Suspension set up for tall rider

[pogonotroph]

This is my first post here, but I've been lurking around these parts and soaking up as much knowledge as possible for the past month since buying my first bike, a 2006 GS500. The bike is running pretty well overall, but I need to optimize the suspension now and need to figure out how to do that!

I'm very tall, 6'5", and am planning on installing a SV650 rear shock to raise the seat height a few inches. I also need to change the front suspension--I'm only 190 lbs but the front end seems to bottom out very easily over pretty minor bumps in the road.

I have a few questions about setting up the suspension:
1) Sonic springs website suggests a front spring rate of 0.85 kg/mm. Does that seem right for a 190 lb rider? I'm a newb rider (so not a very aggressive style) and rarely ride with cargo around town, though I will be doing a 2,000 mile trip later in the summer where I will probably have 30+ lbs of gear on the bike.
2) Will raising the rear via the SV650 shock affect my front spring rate? I've read that raising the rear will increase the load on the front suspension, which may require a higher spring rate up front. Is the change dramatic enough to mean I should jump up to a 0.90, 0.95, or even 1.0 kg/mm front spring rate?
3) As I'm short on cash, are new front springs that much of a significant improvement over just throwing some PVC spacers in the forks?
4) If I'm already going to put an SV650 shock in, is there any point in changing out the dog bones for shorter ones as well ? (something such as this: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Suzuki-GS500-E-GS500-F-Jack-Up-Kit-Dog-Bone-Suspension-Linkages-/370319010452?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item5638bbaa94).
5) Will I need to rebuild a used SV650 shock? I haven't been able to find any info on whether this is necessary with a used shock, and how exactly to do it.

I'd really appreciate any help! This forum has been a tremendous resource for me so far and I'm looking forward to contributing in the future.

[Iarn]

1) Sonic Spring website suggested .80 for me as a new non-aggressive ride. I went with .85 to account for any passengers or extra weight I may be carrying from cargo. As well as I expected to become more spirited in my style as I learned more and became more comfortable. You never know what the future holds, and I wanted to future proof a bit. That's just my take on it, but it has worked well for me.

2)I'm not an expert in this area, but any extra stress the rear could put on the front would be negligible and could be accounted for via preload, anyway. You could also adjust the forks up or down in the triple if it really came down to it.

3) YES! Best money I ever spent on my bike was those springs. Everyone here will agree (I believe they will, anyway) changing the stock fork springs is the best thing you can do for you bike. Adjust preload via PVC won't really alleviate the spongy spring issue.

4) No idea

5) If there are no leaks coming from the fluid reservior, and the spring isn't worn out, you should be good to go. Rebuilding is a rare thing, unless you buy one that is busted up.

[J_Walker]

Kat 600 shock is better for more weight. I believe the SV650s rear shock is perfect for a 155lb rider. after that you should look at upgrading to something heavier for better performance.

[pogonotroph]

Kat 600 shock is better for more weight. I believe the SV650s rear shock is perfect for a 155lb rider. after that you should look at upgrading to something heavier for better performance.

Hmm. I was planning on an SV650 shock since I read that it raises the bike significantly more than the Kat 600 one does.

[Iarn]

You'll have to modify some bits on the SV650 shock. Cutting and drilling some holes for the bolt, along with grinding your swing arm to make clearance. If you're comfortable with the idea of that, go for it. You won't have to modify anything, or very little, with the Kat600 shock.

I don't know what the SV650 monoshock is rated for weight wise, but I know those Kat600 shocks are STIFF. They'd be nice for someone pushing 200lbs like you are. Is that 190lbs including the weight of your gear?

Also, how much are you looking to raise your seat? The Kat600 will raise the rear end .5 to 1 inch, so you'd still get that effect with that shock.

[pogonotroph]

With my height (36" inseam), I was thinking that the higher I could raise it, the better. Hence the SV shock over the katana. I was also planning on adding some more cushioning to the seat to get an extra 0.5-1" or so of height.

[Bluesmudge]

I think 190 is the minimum you should weigh if you go with the Kat shock. Its better for 200 lbs+ riders. It does raise the rear at least half an inch.

I think the SV650 can raise the rear more, but is not nearly as good a shock.

[Janx101]

I'm 300+ geared up and wound the Kat shock down to 1 because it seemed stiff!

Suspension upgrades are never going to hurt!  .. but the seat to peg height remains the same... with legs that long you may need to do something there also...  and possibly bar position?

[Iarn]

Wasn't Slack selling some lowered foot pegs? Might want to check those out in the For Sale section.

[Slack]

http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=68686.0
These pegs will definitely help your knees.
I'd be careful lifting the rear end to much. I wouldn't do the dog bones with the shock. By jacking the rear to high you'll really screw up your rake and trail on the front end causing overly sensitive steering.
Get some springs, don't just use spacers to push your preload numbers into the triple digits.
Don't worry about the difference needed for the front spring by lifting the rear. The change is so small it's laughable, especially when the .85kg/mm is just a good starting point, for the average rider, of your weight, anyway. And by no means a pretuned setting. If you had a track bike set up almost perfectly, but you wanted to raise the rear 1 inch, maybe you'd add 1mm more preload 
With that much inseam you may want to take the cover off the stock seat, add some more foam, and recover it. This will help bring the bike up a bit while standing and increase your knee and butt comfort while riding. It's also pretty cheap. Then just add some bar risers to make up the difference, or at least some of it.

[gsJack]

Don't know if you need tires yet but I've run every size that will fit a GS500 on the stock wheels and only mention it since your wanting to raise your bikes rear to accomodate your long legs.  Keep in mind that a 130/90 rear tire will raise your rear 1", a 140/80 about 3/4", and a 130/80 or 150/70 about 1/2" higher than a stock 130/70 tire.

I put bar risers on at the end of my first GS summer and stiffer Progressive front springs the 2nd winter @ about 50k miles on my 97 bought new.  Ive dona all my 180k GS miles on stock rear shocks and rarely bottomed out except after 90k mile on my 02 GS it was bottoming frequently with the worn shock I replaced with another stock one, I've weighed 230-250# during my 15 GS500 years.

Having run Dunlop touring tires on my old Hondas for high mileage I tried one available in a 130/90 size on my 97 GS and really liked the noticeably quicker steering resulting from the steeper rake.  But the GS wanted to corner much faster than the touring tires did and I was soon on more suitable rubber.

[MeeLee]

3) YES! Best money I ever spent on my bike was those springs. Everyone here will agree (I believe they will, anyway) changing the stock fork springs is the best thing you can do for you bike. Adjust preload via PVC won't really alleviate the spongy spring issue.

Hmmm.... 

I think not everyone has the same expectations for their shocks.
Some people just like them soft and mushy!
Not all of the people riding the GS, want them hard, like for a racing track.
I'm pretty satisfied with the stock fork; because it absorbs road bumps quite well, and allows me to ride much longer than if the bike had harder suspension.

[Janx101]

I didn't want mine set for track! , just to stop bottoming out front and back! ... trust the users who have made the change meelee! .. it's SO MUCH better with an (appropriate to usage) spring change!

If you haven't done it then you don't get it! .. I didn't get it fully till after changing! .. its better!

For all your many claimed mods for your bikes I'm very surprised that springs aren't on your list?!?

[007brendan]

I weight about 235lb without gear.  I went with the .95 sonic springs.  I'm pretty happy with them.  Easily the best change I've made to my bike.  Before them, the front of the bike would nose dive at every light and stop sign and bottom out on any decent bump in the road. 

You may want to consider some of the older gxsr shocks.  They sit about 1.5 inches higher than stock, maybe a little more.  It's enough that using the kickstand becomes questionable.  I'm 6'1'' and I can still flat foot both feet, but it's a little better.