GS500: Lowering foot pegs?

[bud_44]

Hi everyone.  I just found a like new 2008 GS500 that I hope to buy.  My inseam is 29" so this should not be a problem but my knees hurt a bit when riding it.  Can I lower the foot pegs 1" or 1 1/2"?  Thank for your help my friends.  Ride safe.

[NesquikNinja]

do you have knee troubles? My inseam is 32 and stock height feels fine.

as for lowering thm, it'll be a custom job I'd imagine. Try sitting in a different spot on the seat maybe...?

[cheetahman]

Or,  You could get these.  They do require slight modifications to sit down flat but a little work with a dremel and they sit perfect.  Without the big fat rubbers that the stock ones have, I find that they are about 3/4 of an inch lower than stock.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rear-Foot-Pegs-For-Suzuki-GSXR-600-750-TLR-1000S-/360456327377?pt=Motorcycles_Parts_Accessories&hash=item53ecdf10d1&vxp=mtr

[SAFE-T]

A little spendy, but check out MFW Vario Footpegs at twistedthrottle.com

[adidasguy]

Not quite as short as you but they do feel OK to me.
Don't wear your tight skinny jeans - they cramp the knees.
You might find it easier to add a seat pad or get a different seat that is thicker.
On Suzi I have a custom seat from Germany. It is almost 2 inches higher.
You could have your seat recovered and add more padding.

Lowering the pegs can interfere with the exhaust and center stand. Watch out for that.

Or hit the gym and do some knee bends and squats to flex up the knees.

[burning1]

It's generally better to raise the seat, if you can. Stock pegs are already a little low IMO... Had to grind them down a lot to prevent them from dragging.

[BockinBboy]

I'm really not sure raising the seat would be an option? .. I also have a 29" inseam, and I am on the balls of my feet at a stop with stock suspension, seat, etc... However, I found that because I have to reach a little toward the ground to get more solid footing, I tend to sit to the front of the seat against the gas tank after a stop, and the pegs feel high and difficult to get the boot in there shift... so I just scoot back to the lip of the seat after 'take-off' and the pegs feel right under my knees at a more standard riding position, which is more comfortable and easier to get the boot under the shift lever.

-Bboy

[k.rollin]

Check these out, they may be just what you're looking for:
http://www.knightdesignllc.com/index_files/Suzuki_GS500_FP.htm

[adidasguy]

If you have trouble reaching the ground, I can't figure out how the pegs are too high and hurt your knees.
Maybe all you need is:
1. Pants that are not tight at the knees
2. Limber up your knees with deep knee bends
3. Build up your knees with squats

Sounds like #1 or you have stiff knees.

[dmartins]

Check these out, they may be just what you're looking for:
http://www.knightdesignllc.com/index_files/Suzuki_GS500_FP.htm

I have a set of these on my bike. I went with the 1 - 3/4" drop version in black with the quadtrax tread. I now find my bike much more comfortable for longer distances. In addition to my legs being less cramped, my butt doesn't get sore as quickly.

A few things of note:

• I haven't had any issue with my feet slipping, even in heavy rain
• The heel of my left foot sometimes rests on the side stand arm
• The heel of my right foot is close to the exhaust pipe and sometimes touches the edge of the muffler but my boot has not melted at all in ~3000km this season.
• These pegs do not "lock" in the up position like the stock ones. I don't remember exactly, but I think the stock pegs had a large washer on them that would catch on the peg mounting bracket. The washer could squish in to the rubber on the peg and provided a bit of resistance and then a "detent" when lifting or lowering the peg. With the pegs from Knight Design, there is no rubber so the washer stopped the peg from flipping up all the way and I removed it. I'd rather have the peg move upwards if I drag it. (not that I have yet)
• Proper rear brake lever adjustment may be difficult. I adjusted my brake lever all the way down and it's still not 50-60mm below the top of the foot peg like recommended in the manual. I don't find this to be an issue.
• You may drag your pegs more easily!

[adidasguy]

dmartins:
You may need to cut off part of the screw shaft of the master cylinder to lower the brake lever more.
Alternate: the brake lever has a splined piece on the inside that does all the work. Slip it off and rotate the brake lever down one spline then adjust for proper position using the master cylinder adjustments.
Watch that you don't drag the brake pedal on the pavement. The older style brake lever with the round rubber part probably would slide better on the pavement than the newer one which has a front profile of squared off steel. They are interchangeable.

You'll need to adjust the brake switch. Better solution is to change the brake switch to a  pressure switch banjo bolt. I change my bikes to that when I do rear brake work just to make things more reliable.

[dmartins]

Hi adiadasguy, Thanks for the tips! My rear brake is nearing the point where the pads need to be replaced. I think that if I put new pads on, the lever will be even higher (is that right?), which would be a problem. When you say I would need to adjust the brake switch, is this only if I move the lever on the splines?

[Falcon01]

Check these out, they may be just what you're looking for:
http://www.knightdesignllc.com/index_files/Suzuki_GS500_FP.htm

I have these and love them.  I went with the 1 3/4 inch drop and it has made my ride much, much more comfortable.  I'm tall though and think most people below 6' tall could probably get by with the 3/4 drop pegs, which don't hang down any lower than the OEM pegs.

[adidasguy]

Hi adiadasguy, Thanks for the tips! My rear brake is nearing the point where the pads need to be replaced. I think that if I put new pads on, the lever will be even higher (is that right?), which would be a problem. When you say I would need to adjust the brake switch, is this only if I move the lever on the splines?

Yes - adjust switch if you adjust the splines or adjust the nuts on the master cylinder. That piece back there has 3 thingies. One is to the MS. One is to the spring. One is to the brake switch. Brake switch screws up and down. I find the mechanical switch a pain. When I have to do anything there, now I put in a banjo bolt pressure switch. Like $15-$25 and makes the brake switch ultra reliable. You can do pretty much anything you want with the lever and MS without ever worrying about the switch working at the correct press of the pedal.

Here it is on Phenix.

[chornbe]

Not quite as short as you but they do feel OK to me.
Don't wear your tight skinny jeans - they cramp the knees.
You might find it easier to add a seat pad or get a different seat that is thicker.
On Suzi I have a custom seat from Germany. It is almost 2 inches higher.
You could have your seat recovered and add more padding.

Lowering the pegs can interfere with the exhaust and center stand. Watch out for that.

Or hit the gym and do some knee bends and squats to flex up the knees.

Old thread, I know, but for some of us, it's just not that easy.

This is my left knee. Soon to be my right one, too. There are mechanical stops in my Series7 knee. They only go so far without levering out and stretching my tendons to bad results.

[chornbe]

If you have trouble reaching the ground, I can't figure out how the pegs are too high and hurt your knees.
Maybe all you need is:
1. Pants that are not tight at the knees
2. Limber up your knees with deep knee bends
3. Build up your knees with squats

Sounds like #1 or you have stiff knees.

[Janx101]

Careful brother chornbe .. you are quoting and then taking a mini shot at a deceased man! ... folks might get riled! ! ... just letting you know before anything might get ugly!

Adidasguy was much loved by many here...

[Bluesmudge]

Thanks Janx, I decided not to respond right away after seeing this. I think Patrick's points were valid and helpful. The OP did not have diagnosed knee problems or joint replacements.

Chornbe, I know you are new here so its easy to not know the history but you should read through the sticky threads, including the one about Patrick, aka adidasguy. If you keep your GS you will no doubt benefit from the posts and videos Patrick left us and from the knowledge we all gained from him.

[ShowBizWolf]

+1

Adidasguy 

[chornbe]

Careful brother chornbe .. you are quoting and then taking a mini shot at a deceased man! ... folks might get riled! ! ... just letting you know before anything might get ugly!

Adidasguy was much loved by many here...

1) No, I'm not taking any shots. People should answer the question asked, not give answers to what wasn't asked. 
2) Telling someone a "since I have a hammer every problem looks like a nail" kind of answer isn't helpful.
3) Didn't know he was deceased, sorry.

Noted. Won't bother with his posts any more.