WR250R/X question of the day

Two questions occurred to me with respect to the use of lowering links:

1. It would seem that a lowering link would add squat to the bike, in direct proportion to how much lowering was done. Is this correct? If so, does anyone feel the R needs more squat (or less squat)? How about the X?

2. Increasing the leverage on the rear shock as a Yamalink is said to do: Would moving the rear axle back have a similar effect?


Our reply:


Leverage increases when sliding the axle back, but not by much. Doing this will change the amount of lowering and travel 1/8-1/4 inches on most off road bikes because the swing arm arc gets longer and does increase the leverage.

I believe the "squat" your referring to is when it hooks up; the longer links do give you a better hookup/squat but all that still depends on the amount of rear race sag one is running. Less sag usually equals plusher ride with more squat as the suspension is riding in a less progressive part of the travel.

yamaha lowering link install and report from first timer

Finally rode the WR with the YamaLink today for the first time after installing it.

Preliminary results and observations:

1. I do not have to remember to kick my leg up extra high as I swing it over to avoid kicking the left rear turn signal.

2. On the street I did not notice any difference. I did not measure before and after, so I really do not know what the actual amount lowered is, except point one above.

3. My son did a little street riding tonight. He rides a lot better than me and races mountain bikes, so he has way more experience than me. He says it corners better. He says it feels like the back is digging in through the turns and that this is good news.

We will be at Bass Lake, riding Miami Creek and 007 this weekend. So I will get a chance to test it a little myself.

Installation was a snap. My son forgot to bring his stand over, so we used a bucket. I balanced the WR while he did all the work. I found it to be a much easier install than he did.

random email has nothing to do with yamahas

Email sent regarding babysitting a friend's 5 or 6 year old daughter because the parents have work-related things they can't get out of....so I was their absolutely truly desperate last choice. You can see why by reading:


does Ella know how to go potty all by herself?

i have never changed my nephews' diapers when they were kids.

i take it Ella does not wear pull-ups or any of that stuff?

if she drops a turd in her pants I ain't touchin' it.

yamaha lowering link writeup on Thumper Talk

A YamaLink rider posted a great writeup with photos on ThumperTalk....proving once again that our customers are better riders, writers and photographers than we are. Sigh.

we can't take the credit...

Sometimes the usps.com folk get their act in 5th gear ASAP, and deliver the goods (still doesn't make up for the 3 week "priority" mail fiasco they did to us last month; I could've drove to New York and hand delivered the yamaha lowering link).

"Just a quick not to say thank you for the Yamalink for my YZ 125. Its a very nice piece indeed. Your customer service is phenomenal- shipped over the week end? Arrived on Monday? Ordered on Friday! WOW.

I'll let you know how I like the link when the bike is built back. Im making a "hybrid" of sorts. Ive taken a 2003 YZ125 and used your ink in the rear along with a 18" rear rim, trials tires, heavy flywheel weight, high compression top end, 12/51 gearing and the forks up 7 mm to make a trials/trail bike.


Thanks again for an exceptional buying experience!"