lowering gs500

[sherry]

I bought a nice 96 gs but it sits a little high for me. any ideas how I can lower it about an inch or so. I'm only 5'3" so any little bit will help. I love the bike but I just feel better with both feet on the ground

[Jared]

 
There's quite a few posts on lowering the Gs500.

Longer dogbones  will lower the rear end of the bike  just shy  a half inch longer should yield about a 2 inch drop at the rear...

You can slide the forks up in the clamps about an inch before hitting the bars to lower the front end.  You can do the old double  bar clamps cheapo fork riser kit ( extra set of stock bar clamps..longer bolts bottom set of clamps upside down.....)  and slide the forks up some more but you can't go too far or you'll interfere with suspension travel -  you may only be able to get about an inch and a half anyway before you'd be hitting the lower triple clamp with the fork dust seals when you bottomed the forks out (If memory serves..).

If that's not enough you trim the seat foam down ( less comfy obviously).  If all that's not enough...get a shorter bike (Bandit 400  or a small cruiser with a lower seat height).

Do a search on lowering...

Enjoy...the Gs is a great 500cc class bike.

[pandy]

Lowering the bike with dogbones is the last resort (and should be done by someone who really knows what they're doing). It's safer to try other things first, such as shaving the seat. You also might try some platform boots, which is what I'm going to need for my SVS. I'm 5'4", and while I'm able to flat-foot it on the GS, I tippy-toe on my SVS, and I dread even the slightest incline. 

[solarpulse]

why do you say dogbones shoudl be used as a last resort??? 

[pandy]

Here's a good thread that discusses lowering:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=23451.0

Here's a quote from the FAQ Phaedrus put together ( http://gstwin.variders.com/ ):

If the 31" seat height of the GS is too tall, you still have some options:

Get some riding boots with heels - This is also a good idea for your own protection in the even of a crash, your feet and heels will be better protected.

Cut the seat - This involves removing much of the "stuffing" out of the seat and changing it's shape and then reupholstering it. It will help your legs stay closer together and touch the ground easier at the expense of a slightly harsher seat comfort.

Lower the bike - Not considered the best idea, but it is still possible though not suggested. You can purchase what are called "dogbones" (lowering links) to drop the suspension up to a couple of inches. You are altering the handling of the bike, and reducing ground clearance which could interfere with its ridability as well. However, GStwin member MStarmer suggests getting lowering links from www.sledesigns.com/ (Part # LL6007). He says they are well made and easy to install.

On a related note, you might be interested in the "Short Biker Mailing List"

www.ki.org/sbl/

Includes a list of other motorcycle (as well as the GS500) that you can ride comfortably or flat foot, depending on your height.

And... here are a couple more sources for short bikers:

http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.faq.html

http://curveunit.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=11&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

I've looked around a lot for information for height-challenged riders, being one myself! 

[solarpulse]

well i bought dogbones about a month ago and am probably going to install them this weekend...and lower my forks...but im still not sure why you say it should be the "last" resort

[Jake D]

Changing  the steering geometery by lowering the rear is likely to have an effect that the guys at Suzuki didn't anticipate when they spent all that time and money in R & D setting it up.   

Nice post, Pandy. 

[pandy]

...but im still not sure why you say it should be the "last" resort

You are altering the handling of the bike, and reducing ground clearance which could interfere with its ridability as well.

Changing  the steering geometery by lowering the rear is likely to have an effect that the guys at Suzuki didn't anticipate when they spent all that time and money in R & D setting it up. Nice post, Pandy.

Gracias!

Good luck with the mod, solarpulse! Let us know how it goes! 

[Jared]

If you lower the front the same amount as the rear you will have changed nothing but the actual wheelbase (shortened) just a little.  If you lower the rear more than the front it might change ( increase)  the  rake angle by a degree or three... that will increase the trail by a little bit too.

I doubt it will adversely affect handling (might turn in a little slower...) and it might want to brake dive just a little bit more.  People put the Kat shocks on and jack the rear up on them regularly.....and their bikes don't fall apart ( the rake is decreased and the trail is shortened.. so it probably turns  in a little quicker..).

I'd maybe drop the rear an inch and a half (maybe 1/4 inch longer bones or so..) and slide the forks up the same...(pick a reference point on the steering head for before and after measurements..). And  Do the thicker soled shoes and shave the seat a little....

[scratch]

Also, the stock size tires are about as small, or as low, as tires you can get.  110/70 front, 130/70 rear.  What size tires do you have now?

Another thing is to set suspension sag.  www.peterverdonedesigns.com/introduction.htm

[solarpulse]

Alright boys and girls...i installed my ATR lowering links today and holy **** its like 4 inches lower...they claimed it would lower the bke 1.5 inches and then 3" but here i am on the first hole and the back of my bike is between 3 and 4 inches lower...ok i thought not so bad...so i try to figure out how to lower the front by sliding the forks up through the triple tree...well here is where i get stuck..... it moved about 1/8" and thats as far as i could get it to move.....Is there some kind of magical bolt to loosen or something???

[3imo]

please give a website link for the ATR lowering links. Also is the seat height 4inches lower? or are you measuring something else?
how tall are you?  my wife is 5'0 even and can hardley tippy toe the GS I bought her.  she wont ride it until I can lower it.
thanks,
3imo

Alright boys and girls...i installed my ATR lowering links today and holy **** its like 4 inches lower...they claimed it would lower the bke 1.5 inches and then 3" but here i am on the first hole and the back of my bike is between 3 and 4 inches lower...ok i thought not so bad...so i try to figure out how to lower the front by sliding the forks up through the triple tree...well here is where i get stuck..... it moved about 1/8" and thats as far as i could get it to move.....Is there some kind of magical bolt to loosen or something???

[3imo]

http://secure.mycart.net/catalogs/catalog.asp?prodid=2409680&showprevnext=1

what about "lowering blocks" will these work?  can they be used with lowering links?

[solarpulse]

http://www.adjustmenttech.com/

there is the site for the links... im 5'3" and the drop is at the seat height, seat height is now measuring 28 inches

hey guys found out that suzuki changed the dogbone stock length so if orderign from adjustment tech make sure you get the cc170f rather hten the cc185f that it calls for.