lowering link size and handeling

[300lbsgorilla]

Hey there.  Thin I need to lower the bike a bit for my wife.  She can ride it stock but is not completely comfortable.  How effective is lowering the bike with links without affecting handling too much?  I was thinking only 1-2 inches.  Can I lower the front end that much too by sliding the forks up in the trees so I can maintain the right geometry?  is the fork adjustment even needed for 1-2 inch rear drop? 

Also can anyone give a suggestion on make of links that are good.

oh and yeah it is a '97 stock bike.

Thanks

[Smityro]

I am wondering the same thing.

[gsJack]

You can lower the rear 1-2" without lowering the front but it will slow the steering a bit by increasing the rake by 1-2 degrees.  The increased rake can be a good thing for a new rider since the GS's 25* rake angle is near sport bike territory with cruisers having 30-35* rake or so.

You can only lower the front about a quarter inch by sliding up the fork tubes before they hit the bars unless you move the bars out of the way with risers that move them rearward which also can be a good thing for a new rider with short limbs.

I have the GenMar risers moving the bars up 1" and back 1 3/8" so I've slid the fork tubes up about a half inch.  Can only go up about an inch or a little less before the fork tube wiper hits the lower triple clamp:

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=40074.msg450638#msg450638

I have links on my rear that lower it about 1 1/4" but have a rear tire that's 1 1/2" larger in dia so that only nets me about 1/2" lower than standard.  This is probably a good place for links but I got the high price ones before I discovered it:

http://burkhartcycle.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8_18&products_id=87

I'm already about 3" shorter than I was when I got my first GS500 about 11 years ago so I'll probably be going lower soon.  

[jeremy_nash]

I got a cheap set off ebay when I lowered mine, they fit fine, and were inexpensive,  there are also some with multiple holes for adjustability

[average]

I also have a cheap set made of T6061 aluminum that dropped the bike an inch but my circumstances are pretty much the same as Mr. Jack(bigger tire,lowered)

[300lbsgorilla]

Thanks for the info.  Sounds great.  will these :

http://burkhartcycle.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=8_18&products_id=87

fit a 1997 model year.  not sure what if changes were made to the newer models suspension.

Thanks again.

[the mole]

AFAIK there were no changes to the rear suspension geometry, but others will probably know more.

[gsJack]

The rear suspension links are the same for all years 1989-2009.

[mister]

Raising the forks to lower the front Will effect how the bike feels and handles. 5mm can make a difference so one to two inches would be huge. The upper body will lean forward substantially more.

At 6'2" I pretty well flatfoot any bike I'm on. Is this an effort to flatfoot or...? I ask cause I sometimes ride with a woman who rides a CB1000F and she cannot flat foot it. She tippytoes it.

Michael

[300lbsgorilla]

Well she can't flat foot.  She seems to be fine most of the time but sometimes it makes her a bit unstable.  Mostly when moving it in and out of the garage since at some point she is across the slope.  I wouldn't ever just lower the front alone.  I know that is never a good thing.  some bikes are more tolerant to a rear lower than others when it comes to the front rake angle.  I have really no experience with the GS as it is too small for me.  I am 6-4 and 265lbs.  I can flat foot most bikes and never even touch the seat while standing.

[gsJack]

Well I've never lowered the front alone on a GS but have done the equivelant.   I bought my first GS in Mar 99 and put the third rear tire (counting the original) on it in Nov 99.  It was a 130/90 ME88 that raised the rear a bit over 1" and made the steering noticeably quicker.  I liked it that way but would not suggest a new rider doing it for a while, I had about a quarter million miles on 4 old Hondas before I bought the first GS.  As best as I can recall I put the GenMar risers on a couple months before that to relieve the numbing of my fingers by reducing the amount of my weight leaning on the bars.  Tires I've used on my 97 and 02 GS's:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v443/jcp8832/GS500tirelogs.jpg