Lowering new GSX-R600

[jamjam]

I finally got my full license yesterday ... yay!! after 18yrs, 5 bikes and exempted the last 2 months of my restricted.

Time to go splash some cash... i'm looking at a new 2009 Suzuki GSX-R600 from a dealer. Does anyone know the warranty period/kms with these bikes? and are the services required to be done by the dealer or after the first 2 services can i do it myself and still keep the warranty valid.

Also my heels are about 1 inch short of touching the ground, be nice to flat foot given the lane splitting and number of intersections i need to get through in a day, not to mention the steep angle driveway... anyway has anyone got any suggestions, experience or opinions on lowering the bike an inch?

Otherwise i may just have to waddle out on a hyosung aquila

[Shaun]

Hi Mate, tell me how you are looking to purchase this bike please, as I may be able to get you a better purchase price.

Re Lowering it, the best way, is to have the seat modified, so it is lower on the bike, and I do that here in New plymouth for people.

Re Services and warrenty, it must be serviced by a Suzuki agent to cover warrenty for full duration of the warranty period

[Lurch]

Re Services and warrenty, it must be serviced by a Suzuki agent to cover warrenty for full duration of the warranty period

Oh god, we really don't need another servicing/warranty argument.

[PirateJafa]

Re Services and warrenty, it must be serviced by a Suzuki agent to cover warrenty for full duration of the warranty period

Wrong, apparently.

http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1129271194

[slofox]

Warranty on my last new Suzuki was two years.

[jamjam]

well i'll just factor in if they have to do it just for budgeting sake. i prefer do myself and my view is a warranty is for defective parts so as long as the oil is kept fresh then anything else that breaks would be a defective part and hence covered despite whether a mechanic changed the oil or me. I know they also tighten nuts and bolts and a couple other things which is a good safety measure but if a part is defective and breaks then it's gonna happen and should be replaced regardless. but hey i don't wanna go that arguement either, i know they try to keep you coming back for servicing as their mark ups aren't great on the sale and the workshop is part of the dealers profit after sale.

i can get it for $14k, no miles, not an ex demo so sounds a good deal to me.

as for the lowering, the seat carving is probably the better sounding option. do you know how much padded these seats are? can an inch be shaved off and still have enough to keep my hairy ass semi comfy?

[AllanB]

Suzuki do not appear to be able to make comfy seats on their sports bikes - probably irrelevant as most riders are constantly hanging their arses off them anyway!

I'd look to a trimmer who is capable of replacing the foam with something suitable if you chop a fair bit out of the stock seat.

I recommend that you buy it and ride it for a while as is - obviously you can comfortably toe it on the ground and I suspect you'll find little need to actually physically flat foot it.

A internet search will find rear end lowering kits for this model from the USA (Lowering is popular over there) or contact a NZ motorcycle suspension expert as they will be able to help. The front end should be able to be lowered a bit at the triples to keep the geometry the same - you'll just lose some ground clearance.

And dod the dealer thing for 2 years - if there is a claim, it will save a lot of hassles.

[jamjam]

yeh i did some research on lowering kits so thanks for the info. my last bike before this zxr250 (talking 12 yrs ago) was a '87 FZR750 and i don't remember that being this high.... i'm so surprised that bikes have grown (or i've shrunk) so much in 12 yrs!!! i even jumped on a ninja 250R and that was about 1cm lower than the gixxer 600 so may aswell go the gixxer.... damn manufacturers have ignored us shorter riders.
I just about wanted to hump the new Daytona 675 when i checked it out but it was too high for me to use safely around town on so had to cross that off the list :-(

i know it's gone off topic but has anyone done a jump from sports to cruiser? i've only ever ridden sports and wondering if a cruiser might be the way to go in my shrinking years (35yrs so lots more shrinking to do yet). i expect it to be a completely different ride and curious as to the "shock" factor in making the switch.

[breakaway]

How tall are you? My suggestion is to just man up an ride it. There's no need to "flat foot". I can't, and I can handle a GSXR 1000 without any troubles, with or without my mrs on the back.

Just gotta be proactive about parking and stuff, because pushing uphill when the bike is pointing downhill is almost impossible.

[ckai]

yeh i did some research on lowering kits so thanks for the info. my last bike before this zxr250 (talking 12 yrs ago) was a '87 FZR750 and i don't remember that being this high.... i'm so surprised that bikes have grown (or i've shrunk) so much in 12 yrs!!! i even jumped on a ninja 250R and that was about 1cm lower than the gixxer 600 so may aswell go the gixxer.... damn manufacturers have ignored us shorter riders.
I just about wanted to hump the new Daytona 675 when i checked it out but it was too high for me to use safely around town on so had to cross that off the list :-(

i know it's gone off topic but has anyone done a jump from sports to cruiser? i've only ever ridden sports and wondering if a cruiser might be the way to go in my shrinking years (35yrs so lots more shrinking to do yet). i expect it to be a completely different ride and curious as to the "shock" factor in making the switch.

Got the wifey's GSX650F lowered at least an inch. Not too bad for that sorta bike but I would try everything else before that on a super sports. It does come down to confidence, but I wouldn't worry about getting flat footed either (as breakaway said). No need in my view. The wife sitting on my Daytona can get her toes enough on the ground but we're looking at getting the seat shaved about 20mm. It won't get her heels touching but will give her more confidence. She won't be riding through town though and only for occasional rides. I suggested just scooting off one side of the seat more.

Lowering the Daytona is not an option for me It's narrower so even though it's taller, you can still get your feet down similar to the other sport sports. So maybe shaving the top and sides would help a lot.

Totally up to you and your confidence level. Don't wanna drop a gixxer! They'll start calling you a Honda rider

[AllanB]

There has been a bit of a trend on the sports bikes for the seat heights to rise to get the pegs up for ground clearance - usually it is offset with a narrow seat so the overall stretch is similar. Sit on a big cruiser with a couch size seat and you will see what I mean.


Heaps of people have gone from sports to cruisers - once that crouch gets to your old joints you trade them for lower back pain on a cruiser! IMO cruisers would be a lot more comfortable with mid mounted pegs, not forward controls. More of a relaxed standard position like a Bonneville.

[jamjam]

5'7 but i guess i got short legs. On the open road is no problem, before the FZR was a '86 GPZ900 which i don't think i could flat foot but then lived way up north so no need to. now i'm in the city and would cry if i tipped over a shiny new bike.... actually my driveway is where it gonna happen if it does! I find that when you rush into parking spots to get out of way of cars or split up to lights etc doesn't really give you a lot of time to negotiate good lean angles etc.... i did try the 650F, XJ6, Street Triple because all the reviews said they had low seat heights but that bollucks cause they got wider seats so it cancelled their lower height out. the gixxer 600 has felt the lowest footing so far. oh just 1 more inch would make a world of difference... not a quote from the misses.... as u say may just have to harden up and ride smart rather than lazy.

i used to pillion mates and ex's lots too but little bit worried my mrs might tip us over jumping on the back if i can't flat foot... hope she don't see this!

i'm still interested to hear from anyone that made the sport to cruiser switch.

[jamjam]

yeh thanks Allan B.... i agree re the cruiser foot position. i have looked at that and thought if they brought the pegs back mid way it would be more comfortable and controllerable. i did start looking into street or old bonneville style bikes but they just don't do it for me in the modern age. sports or cruisers clip my ticket.

[rie]

I imagine if you are buying an 09 new from a dealer, they can probably negotiate a good deal on extra bits and bobs like lowering link, lowering at front a few mm, possibly even ask them to chuck in crash bungs for a good price...for comparison, I was quoted $300 to lower a brand new 09 at the beginning of the year. You might be able to do better than that. [it is at this point I realise that you didn't actually ask how much it would be - never mind, moving on] Lowering links will take it down even more than an inch if you need it. But the issue of lowering links are a little controversial as some would argue that it reduces clearance and handling. Some would however argue that it is better to be able to touch the ground. So it is a bit of a give-and-take.

I got mine down a few cm by just raising the forks 15mm, and this procedure takes a mechanic like 5 mins to do so ask the dealer to do that for you first, and see how that feels.

[Devil]

Pardon me, but harden up.
Having both toes on the ground is fantastic, there's no need to be flat footed at all. If I can handle a pillion getting on when i'm on absolute tip toes, then you'll have no trouble on a bike that doesn't weigh anything.

Seriously, I wouldn't bother fudging the suspension for it. Just ride it, you'll be used to it before you know it.