Wow, so were my old bikes really that crappy?

[gsJack]

.............. I am not into modifying the geometry of a bike just to lower it. 

You didn't say how short or how wide you are, but I lowered my 02 GS500 a bit last spring and am quite happy with the results.  I was about 6-2 and 240# when I bought the first GS500 in 3-99 and now 8 yrs later I'm about 250# and under 6' tall.  No problem once on the bike as my heels are planted with my knees bent, but do to increasing arthritis in my hips and knees it was getting a bit harder to climb on the bike and even harder to get off at the end of the day.   

I usually run 150/70 or 140/80 sport touring radials that raise the bike 1/2-3/4 inch above standard so I found some links to lower the rear about 1 1/4 inch and it's just a bit lower than standard that way.  Found this small amount of lowering stiffened the rear suspension a bit but I already had Progressive front springs and the bike felt better balanced to me with the rear stiffened a bit too.  As with most endeavors, lowering a bike is best done in moderation.   

[Johnny5]

You didn't say how short or how wide you are, but I lowered my 02 GS500 a bit last spring and am quite happy with the results.  I was about 6-2 and 240# when I bought the first GS500 in 3-99 and now 8 yrs later I'm about 250# and under 6' tall.  No problem once on the bike as my heels are planted with my knees bent, but do to increasing arthritis in my hips and knees it was getting a bit harder to climb on the bike and even harder to get off at the end of the day.   

I usually run 150/70 or 140/80 sport touring radials that raise the bike 1/2-3/4 inch above standard so I found some links to lower the rear about 1 1/4 inch and it's just a bit lower than standard that way.  Found this small amount of lowering stiffened the rear suspension a bit but I already had Progressive front springs and the bike felt better balanced to me with the rear stiffened a bit too.  As with most endeavors, lowering a bike is best done in moderation.   

I'm actually 5'3 about 175 lbs (luckily not fat... well, not yet anyway LOL).  I love the size of the GS500e it really feels nice and so light... putting on the centerstand is a breeze and it is just great to sit on a bike and have my feet firmly planted, even though I'm not flatfooted.  Any of the new bikes in the 600 and greater class I'm on my tiptoes.  Plus the gas tank on the SV is pretty high... I didn't feel very overly comfortable on the stock SV650 or monster, they would need to come down about an inch and a half at least, probably 2 inches would be ideal.  It's good to know that you like the handling with your GS lowered about that amount... sorry about your arthritis that really stinks, glad you can still ride though! 

I was really considering an SV650 with a set of lower dogbones, but I seem to get wildly varying opinions on what it does to the handling of that bike.  A lot of people tell me they cut the foam out of the stock seat and add thinner higher density foam to drop it an inch or so, I guess I would probably try that first... but based on sitting on it I would probably have to do both to feel totally in command.  I know a lot of people say good riders don't care about being on tip toes... but I have never felt in command of a bike that I couldn't at least get the balls of my feet down...