Adjustable lowering links, don't work....

[Teek]

I decided I need to bite the financial bullet on this and go ahead and lower my GS. With the Katana rear shock coming it may or may not raise the tail too much for me, but seeing as I'm currently riding at the tank with a seat mod (when stopped mostly, then I can scoot back, but then I run out of arm which stiffens my elbows so then I need to be more forward, which tweaks my back after about 2 hours), and still toeing it, it's probably a good idea for me. I'm going to go for the risers for the bars too.

I'm 50, I'm a little beat up with bad knees and hip (horses fell on me on the same side which tweaked the hip when I was young, NO ACL right knee, feeling it now) and a bad back (broke some vertebrae in the sacrum somehow), and I ride on some crappy pavement and we stop at lots of pullouts in the canyons, which is dirt with ruts and holes. So as careful as I am not to put a foot down in a hole, well. I could see it being a potential problem.

I'm still scratching my head on what to choose, but I really liked the idea of the adjustable links here

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180209687409&ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:MOTORS:1123

but don't know much about them. I've seen several versions of adjustables for sale, these look the most substantial and well made. I know that the billet ones can potentially break. I am concerned about tuning the suspension on this bike safely. It is mostly running in canyons, which makes this something I want to do with care. I want to have this bike a long time. The only way I might change it out is for a newer GS, in yellow with a black engine and frame and wheels..    But my wallet doesn't have room for that. And if it ever does, I'd move all of the mods over.

Any thoughts on the links? It seems the supposed add'l strength and the range of adjustability would make them worth it. Otherwise on static links I just have two choices. The seller also thinks these will fit. If the stock GS links are 180mm center to center, as I was just informed, they should fit. gsJack has been kind enough to do the math and post in a number of lowering links threads that the ZX6-R links work on the GS.

Opinions?

[gsJack]

Interesting, they are asking $75 to buy it now on e-bay and they are on their own site for $72.  Listed for various Kawi, Suzi, Yami models including  06-07 GS500.

http://www.soupysperformance.com/catalog/item/4408900/4393129.htm

They are obviously thicker than standard links and other lowering links, I'd have to have a good look at my bike before making up my mind on those.  Check clearance, might require longer bolts?

[Teek]

Hi Jack, thanks for the input and observations! Probably they are more on eBay because of the fees charged. But hey, I'm happy to  save $3! I wonder if shipping is more or less? Hmm.

Longer bolts? I will have to go check my moto out with a flashlight and a ruler. Good point. I took a good look at the close up pic, they are recessed at the ends, so the actual thickness looks closer to stock than on 1st impression. I told "Mike" it was for a GS. They look well and neatly made however.

[mach1]

why not make your own. cant be to hard just measure the stocker center to center than measure how much further you need to go and drill your hole same size as the stockers. than get some  sae40 oil pour some in a metal bowl place the link inside the oil and set it on fire. now you have some custom link that hav ebeen heat treated.

[gsJack]

Shipping seems to be same $8 by USPS, click on Shipping/Handling tab to left on their site.  If you try them we will all know how they work out.   

[Teek]

Mach1, why don't you drill your own hole, heat treat it and tell us how it turns out??        If you were serious, because I don't have any fabrication equipment left. Used to have access to a full on machine shop, but that was 10 years ago. Sold all my welding equipment too. No garage, no studio either.
Oh, BTW, it's "dual" headlights, not "duel".  Unless they're specifically "streetfighter" headlights...  And what make belly pan do you have? I'm looking for one.

But again, seriously, I don't know how much I will want it lowered. You have a Katana shock, how much did you have to adjust the settings? Did you just put everything in the middle and say good enough, or did you have to tweak it? I figure I have 7 preload settings and 4 for damping, I'm going to be trying it out. It's likely going to change ride height just putting it in. Same with links; I'll put them in with 2 chances for guessing "right" (with billet aluminum dog bones), and may have to mess with them a second time, and if I don't like it, a third to go back. I think I'd like the option of being able to take it down another half inch, then maybe another, rather than have a choice of 2" or 4"...

[Teek]

Actually, I just went and looked again, if I could get a buddy at a foundry to do the welding, I could pretty much put a steel end on some threaded stock, get a pair of heavy duty steel turnbuckles, et voila'. I'd forgo the heat treatment though.

Yup, food for thought, thanks!   

Edit:

Nope, just for the turnbuckle of the quality, size and weight bearing capacity that is even in the right direction it's around $30 each. That's without putting the proper ends on, and it's not the heavy closed turnbuckle either. Geez, I hope they don't have them made in China... I'll have to ask... they'll be lead instead of steeeeel.

I'm probably just going to buy them, put them on, take pics, make notes, and report back to everyone. I really like the Muzzy's gold anodized dog bones though because the gold matches the front rotor....   

[mach1]

cause drilling my own hole is giving me a baby in july. My custom belly pan is made from cting up the stock 04 fairings. the kat shock hmm I dont think I did any adjustments I installe dit and liked how the PO had it, I thin It raised the rear about an inch or so.
And correcting my spelling or grammer mistakes wont get you anywhere, just ask Spec terry.

[Teek]

cause drilling my own hole is giving me a baby in july. 

!!!

Congrats on the new little motorcyclist on the way!       (I was gonna add something about heat treating, but don't want to get booted to the 'tard farm...)
No fairing to cut up but I could poke around a junkyard, but wait, I don't think we have any anymore. Pick A Part is all online now, I used to love finding parts in old wreckers, wrenching them off, getting them cheap and dragging them home and making them fit on cars I had. They don't let you go in the yards out here anymore, at least all the ones in the east end of Arcadia, been there?

I got my Katana shock today, I like the little thumbwheel for damping, I set it on two, the shock is on the stock #4 position, I was gonna see if I could wrestle it down one. It looks really clean and nice. Thanks for the feedback on how yours fit.

That just helped me decide I'm gonna go ahead and order those links, and will post and show photos when it's done for reference for others.

I wasn't trying to be the grammar police, I kinda like the way you spelled it, a "duel" is usually pistols at 10 paces, or swords. So you have aggressive headlights! 

And don't you have a 14 tooth front sprocket? I can't remember who all does, I read the thread yesterday, the DR650 that also lives here is undergoing front and rear sprocket changes and ran into chain problems. I need to find the part # in here for a 14t for the GS, I'm tired of having to roll on so much throttle to reach the power band, I'd like it pretty close to right there when I ask. It doesn't go on the freeway much and I don't mind shifting more often, and I'm smooth on the throttle.

[Teek]

Well crap, they didn't fit, they rub the swingarm, and were about an inch off from being bolt-able. I don't know how they can say they fit a GS, has the frame changed at all from 2001?   
Now I have to send them back, I am hoping they will take pity on me and at least give me a shipping credit, since they said they'd fit. 
Looking at dog bones again.

[dgyver]

Can you send me a pic of how much they are off? I am fitting another RGV swingarm and they may work.

[Teek]

Hi,

No, they are already cleaned up and rewrapped for return, but it would have been smart of me top take a pic to show the sellers. They were just touching the front edge of the mount at the bottom and were forward of it. The turnbuckle was flat against the swingarm as well, maybe just barely enough clearance to slide by a hair. So they couldn't even be adjusted on the bike! Maybe we screwed something up??? but they seem totally unworkable.

Links side by side:


Top fit problem area:


Off on bottom approx:

[dgyver]

Thanks for the pics and comments. They help alot. I looked at the RGV s/a and they would fit front-to-rear but not side-to-side.

[Teek]

You're most welcome, sorry I had to use the "before" in progress pics.

[l3uddha]

they've definitely changed some of the dimensions back there, not sure what year though. 

i had to have a custom spring perch and pull rods machined for my penske rear shock to fit properly on my 04.  the shock fit perfectly on the 93 GS that i got it off of.

[Teek]

K, I'll cut them slack! Thanks for the input.   

Edit:

I would say to anyone interested in these links to pay attention to where they say the product is for 06-07. It seems that the '06-07s must have an inch more clearance side to side, and another inch behind the top link mount than previous years, which I didn't know until l3uddha confirmed it, which is costing me maybe $30 to lost shipping. They look to be very well made and very strong.  The advantage of adjustability comes with a very fussy adjusting process, but if you want a precise adjustment, these would definitely do it. The first ones were made for Hayabusas, so they are not a run of the mill link.

I'd rec Diamond Power Sports for their dog bone lowering links and for their excellent customer service and attitude to anyone with an older model who's looking to lower it. As a plus these standard links are much easier to install, maybe 30 minutes max if you've never done it before, and they are less expensive, shipping is less, and they also come with an option to return them, without a $10. exchange fee. You can choose the GS500 links which are sized for stock and 2" of lowering, or order the EARLIER Ninja link as "KAW 6-9-12", (NOT the ZX6R links) which give you stock, 2" and 4" of adjustment.

[gsJack]

Can't assume that links that will lower a ZX6 about 2" or 4" will lower a GS500 the same amount.  The links work on the swingarm at different distances from the swingarm pivot on different bikes and also at different angles.  Swingarms are different lengths also.

Muzzys M1200-SL links are said to provide standard, 1 1/4", and 2 1/2" lower on the early ZX6.  The 1st hole is at approx the same 7 1/16" link length as standard GS links are.  The next hole gives about 2 1/2" lower on the GS or about twice the lowering amount as they give on the ZXs.  Since the bolts are 12 mm or close to 1/2" in dia this is consistant with the 5:1 ratio of lowering to link length change on the GS.

I didn't personally try the Muzzys links but the Pingel links I bought were 7 5/16" long to the first hole which is 1/4" longer than standard GS and they lowered my bike 1 1/4" which is consistant with the Muzzys results above reported by another member here and also with the 5:1 ratio.

The Diamond links don't seem consistant with the other two although the holes on the 3 hole end appear to be spaced about the same.  It will be interesting to see what the holes measure ctr to ctr on the Diamonds when they are actually in someone's hands here.   

Don't forget the Diamonds are about $65 and the Muzzys only about $45 a pair.

[Teek]

Thanks Jack, great info! I may need to make use of it.. I spoke with a tech at Diamond who makes links, and he went and got in his hands their GS links and the early ZX6Rs, so he measured them and reported that to me, and the hole spacing. However, with my current luck, who the heck knows how they will work, but I'll photo them next to stock, measure them, measure seat and tail height, and report back when we do the install. I really liked the gold anodized Muzzys (oooh, shiny!) but I believe the Diamonds are 7075 T-6 Billet aluminum, supposedly the strongest, and I don't know what the Muzzys are as they were very abrupt with me, and dismissive of the GS "because it's not a race bike".. so did not want to answer any further questions?