How Low can a GS500 Go?

[motorbiketim]

Hi Folks,
I'm new to the fourm and am not a GS500 owner at this time. I have been reserching different bikes that would make an ideal ride for my wife. She is 5'1" , very petite and has short legs. She can ride a Honda Rebel but neither of us are fond of cruisers. I have considered the Buel Blast which has an optional low seat height of 25.5" but I havent read very much of positive reviews on this bike. So my hopes are to find a bike around the 500cc range that I can modify to get a seat height of about 26 inches. I have discovered that the GS500 can be lowered but I don't know how much. Also, is there enough foam in the seat to shave an additional inch or two?

There's a lot of great info here. One thing I like about the GS500 is the fact that it has been around so long, and it seems to be a pretty simple machine. I appreciate any of your thoughts or ideas here.

Tim

[GeeP]

Hi Tim,

The GS can be lowered, probably to a maximum of around two inches.  The pre 2000 GS's have narrower seats, which is helpful for a short rider.  There's around two inches of foam under the seat cover that can be removed if needed.  There are also women's riding boots called "Lady Stars", an Alpinestars product, I think, which should add about an inch to her height.

Regardless, I would allow her to choose her first motorcycle.  A Rebel might be an ideal bike to get her started in riding, then she can move up to a larger or taller bike.  Flatfooting is NOT a requirement.  If you can get your left foot down with your right foot on the rear brake you can ride it.  But that takes practice!

Most people generally feel comfortable if they can get both feet on the ground to start.  From there, the limit is almost your imagination if you're determined enough.

[ohgood]

gsjack is going to chime in about dog bones and shaving seats in 3, 2, 1....

oops, i meant geep

and welcome to the forum, the gs will love you long time.

[ben2go]

You can slide the forks up through the triple clamps about an inch.I've done this but the rear needs to go down with the front or the bike becomes twitchy in curves.Since she is small you could upgrade to progressive springs and leave the spacers out.That's 2 inches lower in the front total.The rear you can buy some lowering links that will give about 2 inches of drop.Shaving foam out of the seat will help also.All of this should get the bike close to 27 inches.Suzuki's specs say that the pre 96 bikes are around 30 inch seat height. All of this can be done at home with simple hand tools and there are links to most everything I've mentioned here.

[bombadillo]

If she wants a sport bike that'll keep up with yours, get her the blast.  No maintenance, belt drive, smooth, 1 carb to fool with, and its a blast to tool around on.  I've heard nothing but great reviews from everyone saying that these are the ultimate first sport bike outside of an ex500 or a gs500.  I'd get her the harley.

[Teek]

NO  NO  NO sorry, IMNSHO do NOT get the Blast,    they are junk and get NO support from Harley Dealers. I was going to get one, was looking all over and thank god I read all the reviews first. The bike has a horrible reputation. That's how I ended up with the GS, I wanted a "standard", or as close as I could get.
If you don't like cruisers try a used Ninja 250 or the like to start, if she has experience? a GS can be lowered enough as noted to be doable. Mine has dogbones (to compensate for the Katana rear shock which took it up an inch at the front of the seat, 3 1/2 at the tail. It had been okay for me before to toe it because the seat is shaved, and still comfortable, but the higher position was too much for my bad knee and back to deal with.) Mine's now at 28 inches at the seat, 3 lower than stock. I wouldn't want the body any lower though, it's the equivalent of 2" from stock, the shaved seat takes an inch off there. I think it looks a little silly but my hubby thinks it's kewl. The GS is a sweet bike, but if she's not comfortable with the weight or height, get a smaller bike to learn on, you'll probably sell it for a profit or what you paid when you move up.   

[Kasumi]

Whats the width of a gs500?


Where's Pandy she knows about things like this...


She used to just lay it down on its side to reduce the seat height for getting on and off when parking or stopped. 


You could always try that? I also hear it works with SV650's as well....

[GeeP]

Another possibility is a Ninja 250.  Re-styled for 2008!   

I haven't had the chance to ride one yet, but sitting on a 2007 model they are a little lower and significantly lighter than the GS.  That's another possibility to start her out.  The little Ninja will do fine in traffic, despite what some people say.

[ben2go]

Whats the width of a gs500?


Where's Pandy she knows about things like this...


She used to just lay it down on its side to reduce the seat height for getting on and off when parking or stopped. 


You could always try that? I also hear it works with SV650's as well....

Might get old pandying a bike all the time,not to mention the scratches.


Where is she?I ain't seen her in a couple weeks.

[Kasumi]

Also note when she talks to you guys about 'side stands'  shes actually refering to crash bungs 

[anthonygs1000]

hey

      The gs 500 is a great first bike smooth easy to ride and  I think she would love I have two a 89 and a 90 I baught the bikes because they were cheep then i fell in love with them.    the ninja 250   does not start to work untill high rpms  I had one of these and i found myself at 11 grand trying to keep up with my dad and friends  lower the gs 500 you will not be sorry good luck anthony

[gsJack]

How low can a GS go?  It's probably more of a question of how low you're willing to go.  Having lowered mine an inch, I don't think I'd like it lowered more than about 2" for myself.  The rear suspension is stiffened by the lowering and the steering is a bit slower if the front isn't lowered an equal amount.  The centerstand is closer to the ground and hasn't touched down in high speed turns yet but has hit the ground turning into driveways a bit fast.  I have no idea how far I could go before I bottomed the top of the tire against the inner fender though.

A friend of mine lowered his Hyabusa 4" and was dragging the body work in corners.  He's a big guy like me and was also bottoming the top of the tire when he rode 2 up with his wife.  He backed off to only 2" lower.  This should not be a problem with a small light weight rider like motorbiketim's wife.

Pingel makes links to lower the Ninja 500 about 1 3/4, 3 1/2, or 5 1/2" so some must be lowering that much and while the Diamond GS500 links only lower about 2" there are some Kawi links that will lower the GS a similar amount to the Ninja. 

I will check one of these days to see how far the front can be lowered by sliding the fork tubes up on the GS's that have GenMar risers to move the bars out of the way.  Also, if I get bored one day come spring weather I might just drop my GS another hole in the Pingel ZX6 links to see how it works at about 4" lower.  My 240# butt should provide a good test.   

[Kasumi]

A proper suggestion from me now.

Getting a 250 is a good idea, altering critical things like the height of a bike by lowering has costly affects on all sorts of other aspects of the bike like Jack said, suspension, steering, dampening, 2-up ability and other parts of the bike will all be affected. Its must better if you can find a bike that suits the wife rather than taking a bike and forcing it so.

The most i would do is shave a seat for minor adjustments.

As has been said it is possible to ride without flat footing both sides, it is obviously not the best way ever but it is perfectly managable.


Look at the 250s even have a look at the supersport 400's like mine. Very very low seat height - all my girlfriends can flat foot even the tineist ones!

There are hundreds of bikes out there one of them will be right - best to just go round and try em all.

[bombadillo]

NO  NO  NO sorry, IMNSHO do NOT get the Blast,    they are junk and get NO support from Harley Dealers. I was going to get one, was looking all over and thank god I read all the reviews first. The bike has a horrible reputation. That's how I ended up with the GS, I wanted a "standard", or as close as I could get.
If you don't like cruisers try a used Ninja 250 or the like to start, if she has experience? a GS can be lowered enough as noted to be doable. Mine has dogbones (to compensate for the Katana rear shock which took it up an inch at the front of the seat, 3 1/2 at the tail. It had been okay for me before to toe it because the seat is shaved, and still comfortable, but the higher position was too much for my bad knee and back to deal with.) Mine's now at 28 inches at the seat, 3 lower than stock. I wouldn't want the body any lower though, it's the equivalent of 2" from stock, the shaved seat takes an inch off there. I think it looks a little silly but my hubby thinks it's kewl. The GS is a sweet bike, but if she's not comfortable with the weight or height, get a smaller bike to learn on, you'll probably sell it for a profit or what you paid when you move up.   

I don't know where you hear this, but the 2003 was  crap and other than that, most people who own them love the crap out of them.  Its a capable, torquey (SP) get around bike with a really low seat height.  The bad reviews can be found here: http://www.epinions.com/reviews/2000_Buell_Blast but again, take a look at what they are all really saying.  Only a few people have really had problems mechanically or have it leave them stranded.  I'm not a huge buell fan, but as a first sporty type of bike, this is a great little machine.  I would have no problem buying or getting my wife a blast as a first bike. 

[motorbiketim]

Wow!
Thanks for all the advice. I had considered the 250 Ninja but could not find much info about lowering one. My daughter has a 500 Ninja, neat lbike but too tall for wifey, however it may be a canidate for lowering. I aggreee that changing the suspension can have some strange handling results and this is a concern. Sounds like it may be easier to trade the wife in for a taller one!  Just kidding, she has put up with me for twenty years, best to keep her.

I guess the next move is to hit some dealers and try out some bikes even though I will end up buying used. Thanks again for all the help!

Tim
http://www.preachout.com

[GeeP]

Ask and ye shall receive!

http://s94153639.onlinehome.us/motorcycles/lowering250.html

[gsJack]

Pingel has links to lower the 07 and earlier Ninja 250 about 2", they only have a seat height of about 29" stock:

http://www.pingelonline.com/lowering_kawasaki.htm

Diamond links lower it about 1 1/2":

http://www.diamondpowersports.com/lowerlinks.php

The new 08 Ninja 250 are taller.

[yamahonkawazuki]

NO  NO  NO sorry, IMNSHO do NOT get the Blast,    they are junk and get NO support from Harley Dealers. I was going to get one, was looking all over and thank god I read all the reviews first. The bike has a horrible reputation. That's how I ended up with the GS, I wanted a "standard", or as close as I could get.
If you don't like cruisers try a used Ninja 250 or the like to start, if she has experience? a GS can be lowered enough as noted to be doable. Mine has dogbones (to compensate for the Katana rear shock which took it up an inch at the front of the seat, 3 1/2 at the tail. It had been okay for me before to toe it because the seat is shaved, and still comfortable, but the higher position was too much for my bad knee and back to deal with.) Mine's now at 28 inches at the seat, 3 lower than stock. I wouldn't want the body any lower though, it's the equivalent of 2" from stock, the shaved seat takes an inch off there. I think it looks a little silly but my hubby thinks it's kewl. The GS is a sweet bike, but if she's not comfortable with the weight or height, get a smaller bike to learn on, you'll probably sell it for a profit or what you paid when you move up.   

I don't know where you hear this, but the 2003 was  crap and other than that, most people who own them love the crap out of them.  Its a capable, torquey (SP) get around bike with a really low seat height.  The bad reviews can be found here: http://www.epinions.com/reviews/2000_Buell_Blast but again, take a look at what they are all really saying.  Only a few people have really had problems mechanically or have it leave them stranded.  I'm not a huge buell fan, but as a first sporty type of bike, this is a great little machine.  I would have no problem buying or getting my wife a blast as a first bike. 

and prolly most of the epinions are like most forums. msot have not even been anywhere near one. ( a blast) or know anyhting about them. all of their owners that ive run into cept for one had high praise for tehm. the one that didnt, was because he ran out of gas 

[ben2go]

Pingel has links to lower the 07 and earlier Ninja 250 about 2", they only have a seat height of about 29" stock:

http://www.pingelonline.com/lowering_kawasaki.htm

Diamond links lower it about 1 1/2":

http://www.diamondpowersports.com/lowerlinks.php

The new 08 Ninja 250 are taller.

So Ninjette 250 links are all I need to drop my bike 1 1/2 to 2 inches?When I finish my project bike,I may lower the one in my avatar for my gurlfiend.Yes,I said gurl fiend. 

[gsJack]

Pingel has links to lower the 07 and earlier Ninja 250 about 2", they only have a seat height of about 29" stock:

http://www.pingelonline.com/lowering_kawasaki.htm

Diamond links lower it about 1 1/2":

http://www.diamondpowersports.com/lowerlinks.php

The new 08 Ninja 250 are taller.

So Ninjette 250 links are all I need to drop my bike 1 1/2 to 2 inches?When I finish my project bike,I may lower the one in my avatar for my gurlfiend.Yes,I said gurl fiend. 

The Ninja 250 lowering links are special for the Ninja 250 and cost about twice as much as most of the other links.  It's the Kawi ZX6 links of various brands that will fit the GS500 and yes that's all you need to lower the rear.  Looks like links can be found to lower anywhere from 1" to 4" or so.