What about the little guys?

I'm 5-8 175lbs and ride a 07 640A. I've been thinking about getting a 990 but to be honest the 640A is really tall and loaded up is really heavy for a little guy like me.

From what I understand the 990 may be tad lower but the added weight has got me thinking that maybe it's too much for me.

Any thoughts from others who are of small frame?

when your riding the bike it does not feel big.

Picking it up can be a bitch though..

if you want to take a trip to SJ pm me and you can ride mine..

I have a nice dualsport ride from SJ to SC that will give you street/dirt and even singletrack if you want some of that..

I'm 5'8" and weigh 152 with a 30' inseam. I started on KTM's with a 640. I'm now on a 990. It's tall. It's angry and I wouldn't give it up for anything at this point. I can get it on the center stand fully loaded.

I'm a small bitch - you shouldn't have any problems.

640 got dropped once on the road, and it wasn't due to my height or there lack of. Buy one and ride. If you're really REALLY concerned, buy some lowering links and then put it back to stock when you realize they don't matter.

Use your hip if you move the bike around and if on the off chance you do happen to drop it - just say you did it in the field ;]

Seriously - now go get one and ride. You'll love it.

So where's the little guy in that post? I'm 5'6", 160lbs.

I think Randy Newman said it best...

You need to get your facts straight sir. the lc8's have a linkless rear suspension, the only options you have for lowering involve softer springs and less preload, or internal shock modifications. Not impossible, but not cheap or easy.

And 5'8" 115 lbs here. Not an issue, learning to ride a bike involves becoming acquainted with it's balance point. Once there, it doesnt fucking matter how heavy the bike is.

go the skinny guys!
throw the 990 around just fine with the brickshithouses. dont say no to them giving me a hand to pick it up tho

Hey all,

I am 5'9" and weigh in at 138lbs... yip i am that skinny and ride a 990, yes its heavy, but i think its lower than the 640 adv as i can get both feet on the ground at a light, where i found the 640 too high and thus felt less confident on it.

I will never swop my 990 back to a 640.

Mike

5'9" here, whatever 80kg is in old money

S Model

Just fitted +1" Renazco Seat

We'll see how this pans out...

I'm 5' 10" with a 31" inseam, but my bike is an early '04 with 9" suspension. I did gain a little by getting a factory low gel seat, and by backing off the preload both fore and aft.

I do fine until the going gets slow; if I keep above about 5 mph, all is good.

Where I have trouble is on rough ground if I have to stop unexpectedly, or have to pad to maneuver. I seem to have about a 10% of finding the ground within reach of my foot. Timmmberrrrr....



A simple u-turn on the lumpy shoulder of a fireroad:



Ten or fifteen minutes of dragging into position, grunting, and cussing, got it back on the wheels. (Did I mention that I am skinny and weak, as well as short legged?)

There's a great Youtube lifting technique. (don't know the link) It really works. I've picked mine up in soft sand using it. Basically facing away from the bike and lifting with legs, puch back.
Maybe somebody else recalls the link.

It does work great, even for me at 5'6". However, in sand with fully loaded gobis not so much so, ask me how I know

You're totally right - I spaced and was referring to the links for a 640. I haven't bothered with any lowering on the LC8.

Glad to see you're learning the lesson Daniel

I must not have watched the vid closely enough. I tried it, and the bike didn't budge.

Did you remember to go to Plan "B" of the video? That works every time.

Don't remember, is that the dynamite trick?

Ummm. No. I'll let somebody else pop in with the Plan B answer.

Watch the nice lady show you how to do it

<object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/1sP3cqKbOEs&hl=en_US&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/1sP3cqKbOEs&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>

OK, I just found the video, and re-watched it. Plan B does look like an effective method if I should somehow manage to dump on a main road. But, the places that slow me down enough to get into trouble would likely require lying on the ground for a day or three waiting for someone to come along.

<object height="344" width="425">


<embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/pPjYweKeiLk&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="344" width="425"></object>