Need some advice on what to do with GS500F

[iv76erson03]

Everyone,
 Been a long time since posting here, but I have a 2005 GS with a little over 15,000 miles on it. I got it from a guy who put 100 miles on it, dropped it, and sold it on ebay. My wife has taken up riding, but she is only 5'2" and can't touch very good. She has been trying to get the hang of it, but she has dropped it like 3 times in two days (just parking lot riding). To make matters worse, she can't pick the thing up by herself when it goes down.

 I sort of want a sport touring bike with a bigger engine because I commute 30 miles on a highway. She wants Yamaha V-Star 250 or Suzuki 250 cruiser, because of the lower seat height, but she still like the sport bike look better. So my options are to either sell the GS or if I could find a reliable lowering kit, that might work as well. I don't know a thing about lowering systems so I was hoping someone could recommend one if that's indeed a good idea.

I don't want to buy two bikes and sell one because that sounds like a pain, but I will if thats what needs to happen. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks

[lucky4034]

Well... I m not the one to go to for advice on how to lower the GS, however...  if your gf wants a smaller bike and keep the sporty look, consider getting her a Kawasaki Ninja 250. 

My lady is also about 5'2" and I bought her a 2005 Ninja 250 ($1500) with only 7k miles on it about 2 weeks ago and it fits her perfect.  The bike runs like a champ and can easily keep up with me on my GS.  (I actually really enjoy riding it myself) 

I think I got a pretty good price at $1500 considering the immaculate condition the PO kept it in, but those bikes are all over craigslist usually in the range of $1000 - $2900 pre-2008  and $2500 - $4000 (new) for 2008-2011.




1988 - 2007 (older body style)


2008 - 2011 (newer body style)


The new CBR250's are very aggressive looking as well, but I don't come across nowhere near as many as I do the ninja's

[mister]

Plenty of youtube videos on how to pick up a bike. Watch them.

I agree with the Ninja 250. For a smaller 250 Suzuki, a Cruiser (Suzuki Intruder) might be the go or Yamaha 250 Virago/VStar. I know a lady that rides a 250 Ninja and she has no probs keeping up. I know a lady that rides the 250 Intruder and we reckon she has the thing on steroids she rides it so well. And an older gent who rides a 250 Virago and he can go too, I can tell you. I wouldn't put a 220 pound man on them, but for smaller ladies I think all three are ideal.

For what it's worth, the lady on the Ninja is the slower of the three through twisties - her own limitations. And the lady on the 250 Intruder rides better than a lot of men on larger CC cruisers - she leaves them for dead when they try to catch her (So the cruiser can handle the twists quite well).

Oh, slow slow riding is harder than higher speed riding. Because at higher speed it's all about counter steering while slower riding is about turn-and-go steering and if you have your weight wrong with that you will drop the bike.

Michael

[gsJack]

You can lower the rear of the GS simply by changing the suspension links, longer links will lower it.  A pair of links can be purchased for $20 or so.  Some have lowered it 2" or so and have got by with the stock sidestand.  You can only go so far without altering the sidestand to retain enough lean for secure parking.

The front can be lowered about 1" before the wiper seal hits the lower triple by simply sliding the fork tubes up in the triple clamps but they will only go about 1/4" before hitting the bars so the bars will have to be moved out of the way with risers to go the 1" amount.  I have the GenMar risers, see Wiki.

I have some rear links that would lower it about 1 1/4" but with my larger rear tire it's only about 3/4" net lower rear and I have the fork tubes up about !/2" to lower the front.  Works nicely for me now but time will tell.     I'm already about 4" shorter than I was when I got my first GS500 about 12 years ago.   

Some ref links, there's a lot more if you search:

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

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=55197.0

[mike__R]

I lowered my (then girlfriend's but I left it lowered when I bought it from her) GS500 2" - lowering links can be found on ebay for the rear, and then I had to get GenMar bar risers to move the handlebars out of the way when I moved the forks 2" up in the clamps.  Rides fine and made it much easier for her to handle the bike at stops and what not.