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Main Area => General GS500 Discussion => Topic started by: Falcon01 on January 08, 2012, 09:51:49 PM

Title: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: Falcon01 on January 08, 2012, 09:51:49 PM
I'm a rather tall guy and have been searching for pegs that will give me more leg room. I was not able to find a manufacturer or distributor in the U.S. for lowered GS500 pegs.  However, as I continued to surf the internet for options I discovered the website for Knight Designs LLC out of Oregon.  Knight makes custom pegs, lowered or straight, for a variety of sportbikes and cruisers.  Unfotunately options for the GS500 were not listed but I noticed a paragraph that said they were interested in "fitting new makes and models", so I contacted Alicia Knight who was very willing to work with me to develop pegs for the GS.  I mailed Alicia a peg and peg bracket, and her husband Randy made a set of 1 inch lowered pegs for me as shown in the attached photos.  They are very high quality pegs, and I absolutely love them.  It essentially remedied the only real complaint I had with the GS and I can now ride for hours without any leg or knee pain.



Although the Knight pegs are only 1 inch lower, they actually provide about 1.75 inches of additional leg room because they don't have the mass of built up rubber on top of the peg like the OEM version.  Because of that difference I had to lower my rear brake level/pedal and the gear shift lever down to compensate for the difference. 

I know not everyone wants or needs lower pegs, but they will have a straight peg available for the GS as well.  Alicia Knight tells me the GS lowered and straight peg products will be listed on their website in the next few days.  Here is a link to their site if you're interested    http://www.knightdesignllc.com/index.htm

Great product that has made my bike much more comfortable for me. 

(//)
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: Falcon01 on January 08, 2012, 10:29:51 PM
Sorry, failed to include the photos in the original post.

(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x403/teach123school/PIC_0051.jpg)

(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x403/teach123school/c86574bf.jpg)

(http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x403/teach123school/0-1.jpg)
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: mister on January 08, 2012, 11:00:46 PM
Do they fold up?

If not, watch it if you lean so far you scrape the peg. It could just provide enough lift the back loses traction just enough to put you down.

Michael
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: J_Walker on January 08, 2012, 11:05:46 PM
they should make pegs that have small like a row of ballbearings or something in them, so if you scrape. it kinda rolls with you? :D
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: Paulcet on January 11, 2012, 10:59:07 AM
Yeah, looks like they fold up.

Quote from: J_Walker on January 08, 2012, 11:05:46 PM
they should make pegs that have small like a row of ballbearings or something in them, so if you scrape. it kinda rolls with you? :D
Scrape, roll....  not much different.   :dunno_black:
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: adidasguy on January 11, 2012, 12:36:09 PM
Quote from: J_Walker on January 08, 2012, 11:05:46 PM
they should make pegs that have small like a row of ballbearings or something in them, so if you scrape. it kinda rolls with you? :D

You mean training wheels?
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: Falcon01 on January 11, 2012, 12:54:09 PM
Yes, they do fold up.  They are attached using the same diameter pin as OEM pegs.  I spend most of my time in Northern CAL hilly, twisty roads.  On Sunday, I road 100 miles on one of my normal haunts (Mines Rd/Mt. Hamilton for those familiar with the area), and I found that I dragged the new pegs in exactly the same spots as I usually drag the OEM pegs, but not in any other/new spots.  The pegs are angled at the tips, just like the OEM version, and when the pegs touch the ground the simply starting moving upward just like normal pegs.  I'm not a knee-dragger, but I do ride a spirited ride.

Obviously if your type of riding causes you to drag the pegs in most corners, lowered pegs would not be a good option for you.  But the straight version might be option worth considering.  They would not change your lean angle at all because they don't hang down any lower than the stock pegs.
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: tt_four on January 11, 2012, 03:03:11 PM
Don't forget that those cheap GSXR pegs on ebay that people mod to fit the GS will also drop the peg height about an inch. They don't actually drop down like the ones in the picture, but the stock pegs have about an inch of thick rubber, so the plain metal pegs are technically an extra inch of leg room, and they're pretty cheap.
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: dmartins on January 24, 2012, 05:13:36 PM
Hi Falcon, I just found your thread and am seriously considering some type of lowered pegs for my GS. I'm 6'1" and find I get quite cramped after an hour or so. The extra leg room would probably help. The GS500 pegs aren't listed on the Knight Design site yet, so do you mind sharing how much they cost? :bowdown:
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: Falcon01 on January 24, 2012, 08:13:19 PM
Quote from: dmartins on January 24, 2012, 05:13:36 PM
Hi Falcon, I just found your thread and am seriously considering some type of lowered pegs for my GS. I'm 6'1" and find I get quite cramped after an hour or so. The extra leg room would probably help. The GS500 pegs aren't listed on the Knight Design site yet, so do you mind sharing how much they cost? :bowdown:

I'm surprised they haven't added them to the website yet.  To be honest I'm not sure what the price will be because they gave me a special deal since I was the first GS500 order.  I mailed them my peg and bracket, which they used to make the prototype.  I would suggest emailing Alicia Knight at  sales@knightdesignllc.com   She always responded to my emails very quickly. 

If you ultimately decide to buy them, let me know your thoughts.  I've ridden about 1500 miles since I put them on my bike, and they've a tremendous difference in comfort for me.

Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: Dayao12 on February 08, 2012, 03:43:11 PM
This is fantastic! I was just looking or something like this the other day!
Was it difficult to lower the brake pedal? And how much did you pay, excluding s&h.
Thanks!

Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: Tombstones81 on February 08, 2012, 03:52:22 PM
6FT2 here.
instead of something closer to the ground like the pegs. (more of a hazard)
why not just raise the bike up with longer dog bones?

that has been something I've searched for now and again when I remember.
but I cant seem to find very many or any at all.
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: dmartins on February 08, 2012, 08:29:12 PM
I emailed Knight Design yesterday inquiring about these pegs. Hoping to hear back soon!

Quote from: Tombstones81 on February 08, 2012, 03:52:22 PM
6FT2 here.
instead of something closer to the ground like the pegs. (more of a hazard)
why not just raise the bike up with longer dog bones?

I'm not sure I understand what dogbones do exactly but I've read about people installing longer or shorter ones to raise or lower the seat height (I might have that backwards).
Wouldn't what you suggest give you a taller seat height while also raising the pegs(and entire bike) upwards? So you would have no extra leg room while riding as a result..?
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: Tombstones81 on February 08, 2012, 08:44:04 PM
actually you are probably right.
Okay, then both to even it out hahahaha

sorry, lot on my mind today.
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: dmartins on February 08, 2012, 09:16:32 PM
Quote from: Tombstones81 on February 08, 2012, 08:44:04 PM
Okay, then both to even it out hahahaha
Hahaha.. Now there's an idea! Keep your ground clearance and gain some legroom at the same time! :woohoo:
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: Falcon01 on February 08, 2012, 10:11:34 PM
Quote from: Dayao12 on February 08, 2012, 03:43:11 PM
This is fantastic! I was just looking or something like this the other day!
Was it difficult to lower the brake pedal? And how much did you pay, excluding s&h.
Thanks!

It was not difficult to lower the brake pedal.  Just remove the peg bracket and you have easy access to the adjustment bolt/nut.  You also have to adjust the brake light switch, which is located in the same area.  Otherwise when you adjust the pedal down your brake light will stay on all the time. 

I'm not a knee dragger, but I usually ride a spirited ride through twisty Northern Cal roads.  I haven't noticed any real loss of lean angle that everyone seems to be worried about.  But if that is a real concern, you can order the straight (non-drop) pegs, which will hang down no lower than OEM pegs but still give you an extra inch of leg room due to the loss of all that OEM rubber.

I'm not sure what they plan to charge for the pegs.  I got a special deal because I was the first GS request, and they used my peg & bracket for the prototype.  Email them and I'm sure they'll shoot you a price.  I've had mine for about 2000 miles now, and I love them.  My knees thank me everytime I ride.
Title: Re: New 1 inch lowered pegs for GS500
Post by: kg1709 on February 09, 2012, 02:36:51 PM
These pegs look great. I have enquired about straight pegs and found out the following:

GS500 'straight' pegs will give you ¾ inch (approximately 19mm) of drop from your stock pegs.. our pegs come straight out from the mount, while your stock pegs have approximately ¾ inch of rubber spacing your foot up.
We also have our standard '1 inch' drop style that will give you 1-3/4" (appx. 44mm) drop from stock.

Our straight pegs cost $84.94 for natural aluminum, $94.95 for black anodized, or $99.95 for blue anodized. 
We finish these to order.  Lead time to shipment is under 5 working days, and typically 2-3 days.

I am seriously tempted.