Can someone recommend a rear shock that will drastically increase handling while not increasing, maybe even reducing the height? My 5'3" wife can barely touch the ground as it is, and I'm getting ready to replace her rear tire too with a 140/80 Avon Roadrider. I'd like her to be a little more flatfooted on the bike. Any recommendations would be appreciated.

just get  set of 20 dollar lowering links from ebay. contrary to what people say lowering your bike doesn't mess with the handeling that much. its more of a physcological thing that you think your leaning to much when your noth..

because any shock change is going to raise the height

Any shock upgrade will raise the rear no less that .25 of an inch.Lowering the GS in the rear an inch isn't bad much more and the steering slows down.Pingel #62018 ZX6 links have multiple holes for lowering.Not sure how low you can go with them.Yes they fit the GS.

i heard sv650 shocks are good

Sv shocks lift the rear 1 to 2 inches.

But don't get the cheap links off eBay, get a good name where they say what kind of aluminum they use. I have a Katana rear shock but compensated for the lift at the seat and rear end by using Diamond lowering links, which brought it down 2 inches at the seat, and I slid my forks up to lower the front a half inch.

dude your links get pulled not pushed you don't have to have super strong aircraft grade aluminum links. Also alot of the name brand stuff is made out of the same material as the cheaper stuff billet aluminum. You can get some nice ones with gs500 engraved in them for like 35 buck on ebay. they are what I have and they work just fine. Theres no sense in spending more money that whats nessecary.  Save your money and put it in your gas tank.

The absolutely best shock I have ever run on mine and mine had lindemann FE for the entire time I owned it, and it was a 89 with clip on's so the rear was terrible till I swapped and I tried 506 different types as I was selling them, was a slingshot GSXR 750 - non remote reservoir shock that has fluid column up on top, the clicker adjustment on the bottom in the clevise and the preload on top with a clicking round collar. Kat shocks raise the rear more than I like, this was a shade lower than a Kat, and way better. It blew 2 years ago, I opened it up hoping to rebuild it, and have not got to it yet.
However longer dogbones with a Kat shock may work for you.
Cool.
Buddha.

yea like the buddah said kat shock with new dog bones thats what I'm going to do . well when I get a kat shock.

I got 1 Kat shock - $35. Longer dogbones - I can make it too, how much longer, I had some that was 1/2 inch longer, making for a 2 inch+ lower seat. But I'll make it to any extra length over stock for what my welder will charge me + cost of steel flat bar. BTW its a 1 to 4 ratio more or less. So 1/2 inch = 2 inches lower. 1 inch = 4 inches, 2 inches = grounding of all the hard parts on the bike - footpegs, chock mount, exhaust header, chain, frame etc etc ... no more than 1/2 inch IMHO. 
I also can powdercoat it to your preferred color and get the shock spring done to match ... all for what the powder guy will charge ... but dont get creative here, your sky blue may not be the same as my sky blue.
Lets say $10 for dogbones, and $10 for powder coat on the spring and bones just as a close estimate.
He charges less per item if I do colors he sprays often - red, yellow, blue, black etc etc and let him piggy back it on a load of some industrial BS he's doing. Ask for somehting like Fuschia and you'd pay arm+leg and wait 6 months.
Cool.
Buddha.

sr*****, err buddha, any idea what powdercoating a valve cover would run, ( ballpark) PM me with any info you might have. ive got a few more questions. and before too long if OP doesnt get that kat shock, well be talkin.[/threadjack]

Quote from: yamahonkawazuki on May 25, 2008, 09:12:47 PM
sr*****, err buddha, any idea what powdercoating a valve cover would run, ( ballpark) PM me with any info you might have. ive got a few more questions. and before too long if OP doesnt get that kat shock, well be talkin.[/threadjack]

I have done it, but it was part of a lot of other things that were done in silver with candy blue on top, I'd guess $10 or there abouts. It depends on his mood, the color, the other things I am adding to the pile in the same color etc etc ...  I'd venture to guess he'd call it a medium size piece and hit me for $10. Blasting is included as always.
He's like a Tshirt store, small, medium, large, extra large ... 2 XL, 3XL etc ... and 5 - 10 - 15 - 20 - 25 - etc ... Tanks are 50-75, frames are $150-250, fenders are $25 a pop for rear, $15 for front. Triples are $5 for 1 color, $10 for dual (silver under candy blue is dual). Just an idea for you.
All I can say is, the stuff will be blasted to hell and back, then coated with the maximum powder that can adhere to it. His blasting is so good, I am going to guess that's why the  thing works so well. I have got stuff out of his blaster just after blasting and it was burning hot. He is not a foo foo motorcycle powdercoater, I have seen him put a 2 storey spiral staircase in his blaster and then his oven. He does a lot of industrial chassis and various industrial sized fixtures.
Cool.
Buddha.