[barryRT]

I installed Suburban Machinery's kit on my K1300GT today. It took 15 minutes to install and have to admit, it was very easy. I haven't adjusted anything yet, want to try the bike first. I'm 6'2" and find the bike cramped when the seat is in the low position. I should have done this when I installed the bar backs. I was following a thread in the RT section and bought them during a sale at AS Cycles. Ordered them on Monday and received them today, pretty impressive service considering Wed. was a holiday in the US and I live in Canada

 

[barryRT]

Went for a long ride today and the kit worked very well, not so cramped. Installation was easy and the outcome was excellent.

 

[RoadSurfer]

I ride an '08 K1200GT and I also installed the Suburban lowering kit this summer. I stand at 6'1" with a 32" inseam and the stock peg position had begun to give me chronic knee and hip pain on the shifting side. The lowering of the pegs has eliminated that discomfort entirely.

I lowered the shift lever so the relationship between it and the lowered footpeg is more or less the same as it was in stock setting. However, the brake lever cannot be lowered and this does cause me a problem. It leaves the end of the brake lever so much higher than the right footpeg that I find it awkward to easily use the foot brake leaver and, as a result, I have come to use the front brake almost always for all braking and deceleration. I use the rear brake lever only for urgent stopping needs. Using only the front brake lever makes for awkward shifting and acceleration up from lower gears. Trail braking is almost nonexistent for me now and that makes for relatively sloppy throttle control.

This issue is significant enough for me that it is leading me to give increased attention to a the possibility of a trade-in for a K1600GT.

 

[barryRT]

I agree with the issue of the brake lever, but I adjusted the shifter after trying it as is. I was considering a trade in the near future, but with the changes, I will keep it for awhile.

 

[RoadSurfer]

I feel the same, Barry. The 16 is just not that much better a bike for my needs that I can bring myself to shell out big big bucks for it, especially after having made the various upgrades and accessory additions.

As for the now out of line brake lever, although I haven't studied the possibilities closely, I can't help but think there MUST be some way to adjust its elevation - even if a cut and rewelding might be the only way.

 

[barryRT]

My bike is equipped to the way I like it, so a change isn't critical. A replacement may be an R1200RT after the future changes have been implemented or a K1600GT. The K1600GT is very expensive and I love the power from my K1300GT, so an RT will have to add power to make a trade interesting.