Lowering GT 1000 - Critical Suspension Question

[BrianGT1000]

Well it appears I may have found the last unopened Termi kit (slip-ons, airbox, and ECU) available in the US for my 2007 - very expensive. I sure hope it is worth it.

I will do a complete list of my modifications soon, but the next (maybe last) thing I would like to do is lower the bike a bit and address some of the "sponginess" I'm experiencing with the stock suspension after only 5000 miles.

I will try to read all the blogs and other posts on this subject, but from what I have read so far, I think I would like to add better rear shocks (maybe the piggy back type) and stiffen the front fork - any recommendations based on personal experience will be greatly appreciated. Does anyone have any experience with the "Hyper X" from Gazi (the price is certainly right)?

[YellowDuck]

How much do you weigh, and how will you use the bike? Ever ride 2-up? Touring or sport riding? Any track days?

With the Sports, the forks are awful but the rear is not that bad stock. With the GT, both ends kinda suck, plus the wheels are heavy, so there is a lot to do. This of course assumes that you actually need / want good suspension performance. It depends on how and where you ride.

Why does your title say "lowering"? Is the bike too tall for you?

[poolagent]

Hyper X are not bad… a friend of mine runs a pair that i had intended for my bike and is quite happy. I decided to go with YSS…

Concerning the front, it depends on your weight… i have a perfect set of S4R fork legs in my garage…

[BrianGT1000]

Originally Posted by YellowDuck

How much do you weigh, and how will you use the bike? Ever ride 2-up? Touring or sport riding? Any track days?

With the Sports, the forks are awful but the rear is not that bad stock. With the GT, both ends kinda suck, plus the wheels are heavy, so there is a lot to do. This of course assumes that you actually need / want good suspension performance. It depends on how and where you ride.

Why does your title say "lowering"? Is the bike too tall for you?

I weigh 210 lbs, 6' 3" and generally use the bike for Eveglades Barrelling (in Florida) and Canyoning (elsewhere) - I ride 2 up when I pick up (which is happening more often since I got the GT1000, but the basic use is higher speed touring on my own. I have done one open track day at Sebring about a month ago. I want better suspension and at 210 think I need it. The lowering is to address the too forward center of gravity (in my view) - more a matter of taste, but I think I need to shave 20 mm or so...

[BrianGT1000]

Originally Posted by poolagent

Hyper X are not bad… a friend of mine runs a pair that i had intended for my bike and is quite happy. I decided to go with YSS…

Concerning the front, it depends on your weight… i have a perfect set of S4R fork legs in my garage…

Which YSS?

I'm 210 lbs - are you suggesting the S4R legs are a fit for me and the GT?

[BellaCorse]

I've got a set of Gazi Hyper-X shocks on a Triumph Bonneville and the YSS equivilent RG362TRCL on another Bonneville. Both are nearly identical in terms of features and range of adjustability. YSS edges out the Gazi on price, but they're still fairly close.

/Mike

[poolagent]

Originally Posted by BrianGT1000

Which YSS?

I'm 210 lbs - are you suggesting the S4R legs are a fit for me and the GT?

I have YSS RG 362/380 TRCL / 08 AB with micro adjust compression damping…

they are fitted with double wound progressive springs.

You would need 25-35 N/mm i think.

THe forks are perfect for a GT because they are short and the adjusters don't interfere with the handlebar, but with your weight you will need heavier springs… 0,95 kg/mm i suggest.

[YellowDuck]

Originally Posted by BrianGT1000

I weigh 210 lbs, 6' 3" and generally use the bike for Eveglades Barrelling (in Florida) and Canyoning (elsewhere) - I ride 2 up when I pick up (which is happening more often since I got the GT1000, but the basic use is higher speed touring on my own. I have done one open track day at Sebring about a month ago. I want better suspension and at 210 think I need it. The lowering is to address the too forward center of gravity (in my view) - more a matter of taste, but I think I need to shave 20 mm or so...

I would recommend 0.95 kg / mm springs for the forks, if you are keeping the OEM ones, and a lighter oil on the left side (compression damping side). Once you get the springs in you can measure the sag and adjust the spacers to get it where you want. Any adjustable shocks in the rear will be an improvement, including used ones off a Sport biposto.

A 20 mm change in front to rear ride height is pretty extreme, but you will achieve a good bit of that with just the spring change in the front if you weigh 210 - your front sag is probably excessive. Unfortunately getting the rear spring rate right will undo that, and probably then some. You can get some back by running more rear sag than normal and dropping the forks in the triples a bit. But I am guessing that once you get the fork sprung right the weight distribution will feel better, because of the reduced amount of dive under braking.

Of course just bolting on adjustable forks is a great option, but you still likely need to spring them for your weight.

[GiaGT1000]

what about changing the linkage of the rear shocks to the upper frame modifying the inclination of the rear shocks? in this case you could also change the height

[GreyDuck]

Who was the guy on this forum selling a lowering bracket for the rear shocks?
Was it the mas lowering bracket?
I think that would solve your problem.
I believe Hagon shocks do a shorter shock.