Touratech lowering kit

[exiledinaus]

Hi all,

 

As this place is an incredible source of knowledge, I wondered if anyone has installed one of these?  If so, how straightforward was it?

 

Touratech Lowering KIT about -35mm for Yamaha 700 Tenere from 2019 fork springs and reversing levers 632-5883

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Touratech Lowering KIT about -35mm for Yamaha 700 Tenere from 2019 fork springs and reversing levers 632-5883

 

There is a brief review here

 

Touratech's Yamaha T7 Suspension Lowering Kit Review - Cycle News

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Touratech’s Yamaha T7 Suspension Lowering Kit Review | Lower the Yamaha Tenere 700’s seat height by 1.25 inches.

but I cant seem to find any more info...

 

Any comments or views if you have on either ease of install or how it rides after install would be greatly appreciated?

 

 

 

[Ktmmitch]

The rear links are longer than OEM, and are easy to fit, but they lower the front by using a progressive spring, with an extremely soft starting coil section, in order that the front drops a lot.

We fitted these to the Honda CRF1000L, and the front felt very "wooden" when riding, very little feedback

It is better to keep the stock springs, add a 5mm preload washer to get correct sag, then just slide the forks through the triples by about 20mm

You will also probably need a shorter side stand

[Martypal]

Hi,

 

I installed the lowering kit on my Tenere and I am very happy with it.

I feel it gave me better performance on road and I don’t feel it compromised my off road riding, on the contrary it made me feel more confident as it is a lot easier to reach the ground with my feet in challenging situations.

I had to cut the side stand as I could not find any shorter side stands available. But not issues 

[una.brisa]

By any chance did anyone purchase the -35mm TOURATECH EXPLORE HP REAR SHOCK W/ PDS + -35MM LOWERING FORK SPRINGS?
or just the links?

 

This is a new world to me and I am trying to figure out what is needed vs what is justifiable for the long and lifespan ownership of the bike and my comfort.
Currently, the bike is too tall for me. I purchased the low seat and I am still on tippie-toes and it does not give me the confidence to get on some uneven/rough terrain.... the bike is definitely going down.

Edited March 15, 2021 by una.brisa

[cstatman]

Brisa,

I am in the same situation --- 5'6" on a good day, 28" inseam, 165lbs.   Been riding a LONG time,  and I DO plan on offroading my T7.

on the street?  i can scooch my butt to the left, and stretch down and land the foot.   NO problem
Offroad - you DO need to be able to get some contact

I've cut the foam in my already low seat, put on lowering links in the rear, and dropped the fork tubes in the triples...
after a few hundred miles?  I've noticed the stock suspension also sets, and drops a little more.

My Plan(tm) - is to ride fire road/jeep trails, and see what the stock suspension really needs. - before I buy new shock/springs
IF it bottoms (hard KLANK) on the rough stuff?   I will order the Rally Raid kit.  Ktmmitch on this board,  has spent considerable time and engineeering thought on making a well solutioned kit.   it is not cheap - but I know it will be the best on the market for the bike

https://www.rally-raidproducts.co.uk/yamaha-t7-tenere

riding twisty nor-cal mountain roads, and light duty unpaved roads?  the stock suspension is just fine,
I want to try it on really ruttted, crappy, forestry paths, and see what it needs

[una.brisa]

cstatman,
Thank you for the reply and link to the Rally raid page. In fact, I had been looking between these two products yesterday before my post and I guess what caught my eye was that the Touratech lowered the bike -35mm and figured this would be a fairly "plug n play" scenario and a more "cost effective" solution (I would have to take it to the shop to get these tasks done, never the less) to the height issue. Lower the back and the front with no additional or professional tunning?

 

The thought for better suspension was not being considered in my decision, if I come to think about it.
I figured there might be no need for my type of riding as I do not ride on aggressive terrain and only occasionally and with my body weight;  I do not think there is a high chance for me to bottom it out unless I am jumping off some high terrain; which in case I dont. 

 

I am 5'7 / 135-140lbs / 29" inseam.

 

The purpose of the bike is for an Americas trip. Once I reach the tip, I will consider hopping over to Europe / Asia but this is further in the future, so feeling comfortable on the road, with stop n go high traffic scenarios was my initial concern. Off-road will come in place and when it does, I want to ensure the bike can perform as it should and equally important; I feel safe doing it. 

 

I was really excited because I ordered the low seat (finally arrived 3 months later) and figured that would suffice, but it did not. One key thing I am considering is that I am tip toe, with no bags on the bike, but with riding gear. I am still putting together the items and bags are out of stock, so my only measurement is someone pushing down on the bike to approximate. But even this is inconsistent as It will be with the bags - type of gear I am carrying etc; I assume.

 

Similar to your situation, if I swing my weight to the left or right and stretch down, I can place my foot on the ground. 
 

Edited March 17, 2021 by una.brisa

[cstatman]

13 hours ago, una.brisa said:

 

 

Similar to your situation, if I swing my weight to the left or right and stretch down, I can place my foot on the ground. 
 

 

when i started roadracing (in a club, on a track) in 1985? ish? ...   one of my pals was 5'4" with a 26" inseam.
he gave me some really good advice...  "when you are riding?  keep your feet on the PEGS, do NOT put them on the GROUND"...    
he would come around for the "hot lap" before the race,  get his bike onto his starting spot,  then either balance like a trials rider,  or slide almost all the way off the bike, to get one foot to the ground.

Years later, we watched the YOUNG Hayden boys, and the Landers boys on YSR 50's.   parents would get them started for hot lap, and they would slow WAY down... so they coasted up to their starting grid space --- JUST as the green flag was dropping,   no feet down.   Then - each family had 3 boys...   it was a RACE between them, to see which two could come in first/second and have parents "catch' them... the third place kid?  just kinda wheeled around into the pits and fell off the bike.

I'm not sure when/where this idea that you MUST be able to flat-foot touch BOTH feet to the ground all the time? came from.

Offroad?  it absolutely helps to be able to securely get one foot on the ground...   when you need to catch yourself going uphill, or someone stops in front of you,   and you need to be able to hold the bike up.  

If you are gonna do an America's trip - and understand south America WILL have rutted, dirt and rocky road?   Suspension is your friend.   don't just lower it, but put in some components.
I'm currently pricing a RaceTech shock and springs for my '20 CRF250L.      but for the T7?   the work Ktmmitch did at RallyRaid?  is THE way to go.    

[Matth]

I used progressive springs on my gs80o, trouble is with them is when you sit on it there is virtually no workable suspension left as the first 1/3 is so soft the suspension has all but been lost.

off road it was useless. Ok if softy off road only but it got disproportionately hard towards the end of the stroke. As KTM mitch said. Put through the forks