Lowering motorcycles

[drunkenninjalmldl]

I'm 5'4 and was planning to get a GS500F for my first bike. i want to lower it about 2 inches or at least 1 inches so my sister, 5'2 is able to ride it comfortably. any suggestions on where i can find such a trustworthy lowering kit? and how do i lower it? and will lowering it mess up my bike?

[gsJack]

I really didn't notice much change in the handling with my addition of lowering links to the rear of my 02 GS500, but it did stiffen the rear a noticeable amount. I had a well used set of Progressive front springs already and had left the rear preload at mid setting. The links felt like I'd cranked up the rear preload a couple notches to be more like the front in stiffness and while a bit bumpy in rough corners, I like the results overall.

The ZX6R links will fit the GS500. The shortest of the three holes on the Muzzys links is about the same as the GS500 links, approx 7 1/16 long. Next hole is 1/2" longer which would lower the bike about 2 1/2 inches in the rear, it's about a 5:1 ratio.

I was looking for about 1-2" lower so I went with the Pingel #62018 links which have the first hole at about 7 5/16" long. They lowered the bike about 1 1/4" in the rear. Other 2 holes are 9/16" apart each so 2nd hole would lower it another 2 3/4 inches approx.

I was running 110/80 and 150/70 tires which are about 1/2" taller than OE tires so my net lowering is only about 3/4" rear, but it's still 1 1/4" lower than before I added the links. Bike sits OK on sidestand, but further lowering would probably require altering the sidestand.

http://www.muzzys.com/catalog/

http://www.pingelonline.com/index.htm

Diamond has come out with some GS500 links since I lowered mine that claim about 2" lowering:

http://diamondpowersports.com/

Sliding the forks up in the triple trees is the most common way to lower the front end, but the GS fork tubes can only go up a bit till they hit the handlebars. I have the GenMar risers on my bike moving the bars back so the fork tubes will slide up further by missing the bars. If your short enough to need lowering links to plant your feet firmly on the ground, the GenMars might be helpful too in moving the bars back closer to you.

http://www.zianet.com/GenMar/

There's too much baloney about suspension mods having a negative effect on handling, it changes the handling a bit and that can be good or bad but it's generally not dramatic. In the case of a new rider, the slowing of the steering and the making of the bike more stable by lowering the rear can be a positive effect. As with most endeavors, lowering a bike is best done in moderation.

[drunkenninjalmldl]

which brand would u recommend for me? and what do u mean by a set of progessive front springs? and i have to lower the front end? how would i be able to do that? so many things for lowering a bike. ...

what if i only lower the back of the bike, is that gonna cost any problems?

thank you very much for the informations and website, i greatly appreciate it.

[Sev]

Lowering a bike... you're getting into sticky territory here .

Okay, you want to lower the front and the back equally because just dropping the back shifts the majority of the weight to the rear end. And this isn't some cruiser we're talking about. Sportbikes (even the smaller ones) have a very specific front to back weight distribution ratio. If you shift the weight back you start to compromise steering - hello understeer! Late turn in etc etc etc.

To drop the back end you want longer dogbones, like stated above. They're relatively easy to fit, but you want to make sure that you have something to support the rear end from the subframe when you fit them. An engine lift with a strap works well, I've seen other things done as well.

To lower the front you slide the forks up through the triple trees. This is done by loosening the pinch bolts on ONE SIDE only, then twisting the fork until it sticks up through the triple. Tighten the clamps then do the other side. If you try to do both sides at the same time the whole bike will drop straight down and you'll be sad. Do not lower the front more then 1/2" to 3/4" because otherwise you run the risk of bouncing your front fender into the fairing or triple under heavy compression.


Things to consider: Your clearance, both straight line, and cornering is going to be reduced, depending on how much you lowered it it could be a very substantial reduction. You're going to HAVE to avoid speed bumps amoungst other things. If you're a spirited rider it will be much easier to drag the pegs. All in all, I think you're better off shaving the seat before you start dropping the suspension. I also personally think that you do not NEED to be able to flat foot a bike, all you need to be able to do is get your toes down on one side.

I've ridden with a lady who actually has to drop her "O Ring" off the side of her GSX-R to get a foot down. It's kind of funny watching her put the bike into neutral, and she'll NEVER get on the bike to back it up. She just grabs the handlebars with her left hand, rests her right elbow on the tank and walks backwards with it. It's ALL confidence.

[Lion_Lady]

BEFORE modifying the bike, check out this link (The short bike list):

http://www.nebcom.com/noemi/moto/sbl.faq.html

P

[Sev]

I'm not sure I trust all that info in the link, but the important parts are true. You don't need to be able to flatfoot a bike in order to ride it. Hell, I'm thinking about getting a tiger, and I can barely tiptoe that one.

[gsJack]

which brand would u recommend for me? and what do u mean by a set of progessive front springs? and i have to lower the front end? how would i be able to do that? so many things for lowering a bike. ...

what if i only lower the back of the bike, is that gonna cost any problems?

thank you very much for the informations and website, i greatly appreciate it.

The front springs are too soft on the GS500 and they bottom too easy so many have put in stiffer front springs, I added the Progressive brand springs to my 97 GS500 after about 50k miles and ran them 30k miles on that bike and then put them in my 02 GS500 for about 50k miles so far. They are not necessary to lower the bike and can be considered later if you need them

Also it is not necessary to lower the front end if you lower the rear. The front can only be lowered a bit by sliding up the forks if you don't move the handlebars out of the way. I put the GenMar risers on a long time ago so I lowered the front 1/2" when I put the links on and then put it back up again so I'd have more lean on the sidestand w/o altering it.

If you want to lower the rear about 1" try the Pingel links I used and if you want to lower about 2" try the Diamond links. Links are about $60 and you can put them on yourself and don't need anything else to lower the bike in the rear.

Since I first posted above I have replaced the 150/70 with a 140/70 rear tire and my bike is about 1" lower in the rear than standard now. Still have a 110/80 front so the front is about 1/2" above standard resulting in a change of 1 1/2" in attitude. I don't find this to have much noticeable effect on the handling, just made the rear a bit stiffer as I said before.

[drunkenninjalmldl]

""All in all, I think you're better off shaving the seat before you start dropping the suspension.""

Sev,

what do u mean shaving off the seat? how would i do that? and yeah, i know this one guy that does that too. whats with short people and bikes.

[Sev]

You take the seat off, pull the vinyl off, then cut down the foam and sand it smooth.

[drunkenninjalmldl]

what? thats possible? thanks for the info...why am i so noob..