may not be available in your area. I would really appreciate this help. Thanks :)

[@PrincePlanet-ee5hn]

I have put the Kouba link in a CRF300L just now. I also have 30 mm bar risers. How far did you raise the tubes trough the top clamp in your video? What do you think would be the safe maximum? Thank you for this video.

[@firstchoicelastchoice28]

[@zelloToiletTalks]

Do you have to adjust the chain ?

[@heinzsugiarto3861]

manteb gan joss ...lanjutt

[@jeffdeezy]

After starting out on a KL250 Super Sherpa and now seeing the CRF250L in stores, I see why they charge more for these bikes: they're not selling that many, and to who the hell are they selling them to? 6 foot + tall men that actually wanted to start out on a 250 dual sport instead of a 600 sportbike?? It doesn't make much sense to have a stock seat height this high for a 250 dual sport. you never hear about bikes needing HEIGHTENING LINKS for taller riders. Oh, I need that for my ninja 250 project bike, sure, but that's another story. NOT having a lower model dual sport has alienated many riders from starting on dual sports and instead has them starting on ninja 300's etc.

[@Slyck255]

Try the Yamaha XT250... surprisingly low seat and very well mannered bike for new riders... not intimidating at all

[@dedey6178]

@jeff deal - Exactly! I grew up riding dirt bikes, starting on a Yamaha 60cc 2 stroke at age 8 and working up to multiple road bikes over the years. Fast forward 40 years ... I wanted to get back into trail riding. I just went to my local dealer and sat on this (Honda CRF250L) and it is too tall for me. I am a 5'8" athletic female weighing around 165 lbs. The bike hardly squatted when I sat on it. I was touching the floor tippy toe with one foot on the ground at a time - that is too unsafe for me while trail riding in the Catskills. I want better footing. The dealership said they could install a lowering kit for $350- for $400- and it may lower the bike 1-1/2" at the most. I'm very disappointed - I really wanted this bike to fit me. Maybe I'll revert back to a Yamaha as Slyck255 mentioned. Why would Honda make these "beginner" bikes so tall? Thank you for the info!

[@CallsItLikeISeizeIts]

Dede Y a low seat concepts seat should get you another 1.5 inches maybe? Have you tried xt250?. Or this kzbin.info/www/bejne/jZ_GY5ueptGZoas, 4.5” lower

[@dedey6178]

@@CallsItLikeISeizeIts good info, thank you!, The dealer didn't say anything about a "lowered" seat option, but now the bike is sold. Yes, I was looking at the XT250 and TW200, but all dealers around me are sold out because deliveries are behind due to the "pandemic". In the meantime, I'm getting my teen years bike up and running for fun ... 1984 Honda XL125S! It's bringing back some memories! LOL

[@ElementofKindness]

Boy! Did I goof up! I got the Zeta adjustable lowering link for my CRF250L Rally. So what's the problem? Well, the link, when even adjusted to it's longest setting, is still shorter than the factory stock link, making the bike sit HIGHER than stock!!! WTH? Contacted the manufacturer and waiting to hear back. 😡

[@EarthSurferUSA]

Know this. If you bottom out the rear suspension when riding, your tire will hit the fender harder, and it might even act like a brake when you don't want it to brake,--may help cause a crash IMO. You see, they don't shorten the travel like a spacer in a shock will, but it "Shifts the travel up, into your fender, (which probably hits a bit stock when you bottom). So if you lower your rear end 1" with a link and you bottom the suspension, it will try to jam your rear wheel 1" up higher into your fender. I put my stock link back on when I figured that out and did it with a shock spacer, (even bought a nitro fill kit, and figured out how thick of a spacer I needed for .75" at the axle), lowered the forks .75" and cut my seat. The YZ 125 and 250 2-stroke bikes are stupid tall for some reason, and it is so much better to ride hard in my favorite whooped out trails.

[@ElementofKindness]

@@EarthSurferUSA Thanks for the info. Following up, the manufacturer does not make a version for the Rally. That was an error on the retailer's part. I continue to use the stock link.

[@AlexKost-tq6bj]

Looks like you lowered the front by 20mm or so - how do you know the front wheel font hit the fender upon full compression? The travel portion of the fork (silver stanchions) are about 230mm while measuring the tire to bottom of the fender looks like 220mm -> meaning there is about 10mm of travel that won't clear upon full compression :S

[@Alberta1stPodcast]

SICK!! 👌🏾

[@DELEONSKI2359]

I went through everyone's responses... No one has asked the most important question which is this. All these efforts on lowering the bike has to have an effect on the geometry / handling / suspension. Was it better or worst? Thanks.

[@marc1505]

Did you need to get a shorter kickstand after installing this lowering link?

[@powertool4uau]

@@MarkLewisfitness I did this mod to my 250L and the stand still worked but you basically had to get off the bike and let it de-sag before the stand would go down but it was fine. I eventually got sick of that and cut about 15mm out of my stand so I could kick my stand down as soon as I stopped while still sitting on the bike and that was fine, probably 20mm would have been better but I am use to it now so will leave as is.

[@mebrrhonda6473]

Hi bro CRF 150L 7 mm dawon Posebol

[@richardvg03]

So… how far did it drop the bike?

[@cristiananganova3992]

Great video! Just a question, is it possible to make an extra hole at the botton of the rear shock to lower the bike?

[@bigglyguy8429]

No!

[@theq4602]

What if it looks like your bike dosent have a place to add a lowering link? Am I just sol?

[@nonokastle8699]

Hello , nice vid . Is the optional helper for rent ? and How much cost it ? ☺

[@jessiej3991]

Best mod is to install smaller rims & tires

[@TomPenningtonGeorgia]

Thanks!!!

[@bigglyguy8429]

Yeah we didn't want to see how much difference it made or anything...

[@MrJohnnyr1red]

Great video mate, how much disk you you lower the front forks?

[@ChrisBryanAllones]

is this similar to the 150L?