Suzuki/Kawasaki 2007....500/600

[LilSel]

I been checking out 500/600's for when time comes for me to upgrade...

What I have established so far is that Suzuki gsxr600 = too tall for me...
Kawasaki 636/6R= same problem...

I havent had a chance to pop myself on either of these two (GS500, ER600), however have been told the ride height would be more suitable...

Does anyone have any input on these two bikes??

Attached Pics/Specs... Suggestions etc welcomed...

I am thinking it is going to be somewhat of a task to find 'the bike' that fits... my legs sure ain't gonna grow any longer lol... I dont want anything bigger than a 600... however for some reason.. gsxr1000 seemed to feel more comfortable (smaller) than being on hyosung 250!!!....

I want to get out this weekend to get on both the Suzi 500F & Kwaka ER6F to see how they 'fit' ... dont wanna naked bike either... (fussy yeah yeah!!)...

have found that I keep going to change up... & im already in top gear... has me out trying bikes for size... *cant wait for more*... :Police::devil2:

[avgas]

ER6N was fantastic, but when i rode the ER6F i felt disappointed for some unknown reason.
If you were going to go faired for the look - the suzi is just plain sexy, like a mini GSXR

[LilSel]

ER6N was fantastic, but when i rode the ER6F i felt disappointed for some unknown reason.
If you were going to go faired for the look - the suzi is just plain sexy, like a mini GSXR

The ER6N... I like the 'diff' look... but the front... :wacko:

[LilSel]

With either of the 3... the tail spade be first to go!! :niceone:

[Grantasaurus]

I'd go for the kwaka, if only for the motor..
The one in the Suzuki is ancient and damn gutless from what a customer told me. He tried the GS500 before buying a Versys (which has the same motor as the ER6) and didn't like it one bit. Go test ride one though, you may like it, it's hard to say.

I'm leaning strongly towards an ER6N when I get my full (and finish uni and have some dosh)

[fireball]

SUZUKI POWER ! ! ! !


altho this week on the kawasaki is......

[LilSel]

SUZUKI POWER ! ! ! !


altho this week on the kawasaki is......

fxr power?? :oi-grr: lol...

I know your falling for my kwaka :love:

[LilSel]

I'd go for the kwaka, if only for the motor..
The one in the Suzuki is ancient and damn gutless from what a customer told me. He tried the GS500 before buying a Versys (which has the same motor as the ER6) and didn't like it one bit. Go test ride one though, you may like it, it's hard to say.

I'm leaning strongly towards an ER6N when I get my full (and finish uni and have some dosh)

:niceone: choice... this is the kinda feedback im after... just to see what others 'thoughts/feels' are :cool: thanks Grant

[Albino]

I see you originally looked at gsxr600. Have you considered a sv650s?

Probably slightly more sports oriented than the er6 or gs500.

[Cajun]

there is the suzuki gsr600

check out www.suzuki.co.nz for more info
<img src='http://www.suzuki.co.nz/motorcycles/bike.gallery/GSR600K7.2120.jpg'>

[LilSel]

there is the suzuki gsr600


pretty similar in terms of height/weight to the 500.

[LilSel]

I see you originally looked at gsxr600. Have you considered a sv650s?

Probably slightly more sports oriented than the er6 or gs500.

I dont really like the style of the sv... it is an option tho... depends on how it 'feels'... when in at colemans the other day... I had a good look... it didnt scream out to me 'take me home'... the gsxr did... but as soon as I got on it... it was pretty obvious the 07 no go for me

[fireball]

I dont really like the style of the sv... it is an option tho... depends on how it 'feels'... when in at colemans the other day... I had a good look... it didnt scream out to me 'take me home'... the gsxr did... but as soon as I got on it... it was pretty obvious the 07 no go for me

you know what dirty comment i want to make eh??? :lol:

:argue::girlfight:

[LilSel]

you know what dirty comment i want to make eh??? :lol:

:argue::girlfight:

I know you fit me well babe... but riding you isnt going to help get me to work on time in the mornings... quite the opposite really

[Cajun]

lilsel how far away from touching the ground on the gsxr are you?

[LilSel]

lilsel how far away from touching the ground on the gsxr are you?

Both feet tippy tip toes... with one foot down... other wont reach the ground.
(gsxr... not much diff from gsxr-er... like 25 odd mm...)

Current ZZR fits perfectly :D lol... seat height 760mm...

[NinjaNanna]

What about the lowering kits that I've heard about, maybe that's the solution?

[Hitcher]

Suzuki GSF650 Bandit. Seat modification by McDonalds Motor Trimmers. Soles of boots built up by 2cm. End of story.

Mrs H is 5'2" in the old money. She rides the above and she loves it.

[Devil]

The gs500 and the ER6 dont even compare. The GS is an asthmatic donkey with basic brakes and crap suspension.
You'd be better comparing the ER6 to an SV650. GSR600 is nice, but a little buzzy in my opinion. You can have quite a bit chopped out of the SV's seat if height is a problem.

edit: or what Hitcher just said. The bandit 650.

[Cajun]

Both feet tippy tip toes... with one foot down... other wont reach the ground.
(gsxr... not much diff from gsxr-er... like 25 odd mm...)

Current ZZR fits perfectly :D lol... seat height 760mm...


someting is total useable to lower you enough to get balls of your feet on the ground, weather its doing something with shock to get it lower and some foam out of the seat.

[LilSel]

What about the lowering kits that I've heard about, maybe that's the solution?

Thats something I was wondering about also...

[LilSel]

weather its doing something with shock to get it lower and some foam out of the seat.


Suzuki GSF650 Bandit. Seat modification by McDonalds Motor Trimmers. Soles of boots built up by 2cm. End of story.

Mrs H is 5'2" in the old money. She rides the above and she loves it.


You can have quite a bit chopped out of the SV's seat if height is a problem.


This sounds like it will be the way to go... I not sure how tall I am :laugh:... 158cm... whatever that is in 'foot/inches' I dunno...
Fireball is shorter than I am... but she has longer legs than I do... I have a longer torso/body...

[Cajun]

we have lowed many bikes, using lowering links, and modifying the foam

[LilSel]

we have lowed many bikes, using lowering links, and modifying the foam

Awesome!!! I never knew :Oops:!! I shall stop ruling out what I ideally want just cuz I cant touch down... In your experiences, how much (in general) would you be able to lower a bike by without too much hassle/expense?!?...30mm/40mm? +/-??...

best news all day... :)

Checked out link in sig... seat + links= -quite a few inches!...

[fireball]

This sounds like it will be the way to go... I not sure how tall I am :laugh:... 158cm... whatever that is in 'foot/inches' I dunno...
Fireball is shorter than I am... but she has longer legs than I do... I have a longer torso/body...


yeah i still got to be able to steal your bike so make sure it fit you as i will be able to touch down :clap:

[LilSel]

yeah i still got to be able to steal your bike so make sure it fit you as i will be able to touch down :clap:

yeah yeah... :girlfight:... your legs are longer than mine but im taller?? thats so not fair lol!

[canarlee]

i too am a shortass, i got the bandit 1250 and am tiptoes if i try and put both feet down. all i do is put one foot flat down by moving slightly over on the seat and i keep the other foot on the peg covering the rear brake. that is also what i was told to do by my instructor.

i would have to agree with hitcher (again??? lol) and say try the bandit 650 and see how you get on.

[Joni]

... 158cm... whatever that is in 'foot/inches' I dunno... You are the same height as me... 5ft2" :msn-wink:

One thing though, the 2 bikes you have detailed in your first post - I looked at the seat heights and I would not be able to ride them without some lowering... have you sat on them both? Or maybe you have really long legs? Not sure.

I would rather go for what you want and have it lowered like Cajun suggested.

:niceone:

edit: or a little of each:
Lowering the bike
Having the seat made thinner
Having you boots slightly built up

[Cajun]

Awesome!!! I never knew :Oops:!! I shall stop ruling out what I ideally want just cuz I cant touch down... In your experiences, how much (in general) would you be able to lower a bike by without too much hassle/expense?!?...30mm/40mm? +/-??...

best news all day... :)

Checked out link in sig... seat + links= -quite a few inches!...

Alot dependson how thick the seat is,

So get a few bikes you really like look of, and let me know and we can go from there

[LilSel]

You are the same height as me... 5ft2" :msn-wink:

One thing though, the 2 bikes you have detailed in your first post - I looked at the seat heights and I would not be able to ride them without some lowering... have you sat on them both? Or maybe you have really long legs? Not sure.

I would rather go for what you want and have it lowered like Cajun suggested.

:niceone:

edit: or a little of each:
Lowering the bike
Having the seat made thinner
Having you boots slightly built up


I havent had a sit on either as yet... hoping to do that this weekend...
I dont have long legs... I have a longer torso... Fireball is shorter than me... but has longer legs (we measured) lol...

[banditrider]

My old man had a GS500 and it was great fun to ride. He'd dropped the forks through the clamps a bit and performed surgery on the exhaust - a lot of fun.

In saying that though, the Kawasaki is a far more modern kettle of fish and should do most things better. Also, I'm a big fan of Bandits...

The 600 Hornet, Yamaha Fazer 600 or Suzuki GSR may also be worth looking at.

[nagaraya]

Had the the seat foam done for my SV650S by McDonald's Motor Trimmers about a week ago. Huge improvement for the seat height! Affordable as well.

[Hitcher]

Suzuki GSR may also be worth looking at.

The biggest failing with the GSR600 is its mirrors -- they're completely useless at speeds in excess of about 40kmh thanks to the vibration. I imagine remedying this would require a lot of fannying around, not to mention cost. Otherwise they are a very tidy package and shit hot fun to ride!

[klyong82]

I'm short too. I tip-toe on both legs on my Fireblade but can balance and reach the ground comfortably on one leg. Took a bit of time getting used to it.

Anyway I had a friend that was 164cm tall and she installed a lowering kit (reduced by 2 inches I think) on a CBR600RR. Think it cost all up about $300 bucks for parts and install ( I'll ask her just to verify). If you like a GSXR then buy one and lower it. When you go to the shop ask them for options.

You could get someone to test ride the bike while you pillion at the back so that you can feel the power of the bike.

[Toaster]

Safe handling of a bike at slow speed and when with feet down is very important, especially for hill starts etc.

The feel and ride is key - basically which-ever is the most comfortable manageable bike that you feel happy being seen on and more importantly feel safe and comfortable riding would be my recommendation.

[Cajun]

I'm short too. I tip-toe on both legs on my Fireblade but can balance and reach the ground comfortably on one leg. Took a bit of time getting used to it.

Anyway I had a friend that was 164cm tall and she installed a lowering kit (reduced by 2 inches I think) on a CBR600RR. Think it cost all up about $300 bucks for parts and install ( I'll ask her just to verify). If you like a GSXR then buy one and lower it. When you go to the shop ask them for options.

You could get someone to test ride the bike while you pillion at the back so that you can feel the power of the bike.

lowering it by 2" is far to much, and will effect the handling far to much,

most i would lower with dogbones is 1" and no more, we have played around, had father in laws lowered hayabusa lowered by 3" at one stage, fine for straight line, but corners, you run in to issues

[jrandom]

gsxr1000 seemed to feel more comfortable (smaller) than being on hyosung 250!!!...

Am I the only one who's wondering why you don't just buy a GSX-R1000?

:innocent:

[klyong82]

lowering it by 2" is far to much, and will effect the handling far to much,

most i would lower with dogbones is 1" and no more, we have played around, had father in laws lowered hayabusa lowered by 3" at one stage, fine for straight line, but corners, you run in to issues

Yeah I asked her about handling but she said it was ok. She used her CBR for touring in the weekends. I suppose that is something she has to bear with if she wants to ride a sports bike for her height.

Yeah I have always left all my bikes stock standard as I believe altering the height or anything major will not be good for the bike.

[fireball]

Am I the only one who's wondering why you don't just buy a GSX-R1000?

:innocent:


dont you put that idea in her head young man :lol: just cos you want one...

[MotoGirl]

lowering it by 2" is far to much, and will effect the handling far to much,

most i would lower with dogbones is 1" and no more, we have played around, had father in laws lowered hayabusa lowered by 3" at one stage, fine for straight line, but corners, you run in to issues

Don't forget we lowered my GSX-R1000 by an inch so I could get my feet on the ground. We had to drop the front down to match and I never noticed any difference in handling. I'm only 1.64m tall and could get the balls of my feet on the ground afterwards.

[Bonez]

LilSel don't forget the GSF650 as well. It has the ablility to adust seat 770mm / 790mm (2-way adjustable).

[SVboy]

I just got the K7 GSXR 600. I am not a "huge" man!!-but found I fitted the Gixxer well-much better than the Kawa. I love the bike-hope you can make the height work for you. I sat on the ERf-fine, but just not special. Good luck.