5'6'' Too Short for Sand

Huggies · 01-03-2008, 12:54 PM

Help the NewB! I've been riding and racing quads all my life- looking to make the switch from my YFZ450 to a CRF450. I ride dunes/rutted beach/desert. I've been told at 5'6" and 160 pounds, riding sand may be too much for me or just a pain in the arse. Since I'm completely new to dirt bikes, I have no idea. Any comments or suggestions at all would be appreciated. Thank you.

turtlemann14 · 01-03-2008, 12:59 PM

how much have you ridden dirt bike any?

Huggies · 01-03-2008, 02:05 PM

none on a dirt bike.

tjscott2012 · 01-03-2008, 02:16 PM

anyone can do it, its just gonna be harder than a taller person

tigmaster · 01-03-2008, 03:56 PM

well, with that weight and you height i would almost consider a lowering kit at least for the rear. granted you may be able to just take some tension off the rear shock spring but this will screw your sag up and this will cause handling problems especially in the sand. a lowering kit usually consists of a new pivot joint which is the triangle shaped part that connects the swingarm, linkage, and rear shock.

gscx · 01-03-2008, 04:41 PM

yea, but you should get a stiffer spring since you have less travel

Th3-di3ing-br33d · 01-03-2008, 06:23 PM

im 5'6 too but i way a little bit more, just try it out and see how it goes, thats the best thing to do.

turtlemann14 · 01-03-2008, 06:36 PM

ya, just don't get on and pin it, get accustomed to it first then decide what need to be done to help you

gscx · 01-03-2008, 07:52 PM

yea most companies set up thier bikes for a rider that is about 5' 10" and aroung 170. so you dont really to make any adjustments to the spring rate on the front forks, but if you get a lowering kit i would go for the one where they trim some of the shock shaft off. its more permanent and expensive but im not sure how the bike would react when you put a lowering link on it but you kept the shock shaft the same, maybe the tire would hit the fender and stuff but i dont really know alot about it, either way, you have a big bike, and there will be a very long learning phase, dont do anything to the bike for about 2 months,unless it is completely impossible to ride, probly not considering WR, a member here is 5' 5'' and rides a WR 250f, both of these bikes are the same size physically. but just do things slow, i think thats the best advice you can get at this time

tigmaster · 01-03-2008, 08:02 PM

like gscx said, dont change spring rates. this would be bad because the spring is set for about your weight as it is now. as far as the lowering kits, they usually proportionally change all 3 pivot points so you dont lose any travel or anything for that matter. compression and rebound rates stay the same. personally i would stay away from shock shaft trimming because with my option you still take advantage of the full travel of the shock to dampen the hit.

01-03-2008, 12:54 PM	#1 (permalink)
Huggies C Rider Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3 iTrader: (0)	5'6'' Too Short for Sand Help the NewB! I've been riding and racing quads all my life- looking to make the switch from my YFZ450 to a CRF450. I ride dunes/rutted beach/desert. I've been told at 5'6" and 160 pounds, riding sand may be too much for me or just a pain in the arse. Since I'm completely new to dirt bikes, I have no idea. Any comments or suggestions at all would be appreciated. Thank you.

01-03-2008, 12:59 PM	#2 (permalink)
turtlemann14 Pro Mototips Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: West Virginia Posts: 3,990 iTrader: (0)	how much have you ridden dirt bike any? __________________ If it does not move at first, get a bigger hammer!! Myspace Yamaha 1982 xj550 under bike lights Kawasaki klx250 1979 custom fiberglass silencer+ Honda xr200r 1985 stock = Dakaw Dk250 2008

01-03-2008, 02:16 PM	#4 (permalink)
tjscott2012 The Spam man Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Hurley, Mo Posts: 4,868 iTrader: (0)	anyone can do it, its just gonna be harder than a taller person __________________ 87 Banshee Red Frame, Black plastics. bone stock (for now) -Life is full of ups and downs, so I say, get a quad and jump those mother****ers

01-03-2008, 03:56 PM	#5 (permalink)
tigmaster Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Missouri, United States Posts: 7,530 iTrader: (1)	well, with that weight and you height i would almost consider a lowering kit at least for the rear. granted you may be able to just take some tension off the rear shock spring but this will screw your sag up and this will cause handling problems especially in the sand. a lowering kit usually consists of a new pivot joint which is the triangle shaped part that connects the swingarm, linkage, and rear shock. __________________ --'03 CRF450r-- --FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle-- --Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs-- --Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars-- --Devol Full SP With Moose HGs-- --Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain-- --Now It Is The End, Probably...-- --'06 CBR F4I-- --Bone Stock-- Check Our Latest How-To Here

01-03-2008, 04:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
gscx Pro Mototips Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: bridgeville DE Posts: 2,234 iTrader: (0)	yea, but you should get a stiffer spring since you have less travel __________________ Sold

01-03-2008, 02:05 PM	#3 (permalink)
Huggies C Rider Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 3 iTrader: (0)	none on a dirt bike.

01-03-2008, 06:23 PM	#7 (permalink)
Th3-di3ing-br33d Pro Mototips Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The Valley, Ohio Posts: 1,405 iTrader: (0)	im 5'6 too but i way a little bit more, just try it out and see how it goes, thats the best thing to do.

01-03-2008, 06:36 PM	#8 (permalink)
turtlemann14 Pro Mototips Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: West Virginia Posts: 3,990 iTrader: (0)	ya, just don't get on and pin it, get accustomed to it first then decide what need to be done to help you __________________ If it does not move at first, get a bigger hammer!! Myspace Yamaha 1982 xj550 under bike lights Kawasaki klx250 1979 custom fiberglass silencer+ Honda xr200r 1985 stock = Dakaw Dk250 2008

01-03-2008, 07:52 PM	#9 (permalink)
gscx Pro Mototips Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: bridgeville DE Posts: 2,234 iTrader: (0)	yea most companies set up thier bikes for a rider that is about 5' 10" and aroung 170. so you dont really to make any adjustments to the spring rate on the front forks, but if you get a lowering kit i would go for the one where they trim some of the shock shaft off. its more permanent and expensive but im not sure how the bike would react when you put a lowering link on it but you kept the shock shaft the same, maybe the tire would hit the fender and stuff but i dont really know alot about it, either way, you have a big bike, and there will be a very long learning phase, dont do anything to the bike for about 2 months,unless it is completely impossible to ride, probly not considering WR, a member here is 5' 5'' and rides a WR 250f, both of these bikes are the same size physically. but just do things slow, i think thats the best advice you can get at this time __________________ Sold

01-03-2008, 08:02 PM	#10 (permalink)
tigmaster Administrator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Missouri, United States Posts: 7,530 iTrader: (1)	like gscx said, dont change spring rates. this would be bad because the spring is set for about your weight as it is now. as far as the lowering kits, they usually proportionally change all 3 pivot points so you dont lose any travel or anything for that matter. compression and rebound rates stay the same. personally i would stay away from shock shaft trimming because with my option you still take advantage of the full travel of the shock to dampen the hit. __________________ --'03 CRF450r-- --FMF Pipe, Pro-Tech Revavle-- --Vortex Basket With Tusk Disks And HP Springs-- --Pro Taper Triple Clamps And Bars-- --Devol Full SP With Moose HGs-- --Renthal 13/50 With R1 Chain-- --Now It Is The End, Probably...-- --'06 CBR F4I-- --Bone Stock-- Check Our Latest How-To Here

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