My 05 S3 is perfect in every way, there is only one thing I would like to change.... the height. Is it possible to lower a bikes without messing up the handling characteristics?
Lowering your S3 will undoubtedly change its handling, and probably for the worse. However, if done correctly it should still be rideable. Lowering the front is a no brainer of course (slide the forks up in the triple clamps) but the rear is another story.
There used to be an outfit that made adjustable lower links (dog-bone) for the rear of the T959 Daytona. A guy I know looked into it and apparently the 05/06 Speed Triple uses the same lower link. Or at least the part numbers are the same. Unfortunately this outfit doesn't seem to exist anymore.
Probably you could get a local fab shop to make you one if they're good. The problem is that when you change the length of the lower link (to lower the ride height) you also change the rising rate of the whole rear suspension. I expect this will make the bike handle quite wonky.
If you are "Altitude Impaired" then I would suggest having the padding in your seat cut down. You can probably gain almost an inch that way. You can also try to find a suspension guru who can help you set your preload as low as practical.
I too, have a very short inseam. I lowered the suspension front & rear on my '01 w/o any real problems. Also had a cobbler add some material to the soles of my riding boots & that helped a lot! Re: the dogbone, check out Jack Lilly in the UK; they offered an adjustable one for the S3.
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