Ground Clearance vs. Mexican Speedbumps... help me! ayudenme!

[daron]

Hola gseros,

I'm the proud new owner of a 2006 gs500f (not naked), but I have a problem.  I live in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico.  It's a lovely place but the mexican "topes" or speedbumps are notoriously large.  I bought the bike in Texas and will be importing it to Mexico in 3 weeks.  My only issue with the gs is that it rides quite low with all the fairing on it and I'm worried that I'll be leaving some of the fairing on top of some speedbump.

So, my question is... How can I get a little better ground clearance without loosing all the fairing?  I don't mind going "naked" but I'd prefer a quicker, easier solution to get an extra inch or two of clearance.  Any suggestions?

gracias,
Daron

[aaronstj]

I believe you can get another inch or so by replacing the rear shock with something beefier.  Shocks off of... Katana 750s, I think, are popular.

[NiceGuysFinishLast]

I thought the kat shock would keep the stock ride height? Look into a gixxer shock or an SV shock. Info can be found on pablo's website at pantablo500.tripod.com. There's also info here, if you search something like GSXR + Shock or SV+shock, you should find all you need.

[daron]

excellent,

Thank you both for the quick response.  I'll look into finding a different rear shock.
Daron

[daron]

Howdy again,

I was just looking into some progressive front fork springs.  It looks like the 111128 is the one for the gs500e but is it the same for the 06 gs500f?  Progressive's webpage doesn't give an option for that year model.

Thanks!
Daron

[RVertigo]

The Katana 600 shock fits without modification...  It's the same height, but because it's stiffer and beefier, your ride height is raised by about an inch.  (Enough to be noticeable and require some readjustment to my levers.)


- The progressive front springs from the GS500e will fit any GS500 or GS500F.  The fork tubes never changed...

[natedawg120]

also the wheel base on the gs is much less that any car.  You might find that slowing and going over them you have more ground clearance than you think.  the speed humps around my are, VA, are about 5-6 inches high but they are wide so before the front wheel leaves the hump the rear is already coming up the backside of the hump.  I would say give it a shot and see, you will probably want to upgrade the suspension in any case though

[RVertigo]

Or just hit 'em faster and JUMP IT!

[Dr. Love]

Or just hit 'em faster and JUMP IT!

+1

[RVertigo]

Heh...  I was picturing your Av when I thought that...  lol.

[Jughead]

SV Shocks are way too tall.They add Close to 6" to the Seat Height.I'm 6'4" and I have to Tip toe.When Setting on the Bike with the shock installed it feels like I'm going to fall over the handlebars.

[scratch]

Welcome!

Learn to wheelie! 

Adding preload (spacers) to your existing fork springs will add a half inch of ride height, and be the least expensive modification.  A half inch of PVC pipe and a metal washer, to keep the stock metal spacer from grinding up the PVC, in the top of each fork leg would do the trick.

[TarzanBoy]

Or just hit 'em faster and JUMP IT!

With the crappy-ass stock shocks on the GS500... and that tri-spoke mag wheel?

Sounds like many bad things waiting to happen.

You live in Mexico?  Watch out for chupacabras!

[cafeboy]

You live in Mexico?  Watch out for chupacabras!

+1