I'm looking at buying a newer (2000'ish) Yamaha R6 and though it's not a GS I figure someone on here can help...

I found one thats a 2000 w/ 9k miles, great condition, well maintained, frame sliders... everything is fine and dandy until this... lowered. Guy wants $4500 by the way, not that it's relevant.

So my question, what does lowering due to a bike's ergonomics and how it rides? Handling, performance, etc? I'd just like to hear some in's and out's... I really know anything about it other than, duh, it's lower.


Thanks guys/gals,
Scott

If he did anything to lower it that can't be easlily undone I wouldn't buy it. A lowered bike is more likely drag when leaning into a tight turn.

Test ride it to see how it feels, handling is kind of a seat-of-pants thing.

Lowering usually reduces your travel and ground clearance. Restricting travel can affect how well the suspension absorbs bumps, expecially large ones. Usually, shorter travel is accompanied by stiffer suspension. Ground clearance sometimes affects how far over you can lean it over.

If he lowered the front an equal amount as the rear, you'll get an even shorter wheelbase, which makes for an even tighter turning bike (a 20mph hairpin will feel like a 60mph sweeper).

Ergonomics is a matter of personal taste. Some like it with their ass in the air and their wrists in pain.

Most of the time the dog bones have been changed to lower the rear and raised the fork tubes through the triples, an easy fix. The handling geometry really has not changed. This is done often with shorter riders. Be careful when riding a lowered bike...limited ground clearance. I would definitly put it back to stock ride height though.

Has the swing arm been lengthened?

The steering will also be slower & you will have to muscle the bike more to make it lean into the turns.  The front end may want to push to the outside of the turn.
Some aftermarket manufacturers make adjustable lowering links, so that you don't have to remove the link(s) to install different ones.

Makes you think .... how stoopid are these people... you buy the shortest, most radical corner carving weapon ever conceived... and then lower it and stretch it.... makes you go WTF.... If you want lowered and stretched, buy a damn harley clone. I'd run from it... just out of fear that that stupidity could be contagious.
Cool.
Srinath.