I want to get a lowering kit for my 2006 500r - any suggestions or what was it like?

hi, lowering the bike is not difficult but it can be complex, it all really depends on the degree you need.
first you need to know by how much, in practicality for a novice you should be able to get both feet to touch the ground and be comfortable holding the bike up while sat on it, easy to find by placing something either side of the bike at differing heights until it is right then measuring the thickness of whatever gives you the figure required.
this is important because at some point while riding you Will need to hold it up with both feet. if you can only get one foot down you/they will drop it. (don't ask how I know).
once you have the measurement you can then calculate what you have to do, the stock dog bones are (from memory) about 160mm between hole centres, for every 10mm extra (longer) it reduces the seat height by 2in, or 5mm 1in.
so if you need 2ins they would require dog bones measuring 170mm or 175mm for 3in.
however there IS a practical maximum because these bikes are short on ground clearance as it is. (may require removing the centre stand) or even the lower fairing, I have mine lowered by 2in (short legs) and is ok on normal roads. much more I'm not so sure. you can get extra lowness by removing foam from the seat (just don't count on very long rides) it hurts the butt.
also lowering the bike will alter how you ride it. it will turn in much slower, (so no acute leaning round tight corners) or it will ground. and it increases the bikes normal understeer.
longer bones are the best way to do it as it is reversible very easily where to get them from is another issue I know the stock GSXR are about 168ish so would alter it about 1.75in or a shorter shock could work.

I know Fog does shorter ones to raise the rear perhaps he can do longer ones also but you would have to do the maths and work out the correct length required.

that's my two cents worth, others may have different ideas. but I will say from experience short legs and tall bikes do not mix very well, it is well worth the effort for a confidence boost and less panel damage when it's dropped.

your bike your choice as the saying goes. the moment you modify a bike from stock you change the character of it
it's a question of degrees and what the trade off is, for me it was a no brainer if it wasn't lowered I could not safely ride it, the seat is 3in too high (minus the 1in sag) and even lowered I can only get the ball of both feet on the ground at the same time.
before that I tried using it stock and dropped it twice while stood, (hence the remark) uneven ground is a *****.
once you get used to the difference in riding technique it is as good (if not better) than it was before, a new rider would not know any difference as it is all new, like the first ride on any new bike.
being able to return it to stock at some time later is an important factor.
there is/was a guy in the UK had exactly your issue but went about it differently to myself. (could work for you) he left the bike stock but bought a used seat and ripped off the cover and foam off of it leaving the bare plastic base, then glued some 1/2in racing foam to the base and trimmed it to shape.
a bit hard on the butt on long rides I think but he said it was perfect for his wife's stature.
when ever he took the bike out he just replaced the original seat (one minute job) and kept it stock.

if you decide to go this route make sure you get a gen 2 seat as gen 1's are not interchangeable the cheapest knackered ones are the ones to go for as your going to remove all the damaged bits. worth a thought maybe.

auburn said:

says you had a z1 900 back in the day, that's awesome. look at those pipes!

Click to expand...

Yes a 73, and I had drag pipes on mine that ended just before the rear tire! I saw this bike, green just like mine was, at the Monterey Historic races awhile back..