Can a '85 GS550L be lowered??

[hikermikem]

My ex can only barely touch the ground when sitting on her 550L. So far she has dropped it twice, resulting in having to replace the front signals (yes, dropped once on each side!)

Before I harm her, is it possible to lower this bike without doing any major reconstructive work?? Looking for something simple to lower it a couple of inches or so...

Thanks,

Mike

[Steve]

You might be able to find some shorter shocks for the rear. You can also slide the forks up in the triple tree until they hit the handlebar. If you also use some handlebar set-backs (shorter people usually have shorter arms, don't they?), you can slide the forks up some more.

PLEASE BE AWARE IF YOU DO EITHER OR BOTH OF THESE... :shock:

With the bike lower, the kickstand will make it stand straighter. You might want to shorten it a bit to restore proper lean angle. The centerstand will be harder to use, because you will have to lift the bike higher, but that should not be much of a problem with a 550.

Something else to note: lowering the front more than the rear will decrease the fork angle and make the bike steer quicker. If you go overboard with the lowering, it might even become "twitchy".

Another option is to fasten a rather large anvil to the luggage rack to lower the rear. Two disadvantages here, though. It makes the bike really hard to pick up after it inevitably goes over, and, it might also make the bike prone to doing wheelies. \\/


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[TheRedlineMan]

My ex can only barely touch the ground when sitting on her 550L. So far she has dropped it twice, resulting in having to replace the front signals (yes, dropped once on each side!)

Before I harm her, is it possible to lower this bike without doing any major reconstructive work?? Looking for something simple to lower it a couple of inches or so...

Thanks,

Mike

You can remove some of the seat padding to lower it a centimetre or so. Back off all adjustments on the shocks and forks, you can also slide the triple clamps down the fork stanchions a centimetre or 2.

More advanced:
Check out the local wreckers for shorter shocks for the rear.
Move the top shock mounts forward an inch or so, or move the bottom shock mounts backward a centimetre or so.

[Casino Joe]

Whoa... Whoa... WHOA!!! Wait a minute!

I think we lost a vital fact here!

Your EX is riding your zook and dropped it TWICE, and you haven't harmed her yet?

Wow!

This must be one of those Ex's that have the occasional sleep over. :-\"

Personally I would rather pony-up more alimony than let my Ex ride my bike.

[hikermikem]

Thanks guys - I'll have a look at the front forks & see how far they will move along the triple tree, although it's an anti-dive front fork. I don't know if that makes a difference.

About the rear though - this bike has one of those funky full-floating suspension systems. One knob adjusts a single shock in the rear/center, so I'm not sure you can really change it's position.

Perhaps the anvil idea is the best! It certainly will lower the bike, but the gas mileage might decrease too much to make it a practical fix - darn.

Any, it's not my bike per say, it's my ex's - I just get to wrench on it.

Thanks,

Mike