Hi guys. I just bought an 04 GS500F. 1st real bike. I fit ok on it, but I'd love any input on how I can fit a little more comfortably. At 6'8" 230lbs, I have to fold up a bit. With riding boots, gear shifting kinda sucks, I would like to switch possibly to a shorter shift lever to fit my feet under it. From what I've read in these forums, a seat modification may also be in my future... Also looked up helibars, but the bars haven't bothered me, plus didn't see any for the 500... Love my bike, wouldn't mind fitting better on it.
Welcome to the site man! Funniest user name I've seen in a while btw....
I don't know if a shorter shift lever would be a good idea.... how much shorter are you thinking though? The length of the lever puts a certain amount of leverage on the shifter shaft - so too short could increase the force needed for clean shifts. The good news though: that splined shaft has remained pretty universal for a long time. So if you find a shorter shift lever (especially one from another Suzuki), it should bolt on no problem.
Have you considered rearsets? Commercial ones are available (check the Wiki first), but you might be better off either making your own, or modifying your foot peg mounts back and maybe down. Not easy, but certainly not impossible either....
If u want a shorter shift lever cut & weld the old one....their only mild steel so cut and also bend(with heat) quite easily.
Knight Design offers really nice lowered pegs for a really nice price.
Add some foam to the top of the seat and recover.
Look for some tall bar risers.
...and stay away from my goat! :nono:
Quote from: Slack on October 14, 2015, 03:01:19 PM
Knight Design offers really nice lowered pegs for a really nice price.
Thanks bud, just ordered a pair. Cool site,,, Knight Design... think maybe it's run by the Hoff?
Please report back how they feel, I bought a 4cm lower set last year but haven't bothered to install yet. :dunno_black:
I use to run a set of their max lowered, close to 2"
They were really nice. They are thin so that they aren't much lower at the bottom edge (retaining ground clearance). The anodizing wore off the top some after a few thousand miles from readjusting to brake/shift. But they still looked a million bucks! And definitely gave more knee room. I took them off and went back to stock because I stopped commuting long distances (2 hrs, 125 miles, 1 way) on the GS and I'm too short (30" inseam jeans are a little too long) to comfortably hang off in the twisties with lowered pegs.
The problem with lowering the pegs is that the bike will turn slower. The ideal peg height is at the same height as the swingarm bolt. Any higher than the swingarm bolt and the bike becomes to tippie in the corners. It depends on your riding style as to where you want them though. You can make some brackets out of 10mm aluminum to move the rearsets back and up or down. Im 6 foot 2 and i have moved my pegs back 50mm and the bike is way more comfortable. I had to extend my gear lever by 25mm, i just cut it in half and welded in a 25mm section. Search "rearset mods" on the forum and you should find some pics of the rearset mod. It's really easy to do if you have the tools.
Lowering the pegs themselves is also easy if you have the tools. Check out my tread "GS500E-lite" and you should be able to see what i did to my pegs.
Not disputing.. but lower pegs/slower turn? ... why is this?
I'm not sure exactly, something to do with physics i would think. If you try it you will find that it is correct. When the pegs are up at the level of the swingarm bolt you can stand on the peg and the bike will tip in, put them down lower and it tips in but nowhere near as quickly. A guy that raced bikes for over 30 years told me this and i tried it and found it to be true.
I expected people to question my statements, it would be foolish not to with me being a newbie and all.
Keith Code built a bike to test this out, Mythbusters style. He experiment showed that weighting the pegs may not be effective at steering a motorcycle.
Link
http://www.superbikeschool.com/machinery/no-bs-machine.php
Interesting read lucas, thanks.
I agree totally that you have to counter steer, that is a no brainer. shaZam!, anybody knows a bike with no steering won't turn. :whisper:. As i said it depends on your riding style (as in how aggressive or timid you are) as to how effective this is. As Keith stated in an emergency situation there is not enough time to worry about standing on a peg, you counter steer. But in normal (aggressive) riding though an "S" bend for instance, when you stand on the inside peg on the change of direction in combination with counter steering (remember kids you have to steer the bike) and shifting your body weight the bike will respond way quicker than if you were to counter steer alone. And the higher up the peg the quicker it will respond. Maybe we should start a new thread on this subject and get some more opinions.
I once heard that opinions are like a-holes. Everyone's got one and they are a lot more flexible than you would think.
That no BS bike is interesting! While I was looking up videos for that bike, I came across this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuRlxpC9l-g
I'm wondering how that differs from the No BS bike.
The thing about lowering the stock pegs is then you lose ground clearance. :sad:
You can actually turn a bike quite a lot with just the pegs, IF you are on a light bike with very skinny tires. The GS doesn't respond too much to foot peg input, but the first time you try it on a 250 dual sport you'll be amazed at how quickly and sharply you can turn with just the pegs. A bit of pressure on the inside peg helps to turn on the GS. Just like a bit of pressure with the outside knee will help. But you still need counter steering input in the bars.
At nearly 7 feet tall, you may have set the mark for tallest member here. :) that aside i wonder if they still make an air shifter? ( i had plans for one in near future)
Aaron.
An air shifter might work for you. maybe not but worth looking at anyways
Yeah, I guess it's tough to compare 6'8". I'm willing to find out for myself. & if I can't lay down flat like the guys on YouTube, I'll be ok with it... Hoping they show up today
Well.... the pegs are installed 1.75 in lower. Just ordered some 3.5 inch risers. The seat.... I am procrastinating on, don't wanna butcher it. My plan is to even it out a bit, add foam to the front and bring it up to level with the back of the seat. I appreciate everyone's input. Especially Slack, since it appears I am following his advise word for word haha
you want comfort.. ur going to be looking at taller [as in up and back] handlebars. maybe some risers. also you can either mod the existing seat. or if you can work a sewing machine [you can ride a motorcycle right? you can work a sewing machine...] then some nylon straps and buckles basically you're gonna want to sew some nylon straps onto a pillow to attach to the top of the seat, easy on an off. and of course you can go the pegs route.