GS550L - Hardtail, or keep it soft?

[Guest]

Hey all,

I got a GS550L a few months back. Love the bike, love the ride. It's a little high for me though, and I'd like to either lower it a bit, or commit to turning it into a makeshift hard tail with steel bars in place of the rear struts (and lowering the forks, too). Also, getting rid of the stock (huge, tiered) seat, and add a bobber pan with springs.

The bike is pretty stock, right now. I've seen some mean looking GS's out there, and honestly, that's kinda what I'm going for. I know the transition will make the handling worse, the ride less comfortable, yada-yada... Is riding a hard tail really that much different/bad?

Thoughts?

Thanks a million guys!

Evan

IMG_20141019_172813.jpgP.S. I live in the mitten, where the roads are junk, Lol

[dorkburger]

Your PS says it all. If you treasure your back keep the suspension and seek a way to lower it a bit. Many have good results trimming the seat foam at the sides, giving their legs a straighter shot at the ground.

[GS1150Pilot]

Hardtails are for soft brains.

[JTGS850GL]

That's a VERY clean looking 550L. You are probably going to hear a lot of either "Do what you like, it's your bike" or "What? Are you crazy? Don't destroy a nice bike like that" reactions. No matter what you do, I wouldn't go hard tail. It really does screw up the ride and a major PITA (literally) on bad roads.

Good luck and post pictures. It may not be my style bike but it gives us something to see.

[RichDesmond]

I guess I'm in the "sell that one to someone looking for a clean stock one, and buy a rattier one to mod." camp. But it is your bike and your money.

Definitely try to get a ride on someone else's hardtail before committing to that path, I think you'll get off it going, "Oh HELL no."

[GSX1000E]

Get some riding boots with taller heels.

[mikerophone]

Your bike, your choice, but my 2 cents - don't go hard tail, that's one clean L and hard tails, even with spring seats are rough on the back side. Unless it's an old school original hard tail, I don't personally like the look.

I'd lower it, and cut down the seat foam, getting rid of that silly stepped seat or even consider customer rear sets and pedals, but that's me.

[Nessism]

Hardtails are for soft brains.

This^^^

Buy a nice clean GS. Hack it up with a hard tail. Nice to ride bike is not nice to ride anymore. Slap it on craigslist and pass it off at a loss. Bike is in the scrap heap within the year.

[EvMac]

That's a VERY clean looking 550L. You are probably going to hear a lot of either "Do what you like, it's your bike" or "What? Are you crazy? Don't destroy a nice bike like that" reactions. No matter what you do, I wouldn't go hard tail. It really does screw up the ride and a major PITA (literally) on bad roads.

Good luck and post pictures. It may not be my style bike but it gives us something to see.

I've been hearing a lot of that! Lol. Seems like the consensus is to keep it soft. Is it possible to replace the springs in the rear for a lower ride? I also want to ditch the seat for something solo/lower.

Thanks guys!

[lurch12_2000]

If you choose a hardtail and bobber mods also plan on a few more things:

1. Cut your rides shorter
2. Choose only smoother roads
3. Extra usage of Advil
4. Negating any thoughts of the advantages of having a rear suspension in the twisties
5. Reduce your resale value by maybe 40%

It's your bike, so it's your mistake if you want to do it.

PS...I had a Triumph hardtail in my youth and look back wondering how I let style overshadow common sense.

[EvMac]

This^^^

Buy a nice clean GS. Hack it up with a hard tail. Nice to ride bike is not nice to ride anymore. Slap it on craigslist and pass it off at a loss. Bike is in the scrap heap within the year.

I was waiting for this kind of answer. Yeesh.

"Keepin' it soft, boss."

[GS1150Pilot]

I was waiting for this kind of answer. Yeesh.

"Keepin' it soft, boss."

You're hearing from the gurus there. That's the point of joining and asking questions, no?

[JTGS850GL]

I was waiting for this kind of answer. Yeesh.

"Keepin' it soft, boss."

They why ask a question if you don't want the answer. I warned you....

[spyug]

Well as another old curmudgeon I will also strongly recommend you do not hard tail that little beauty. Having experienced a serious and long lasting sciatic injury from sitting on a board hard "street tracker" seat I built I would only think a hard tail would be much worse and probably more dangerous.

Riding is meant to be a pleasant and relaxing activity not a ticket to permanent injury, such as can be brought on by that kind of "mod".

As suggested, you can gain some leg length by having the seat shaved or perhaps even by putting on shorter shocks. Going this route would be the better way to solve your issue while not opening up the potential for injury or ruining an otherwise decent ride.

But as also mentioned, it is your ride.

[Billy Ricks]

Hard to see on your bike but you can usually pull the fork tubes up in the triple clamps to lower the bike a bit.