Fantastic testimonial (and it didn't come from our mom!)

"Nice work on the piece: very clean design and mfg. Also, spot on instructions for those who may not have much experience with these types of projects. Celeste assisted me and I had her do as much of the install as I felt confident with. Unfortunately, most instructions are written by people who could perform the install with one hand tied behind their back and a Bud in the other! Yours were very clear and concise. Nice job."

WR250R and WR250X Yamaha Lowering Link in hand!!!!

Super nice....and super unanodized. They are at the anodizer getting their beautiful blue coat applied along with the F YamaLinks. We'll throw a finished YamaLink on the R this Monday.

On a related note, the next larger batch of R and X YamaLinks are in production.

Who knew Iceland had so many Yamaha riders!

And shorter ones at that (we've decided it ain't cool to call people "short" because it's a relative term. So "shorter" works for anyone).

A big box of YamaLinks for YZ two strokes and WRs left for the big land of ice. It's either a family of short(er) blue bikes. One bike collector with two short(er) legs. Or a museum dedicated to colored billet aluminum blocks carved in a unique pattern with three holes.

It's not a Yamaha, but it's our pic of the day!

We interrupt your regularly scheduled web surfing/wasting the work day away with one of the entrants on the ThumperTalk whip/crash magazine subscription thread....

A Yamaha Lowering Link Thumper Talk contest for the ladies...

YamaLink is giving a year's subscription to your favorite magazine. Click this link to Thumper Talk for more details.

You'll Monkey Flip Productions over YamaLink

Just off the phone with Steve from Monkey Flip Productions, and they will be producing the WR250R/X lowering link installation video.

We'll have a direct shot from our site to the video on YouTube. Steve should receive his link this time next week, and do what he does best.

Yamaha Lowering Link: Answer of the Day

Lowering links are not recommended for really big jumpers or ditch bashers or freestyle guys. Due to the increased leverage, it makes the bike more plush but that means it blows through the travel easier. We've had great results with aggressive riders turning in the high speed compression about 1/8 turn and going in on the rebound at least one click. The forks are raised about 6mm.

One misconception is that you must have a 1:1 ratio of fork and rear suspension lowering. Not true. Changes to rake/trail affect geometry at a different rate than changes to rear suspension. The best handling bikes we've been on are lowered in the rear about 1/4 to 1/2 inch more than the front.

Another misconception is that you lose travel. With a link that has an increase in leverage, you actually gain travel because the rear wheel can go up further into the rear fender. This also means you may hit the rear fender with the wheel. Some riders scream bloody murder "my rear tire is hitting the fender....I bottomed so bad" Of course. More leverage. But look at any expert/pro mx or off-road racer's rear fender = big black marks! Not just cuz they are hitting big triples, but because most of them run one-off linkages.

Lowering links are not for everyone. We classify these as "lowering links" and not performance links. Yes, 250 two stroke racers use our 1.75 inch link because on their bikes it gives them 1 inch lowering but they change the sag to about 1/2 less than factory spec, and it makes their bikes ultra smoother on the choppy tundra/braking bumps/accelerations bumps. They're not necessarily going for lowering. They're going for increased leverage to get the teeth rattling bumps smoothed out (but you have to change sag or you'll truly blow through travel easier).

Trailer riders. Short people. Weekend warriors. All looove our YamaLink.

Warm Vanilla Sugar YamaLink

Someone spilled an entire bottle of warm vanilla sugar room freshener and now it smells like a Bath and Body Works imploded inside the shop. Unfortunately a few of us are reminded of ex girlfriends whenever we walk past the drill bits.

Yamaha Lowering Link: Yamaha WR250R and 250X soooo close!

Whodathunk the R and X would be so popular, and that everyone buying these great bikes are "not tall." We could have a phone dedicated to WR250R and WR250X inquiries.

Yamaha Lowering Link Ad Option #2

Which do you prefer? We'll go to print with whichever gets the most positive comments.

Yamaha Lowering Link Ad Option 1

Option 1 for our new ad. Pretty straightforward. We like it, and appreciate the efforts of the designer tremendously!!!

Yamaha Lowering Link: North of the Border

In an odd turn of events, we've sold YamaLinks to individuals and shops in the same Canadian town on the same day!

Yamaha Lowering Link: Double Bubble that YamaLink!

Per yesterday's blog, we have double bubble wrapped today's shipment of YamaLinks.

YamaLink gets beat up on the way to Vermont

Scott from Vermont had his YamaLink express delivered. What the usps should really call it, from what Scott told us over the phone, is "beat up and dragged across the US." We appreciate Scott's calm explanation, and from now on will add another layer of bubble wrap to every YamaLink, express or priority mailed.

Yamaha Lowering Link: TTR 250 Kouba Links are...

These are my least favorite words to hear when I go to order online whether it be a Dwight Yoakam CD (no, I'm not a country music fan, and beside, he's more rockabilly) or a box of frozen White Castle burgers (personal record is 14 in one sitting, but I paid the price!): out of stock.

And the Kouba Link TTR 250 is just that. We called Kouba Link and they told us to expect a June 2nd delivery. We've let everyone know, and buyers seem cool with that. But they're worth the wait! Just like the CD and burgers, mmmmm.

Yamaha Lowering Link: YamaLink WR250R and X update

Shipping June 2, 2008

Up to 2.25 inches total lowering of the rear.

Price? $145.

Yamaha Lowering Link: Yamaha WR250X letter of the day

Today's letter comes from Drew.

"After reading your "about us" page, I knew your company was what I was looking for, as I am 5'5", and vertically challenged by my new WR250 X.

I see you are working to make them available, but my question is when?? This will be a great addition to my bike and I want to be at the front of the line. Please let me know when they will be available.

Also, I have mechanical skills, but am no motorcycle mechanic. How much modification/skill is necessary to make this change. Will the unit come with detailed instructions/pictures?"

Drew, good questions. Let's take one at a time.

When will it be available: Tomorrow (Monday the 19th of May), we sit down with the really smart guys who won't let anyone near the shiny machines to get that answer. I predict 5 days to get the finished piece. I hold it up in the air, mutter a few words like "splendid, cool, is there any way to make it glow in the dark," (that last one was a joke). Add another 4 or so days and the first batch should be done. WAIT, there's more. Then it goes back on the bike and ridden around. If all is cool, it goes to the anodizer which takes two days. And it's time to ship! It's always better to under promise and over deliver, so I will say the WR250X and R lowering link will be ready to ship (drum roll, please) on Monday, June 2nd. Two weeks. We've had products come out ahead of schedule before which always make riders happy, and we hope to do the same again, but if it comes out June 3rd or 5th, please don't kidnap our dog or flame us online.

Drew also asks how much modification/skill is necessary to make this change. Will the unit come with detailed instructions/pictures?: It will come with detailed instructions both with the YamaLink and online. A rider posted a great pictorial on how to lower the bike with the factory 1 inch option at ThumperTalk and the additional time to put on our YamaLink is basically taking off a few more nuts, taking out a bolt and replacing a stock part with our part. The YamaLink comes with bearings and seals, fyi. I will be up front and say taking off the one part will be the most difficult. It took me a good 2 minutes. Yep, 2 minutes. The very first time we installed the YamaLink AND took out the inch from the factory it took us 30 minutes. Now we hold unofficial YamaLink tear down world record parties, and the fastest time is right around 11 minutes.

And should you run into any problems, we'll be here to help you through it via email or phone or smoke signal (again, joking on the last part).

Yamaha Lowering Link: WR250R and X YamaLink is on the way!

From the website:

May 17 update (okay, we jumped the gun because 5-17 isn't for another 43 minutes): The testing and YamaLink fitting of the cool yet unbelievably-tall 250R and X is complete. So what's it gonna be when we fire up the CNC machine this Monday? Based on rider feedback and what we feel is the maximum the 250R/X should be lowered, the YamaLink will complement the factory one inch lowering with its own 1.25 lowering of the rear. It will have a grease zerk, shiny blue anodizing, bearings and seals, and will cost $145. Figure in a week of machining and two days for anodizing. We'll update you on any changes, of course.

Yamaha Lowering Link: YamaLink & Blue Ribbon Coalition!

That felt good! We just sent our first Blue Ribbon Coalition general fund donation. Proceeds from each YamaLink sale goes toward keeping our riding trails open for everyone.

Yamaha Lowering Link: New YamaLink banner

Yamaha Lowering Link: YamaLink sponsorship

Exciting news! YamaLink is sponsoring several great regional bike clubs with group pricing. In return the clubs get a little $$$ to help offset the cost of newsletters and websites. Each liked the idea of proceeds going to Blue Ribbon Coalition. We do, too.

Yamaha Lowering Link: Experience the YamaLink magic. Not at Disney.

With more dealers carrying YamaLink we're having new packaging made up. When we first started out, throwing a link on their counter was okay. That was for one sale. Now they're going on new bikes on the sales floor, and dealers need a way to hang them for visibility. Hence the packaging.

Today Kristen the Designer works her magic; for 10 years she was part of the Disney culture as a senior graphic designer before moving on to Old Navy, Pixar. Of course this leads to some jokes from the likes of buddy Lucas.

"Is Mickey going to hold a YamaLink while wearing cargo shorts?"

Lucas is funny. Not.

Yamaha Lowering Link: Let's make a deal(er)

Things are picking up. The ginormous blisters are doing better today, and a few dealers are requesting YamaLinks for their inquiring customers. And the best news of all is that Keith the Customer is going for Round 2. Thanks, Keith!!

Yamaha Lowering Link: Layers upon layers of pain

Can't type now. My blisters have blisters. Holding on too tight for 100 miles of snowy/dusty/rocky/fallen tree trails. Kept telling myself to "breathe, relax, let the bike do the work."

Ouch. Time to put hands back in bucket of aloe vera.

Yamaha Lowering Link: Stadium Yamaha in Irving, Texas

John from Stadium Yamaha was kind enough to put a link on their site, and we can't thank him enough! Heck, Stadium Yamaha even made a little logo for ML2. Who does that these days? They're super busy selling Yamaha road and dirt bikes, answering phone calls, emails... yet they're kind enough to do this for us.

If you're anywhere near the Dallas-Fort Worth area, or plan a trip to Irving, TX, stop in and buy a Yamaha. Buy two. Their prices are great both in store and online (eBay included).

Yamaha Lowering Link: Ever wonder who had the phone number before you?

YamaLink did. No longer, though, cuz it seems our phone number used to be a veterinarian's office. At first we said the usual "sorry, no vet here. Well, not a veterinarian. One of us is a Navy vet."

The last call was about a chameleon. I guess someone's reptile had an upset stomach. We told the owner to reset the little guy's sag, turn his high-speed compression in just a scootch and raise the forks a quarter inch. Call us in the morning.

Yamaha Lowering Link: 2008 Yamaha WR250R

Prototypes are being built and tested (in Seattle's urban jungle and Des Moine's backroads) for the 2008 WR250R and WR250X. Pricing and features will blow your mind. Well worth the wait!

Check back and visit the website for more info.

Yamaha Lowering Link: Yamalink Tip of the Day

Do not drop a link on the concrete floor from 3 feet up unless you enjoy picking up needle bearings. No amount of pre-packaged grease on a bearing can save it from a devastating fate.

YamaLink.com : Not Just for Shorter Riders

It's not really a secret per say, but not many know about it.

Riders and racers who are NOT short use different links and rockers on their race bikes. Why? Because it helps immensely with the braking bumps and square-edge kickers. A YamaLink will help make the bike feel more "planted" in turns, especially flat sweepers. How?

By using a 1 or 1.25 inch YamaLink on the YZ 2 stroke and YZF, riders change their sag to 3.25 or 3.5 inches depending on preference. Without getting too technical and long-winded, a YamaLink makes the bike think it's not riding so far into the progression of the shock travel, and it's able to soak up the smaller hits while having more travel available for the big oh-my-this-is-gonna-hurt-maybe landing or G-out.

Riders and racers report feeling fresher, racing harder longer and being more confident as the race wears on because they have so much more control.

There are several Top 20 amateur off-road and mx racers who use lowering links, and not just YamaLinks. We've seen Koubalinks on big-dollar bikes at Loretta Lynn's and at AMA Hare Scrambles, WORCS and National Qualifiers.

All things being equal, wouldn't you want one?

Yamaha Lowering Link: ThumperTalk, will you go to the dance with us?

Probably the last post of the day, and then it's off to pack for a weekend of riding some snowy high country trails (translation: eating hot dogs at camp cuz we knew the snow would be too deep everywhere).

Excitedly just threw our hat into the ThumperTalk ring. Inquired about a direct sale to TT members at a discount or selling in the TT store.

Hey, can't hurt to ask! Okay, time to pack everything and forget something.

Here's a snippet from the form letter auto-reply.


"Thank you for your inquiry about reaching the members and visitors to ThumperTalk.com with your message! We'll respond to you shortly with more information about our offering and its options.

Regards,

ThumperTalk.com

YamaLink: Yamaha Motorcycle Lowering Links

Overseas shipping can be super easy or a super pain in the kidneys. Normally USPS.com Global Priority - for $12 flat rate - does a good job, but more often than not they LOSE things. But some buyers in some countries know they can count on whomever takes their package from USPS (see, the United Postal Service stops at the border and hands the goods off to the respective country's postal system....if you thought our mail system stunk you ain't seen nothin' til you deal with Italy) so they just say "'eh, gimme Global Priority for $12.

But others know better. So we're offering International Express on the checkout form. For a flat rate of - gasp - $25, you get online tracking and insurance, and a delivery time that is 3 to 5 days as opposed to the already-decent 6 to 10 days.

YamaLink: It's like a Glamour Shot but without the big hair