Reducing GY-5 seat height........

Frog · 09-06-2009, 01:46 PM

Hi everyone

Having hurt my back in a spill on my 500 I need to lower the seat height on my GY-5. (small spinal crush injury I think - I now have sciatica and it is painful to get on!!)

Has anyone tried a 26cm Shock - i.e. 2cm shorter than standard? I think this would lower the seat about 2.5 inches.

Any other thoughts welcome

Cheers

Frog

Q · 09-06-2009, 07:13 PM

Most of these bikes have a rear spring with adjustable preload. Just a matter of screwing the ring nut down a bit. Also the fork tubes can be slid up into the triple clamps about 3/4" or so.

Q

Weldangrind · 09-07-2009, 12:47 AM

X2 on the fork tubes.

I would investigate a lowering link because it would allow you to adjust the shock however you wish.

recracer · 09-07-2009, 03:34 PM

click on my www at the bottom here . does your rear linkage look like mine . ? I'm working on a lowering solution for mine . i have a link coming to play with and see what i can do with it .

Jim · 09-07-2009, 03:42 PM

I put a smaller shock in my gy6 as mentioned and it still had plenty of suspension travel, it was quite a bit different then the gy5 though so I can't guarantee how it will work out.

Frog · 09-07-2009, 05:14 PM

Thanks everyone.

I do not think reducing the spring preload will lower the height of the bike just make it bottom out more readily when I'm on it. It would be lower when I'm on it I guess but my problem is getting on - lots of pain due to compressed nerve as I swing my leg over the high saddle. Once on I'm comfy!
(long term plan is loose weight and hope it gets better or surgery...)

But I will try a shorter shock and slide the forks up the clamps a little to restore geometry.

I'l post results.

Frog

Frog · 10-22-2009, 03:46 PM

In the end I could not get a decent shorter shock so modified the top mount so I could carry on with my CBR600 shock and get a lower ride height - this worked fine. Now a little lower than with a standard shock where it had been a couple of inches higher.

Much better!

Frog

FastDoc · 10-22-2009, 04:21 PM

Sorry about your back, I can relate. :?

One of the reasons I like these simple underpowerd bikes so much is I think they are less likely to kick one's arse, but safety of course is up to the rider, not the amchine. That said, my humble 200 is fine by me.

You DO have a high bike. I'm 6'1" and that was barely enough for my HSUN, which I think is the same as your bike.

Fabricating a lowering link, or finding someone who has, and dropping the forks in the triple tree should work well.

Good luck on the spinal cord. 8O

09-06-2009, 01:46 PM	#1
Frog Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire England Posts: 191	Reducing GY-5 seat height........ Hi everyone Having hurt my back in a spill on my 500 I need to lower the seat height on my GY-5. (small spinal crush injury I think - I now have sciatica and it is painful to get on!!) Has anyone tried a 26cm Shock - i.e. 2cm shorter than standard? I think this would lower the seat about 2.5 inches. Any other thoughts welcome Cheers Frog
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09-07-2009, 12:47 AM	#3
Weldangrind Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Sardis, BC, Canada Posts: 25,977	X2 on the fork tubes. I would investigate a lowering link because it would allow you to adjust the shock however you wish. __________________ Weldangrind "I figure I'm well-prepared for coping with a bike that comes from the factory with unresolved issues and that rewards the self-reliant owner." - Buccaneer
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09-07-2009, 03:42 PM	#5
Jim Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Abbotsford, BC, Canada Posts: 4,880	I put a smaller shock in my gy6 as mentioned and it still had plenty of suspension travel, it was quite a bit different then the gy5 though so I can't guarantee how it will work out. __________________ "Be excellent to each other" "We are all human. Let's start to prove it!"
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10-22-2009, 04:21 PM	#8
FastDoc Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Southeastern Washington desert Posts: 14,761	Sorry about your back, I can relate. :? One of the reasons I like these simple underpowerd bikes so much is I think they are less likely to kick one's arse, but safety of course is up to the rider, not the amchine. That said, my humble 200 is fine by me. You DO have a high bike. I'm 6'1" and that was barely enough for my HSUN, which I think is the same as your bike. Fabricating a lowering link, or finding someone who has, and dropping the forks in the triple tree should work well. Good luck on the spinal cord. 8O __________________ Happy to serve.
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09-06-2009, 07:13 PM	#2
Q Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bend, Oregon Posts: 348	Most of these bikes have a rear spring with adjustable preload. Just a matter of screwing the ring nut down a bit. Also the fork tubes can be slid up into the triple clamps about 3/4" or so. Q
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09-07-2009, 03:34 PM	#4
recracer Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Charles Town W.V. Posts: 849	click on my www at the bottom here . does your rear linkage look like mine . ? I'm working on a lowering solution for mine . i have a link coming to play with and see what i can do with it .
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09-07-2009, 05:14 PM	#6
Frog Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire England Posts: 191	Thanks everyone. I do not think reducing the spring preload will lower the height of the bike just make it bottom out more readily when I'm on it. It would be lower when I'm on it I guess but my problem is getting on - lots of pain due to compressed nerve as I swing my leg over the high saddle. Once on I'm comfy! (long term plan is loose weight and hope it gets better or surgery...) But I will try a shorter shock and slide the forks up the clamps a little to restore geometry. I'l post results. Frog
	0

10-22-2009, 03:46 PM	#7
Frog Join Date: May 2008 Location: Hampshire England Posts: 191	In the end I could not get a decent shorter shock so modified the top mount so I could carry on with my CBR600 shock and get a lower ride height - this worked fine. Now a little lower than with a standard shock where it had been a couple of inches higher. Much better! Frog
	0