New Rider is a shorty

[danthered]

I am getting my girl into riding. the gs500 seems like a good way to go. Only thing is that she is only 5'2" and cannot two foot it at a stop. Are there any kits or anyway to lower these bikes. If so, how much will it drop the height.

Thanks

[mastrind]

I've got a set of lowering links on ebay right now that will drop the bike about 2 inches....I've also got a Kawi 250 shock on ebay that will lower the bike as well....

Lowering Links

Kawi Shock

my wife is also 5'2".....she has short legs (even for her short stature) and couldn't even touch toes when the bike was stock.....with both the shock and links she could get the balls of her feet down and almost flat foot....[/url]

[vdb]

How do you install the lowering links?  I'm interested since I am a 5' 2" female rider.

Vanessa

[mastrind]

pretty easy....

1.  put bike on centerstand
2.  remove rear tire (not necessary, but does make it easier)
3.  loosen existing dogbones mounting bolts....metric 14mm bolts if I remember correctly...and remove bolts and dogbones
4.  install new lowering links and bolts and tighten to torque specs (have to look it up in the factory manual or a clymer)
5.  re-install rear wheel
6.  take bike off center-stand and enjoy!!!

I took my rear tire off because I was also installing a different shock at the time.  As long as you can loosen the bolts it's really not necessary to remove the rear wheel, although you do have to support the rear tire in an elevated position.  I've seen folks use bungee cords through the wheel and around the tail of the bike, as well as others putting the rear wheel on pieces of wood or other items (chock block, a shoe, a floor jack, etc.) Just do put the bike on the centerstand!!!

[Rema1000]

As long as you can loosen the bolts it's really not necessary to remove the rear wheel.  Just do put the bike on the centerstand!!!

...and put just enough wood under the rear wheel, so that it doesn't drop down when the dogbones come unbolted.

[mastrind]

thanx for the reminder rema1k....I'll edit that post....

[scratch]

Welcome Danthered!

Also, you can slide the forks through the triple clamps (put the bike on the centerstand and put a 13 or 13.5 inch piece of wood under one of the engine case half bolts between the headers).