I know this probably has been meantioned several times before on other threads but i got a few questions!

I want to lower my GS a little bit (like 1.5-2 inches)...will this affect the bikes handling and braking at all?

Also what steps are needed to lower the front and the back?


Thanks for your help,
adam

Why are you lowering it?  If it is because you need to to be able to stand comfortably at a stop then you could have the seat shaved.  It would be a little costly and probably affect the handling if you lowered the suspention.

You need to have custom dog bones make for the back.  Longer dog bones that is.  And then lower the front by sliding the fork tubes down in the triple trees.

Do boolian search on "dog bones" and watch the mayhem ensue.

I can't imagine that it wouldn't effect the handling, but there are many that say that it doesn't.  Of course, this is coming from a guy that just resently raised the rear of his GS an inch.

Note: while I was installing my SV rear shock, the bike slipped off the center stand with no shock in there at all.  Talk about lowered?  My dad said, "Looks like a drag bike."   Pretty funny looking.  Like a dog laying down.

Quote from: Jake D on January 11, 2006, 09:42:45 AM

Note: while I was installing my SV rear shock, the bike slipped off the center stand with no shock in there at all.  Talk about lowered?  My dad said, "Looks like a drag bike."   Pretty funny looking.  Like a dog laying down.

I did the same thing when installing an ex250 shock on my wife's gs ....that's one way to lower it....

If you do lower the suspension, be sure to lower the front and the back the same amount or it will affect the handling. Error towards lower in the back; not more than 1/2 an inch difference between front and back. Another thing is to setup your suspension to your weight; see: www.peterverdonedesigns.com/introduction.htm

Lowering can affect how the suspension acts, including making the ride more harsh. Depending on the springs you use. But you can compensate by setting up the suspension. Are you using the stock springs?

You can click on my link to see the pics of  2" lowered bike (rear only). I rode it both before and after the lowering link (dog bone) is put on and it rides exactly the same way without any problem, except that the centerstand scratches little when I go over a speed bump. You need to know that once the bike is lowered, the center stand is pretty much useless because it is very very difficult to raise the bike. For that reason, I am going take the centerstand off and use the rear bike stand that I recently purchased. All in all, it was definately worth giving up the centerstand for since it allowed my feet to touch the ground flat (going from tiptoeing) with much more stability. I'm only 5'4" and I hate being short...

Sam, are you sure it doesn't effect handling? wow. That looks like there is an invisible half ton man on that thing. Perhaps you merely don't ride agressive enough to notice the difference. I don't ride hard, but I would hope to feel something change. My rear is raised approximately 1/2 inch and I noticed a change.

  -Anti 

I bought my '04f in August '05, and it was lowered by the first owner.  She took the centerstand off too.  There is no handling problem with the bike.

The stock shock is still set at 4.  I'm still trying to find a way to increase this to 5 or 6 without a center stand.   

You can use a drift punch and hammer (or a large screwdriver and hammer) to rotate the collar. Do you have the spanner wrench in the stock toolkit under the seat?

Yes I do, but because of the tight space near the shock, I can't get any leverage.  Plus I think there's too much pressure on the shock since I can't raise her up.

Do you have the centerstand? Do you have a rearstand? If yes to both, put the bike on the rearstand, and if the bike is high enough, bolt in the centerstand without the springs, such that if you take the rearstand out the bike will rest on the centerstand. Put a block of wood under the front of the front tire. Adjust your suspension as required.

I unfortunately have nothing except the side stand.

I did find this company who is selling front and rear race stands though for only $100 + S&h
http://www.checkeredflagmotorsports.net/standsnewpage.html
What do you think about these?

Quote from: annguyen1981 on January 11, 2006, 09:28:36 PM
I unfortunately have nothing except the side stand.

No problem! Harleys don't have centerstands either, but they use...blocks of wood! So can you!
Place 2 2x4's such that you can roll the back tire up on one and slide the other one under your sidestand so the bike does't lean over so far (if it still leans over too far, you may need to arrange a third board so that the bike rolls both tires up on the blocks at the same time). Make sure the bike is in gear and has rolled as far forward as possible in gear. Use a stack of wood (not a vertically standing board) to block up under the frame, opposite of the sidestand, as far back as possible. Rotate the rear tire to slide out the board from underneath it. Volia! The swingarm and shock are unloaded!

Quote from: annguyen1981 on January 11, 2006, 09:28:36 PMI did find this company who is selling front and rear race stands though for only $100 + S&h
http://www.checkeredflagmotorsports.net/standsnewpage.html
What do you think about these?

Nice for a $100, but are they adjustable to be narrow enough for the GS's swingarm? And, do you want to drill holes in your swingarm to mount the spools?

I forgot to check if the stands are width adjustable.  Are the spools really neccessary?  I thought the stands just pick of the swing arm on both sides.

They would, but these would scratch the paint. You want a type that has simple rubber covered bars. I'll go look for one.

http://www.sportbikes.com/wwwthreads/showflat.php/Cat/0/Number/705646/Main/705542  Going to look for more.
http://www.kneedraggers.com/details/Jardine_Folding_Adjustable_Swingarm_Stand--53-JRD-1.html
http://street-bikes.ridegear.com/cgi-bin/SoftCart.exe/shop/Sportbike_Stands/F-6223_Adjustable_Swingarm_Stand.html?E+scstore
http://search.netscape.com/ns/boomframe.jsp?query=Chaparral&page=1&offset=0&result_url=redir%3Fsrc%3Dwebsearch%26requestId%3Dcfc99dc8ee755f5d%26clickedItemRank%3D2%26userQuery%3DChaparral%26clickedItemURN%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.chaparral-racing.com%252F%26invocationType%3D-%26fromPage%3DNSCPResultsT%26amp%3BampTest%3D1&remove_url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.chaparral-racing.com%2F

check my thread and look at the lift in the pictures... it is made by craftsman and ive used it on my dad's Harley Road King 1300 so it lifts quite a bit. i intend to take my centerstand off as the lift is perfect when i need the bike up.

the lifts sell for only like 60 dollars at sears right now.

heres the link to the pics.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=23346.0

I can't figure out if my GS has been lowered by the previous owner. I've tried measuring the height, but I can't get an exact measurement.
What's the best way to measure the seat height? On the centerstand, or just holding the bike straight?

Straymonilith - With the bike straight. But, you might be able to determine seat height measuring from the top of the fork to the bottom of the lower triple, with the fork fully extended, if the fork is at the stock position, not raised or lowered through the triples, and we can compare it to my measurements of the same on my bike. Same thing for the rear. pick a point that is easy to measure to (I can't remember where abouts I did mine, but I'm guessing vertically from the rear axle to the bottom edge of the grabrail or bodywork).

Quote from: rubberpenguin16 on January 12, 2006, 08:36:55 PM
check my thread and look at the lift in the pictures... it is made by craftsman and ive used it on my dad's Harley Road King 1300 so it lifts quite a bit. i intend to take my centerstand off as the lift is perfect when i need the bike up.

the lifts sell for only like 60 dollars at sears right now.

heres the link to the pics.
http://gstwins.com/gsboard/index.php?topic=23346.0

Okay, but that's with a frame with no exhaust pipes to crush. The exhaust pipes route underneath the frame.

this is true... i havent had the exhaust on mine yet so i havent hit that problem. .:scratches head:. i do believe matco tools makes a lift like it about the same price and they have ways around that... again not sure... ive only talked about it with my tool dealer  i havent ordered one (since i already have one)

I'm not an expert in this subject, but wouldn't you be able to measure the ground clearance to determine if a bike has been lowered?