► Seats (too high, too hard, pillion...) and suspension

Here was I looking forward to picking up my new 800GS in May, currently running round on F650 following disposal of R1100S to finance 800, when to my dismay I got to sit on one at dealer to find I CAN'T REACH THE DAMM FLOOR!!!, I am only 5' 5". So I will unfortunately be contacting dealer tommorow to cancel my order, you taller people don't realise just how lucky you are, I have lusted after a GS1100 / 1200 for years and looked forward to the 800 being by alternative, but no those pesky Germans make it even taller.

Ah c'est la vie. :(

The new 650 is noticebly smaller and you can even reduce it further according to the BMW guy at the Motorbike show, down to that level of a 800 ST, as a 6 footer that is very low indeed.

I also saw a stand selling high heel boots for short staffs out there.
 
Have only done a couple of short trips 2 up , 10 miles or so, but we both found there was more seat room than on my previous bike, a Tiger1050.

I think the stock seat might be a tad thin for the pillion based on the fact that it's making me numb in less than an hour but that would be just a guess.

The bike itself coped fine with 2 on it. I wound the preload up a tad and it was fine. BTW, why do they supply the tool under the seat to do that when you can use the knob anyway?
 
Haven't done too much mileage just yet, but it isn't as easy for the pillion to get on/off as the 12 or Adv, and there's not a hell of a lot of room either (a size 8 is grand, I'd say a 10 would be comfortable, but anything more might be a bit of a squeeze), and the pegs are a wee bit high for the really long-legged (over 33inch).

If someone bumps this tomorrow evening, I'll have a bit more on handling :thumb
 
Help seat off 800 GS is to high

Hello everybody, I did a test ride this week with the 800 GS. Love at first sight you could say when I entered the dealers showroom. They fitted the low seat for me but helas only the front portion off my feet can tough the ground (that is my biggest toe).

Of course I didn't notice my lack off length....?????? when I was riding , and the bike is a pleasure to ride but, when I have to stop before a traffic light things got ugly very quick. Then the bike feels very heavy for me, I am worried about tipping over and can only imagine how I could go in the terrain with this bike. Does anybody know some solutions to clear this problem? I really want the 800 GS and don't want to make the switch to the 650 GS.

Maybe I can lower the fork legs a bit and buy some motoboots with and extra height added ( if that's available). I only need 3-4 cm.

Whats wrong with the 650? Havent ridden it myself but some seem to think it is nearly as good, much cheaper, just not so 'blinged'.

Backmarker, I just like the 800 gs looks better and I prefer spoke wheels. They are close but aren't the same bike. Of course the 650 is also a very good bike, but if you pay a premium price you have to follow the heart.....

I find as long as you can touch the ground you soon get used to riding round on tip toe. I've riden my 1150gs for years like this including round north africa. I think the 800GS might be slightly taller or it could be that after 7 years the suspension on my 1150 had dropped a bit :eek:

As long as you can get toes down on both sides I'd say go for it if not I guess you need to find somebody with a medieval rack :augie

We dropped the yokes to be further down the front fork legs on JackieG's F800GS for similar reasons. It does help; and as the miles build up the suspension does sag a little more. Once it has fully bedded in I guess we will be raising the yokes back to their original positions.

We had a good bounce around the dealership, with two of their "workshop technicians" ( mechanics), they were confident the front wheen and mudguard would not foul anything. Cannot detect any major difference in the handling, in theory it should speed it up a bit, but I am not sensitive enough to notice any difference - not that I get to ride it much:thedummy

I also got an email for a firm specialised (WP) in shocks on motorbikes. The told me they could replace the springs front and rear so the bike would be 2-3 cm lower. Prices starting at a hefty 1400 euro :(
Maybe lowering the legs in the yokes will do it. Anybody info on motorboots with higher soles?

Thanks David

David dont rule out the 650, I wanted the 800 but with a 29" inside leg it wasnt possible, I took the 650 out for a test ride and absolutely loved it (I had a Ducati monster 900 before so was used to lots of grunt). I bought the 650 and havent regretted it for a moment, its a great bike.

You can bling the 650 up a bit to look like the 800 if thats what you want, TT do the beak extender and additional bits for the side scoops etc and someone will be sure to do spoked wheels at some point.

You could try getting some boots like Altbergs, I wear the Hogg All Weather Microlite http://www.altberg.co.uk/Web/motorcycle1.jsp, the sole is much thicker than on normal motorbike boots and have a really good grippy sole, thats half the problem with short legs, manouvering the bike around when you feel like your feet are slipping under you, it doesnt do much for your confidence.

Also sliding your bum out of the seat when you come to traffic lights, junctions etc, as long as you can get one foot flat on the floor you'll be fine, trying to tippytoe on both feet is guaranteed to make you topple over.

Hope that helps? :)
 
I dropped the

the front on the F800gs 1" on the yokes,which made it possible to get both feet on the ground,could be better but no problems.
I will modify the aft shock absorber this coming week to get me an other inch,
the seatheight with the low seat will then be around 815-820 when you sit on the bike(Iam 80kg):)
I took it out for a 500km run yeaster day,what a bike,all I was hoping for and then some,gearbox must have been made by a swiss watchmaker,a serious contender for the 1200 both onroad\offroad if you dont need to go 180-200kph for days down the autobahn.
 
Fishburger: Looking forwards seeing the results. A seat height around 800 mm would be perfect for me. Does the lowering off the front, gives some issues I should know of? Maybe it compensates a bit the 21 inch front wheel cornering issue? Can you give some extra info on the rear shock modification? Hope this will work out for you, that would give us short riders another fine option.

Mrs Radar: Thanks for the tip on the boots. I'll check them out, hope they are available in Belgium. I was thinking about trial boots but I'll look into them.
 
Issues?what issues

Hi David.Bergen

Forget about the so called issues on the 21" wheel,there in non,apart from the wheel being 21"
The bike is easy to set up for cornering,countersteering is kept to a minimum at "normal" speeds 50-70mph.
I have done fast turns at 80mph no fuss at all,no chicken strips on my tyers:)
My bike came on Michelin Anakee which I have used on the 1200gs before they are very good but wont last as long as the Metzler Tourance.

I will see the suspension people on wednesday,will shorten the stroke of the aft damper by 20-30mm which will give it a travel of 190mm,which is more than enough if your not jumping off roofs,
Will probably do something up front as well,will tell you when done.

Hi
Went to see the suspension people today,the aft shock absorber is Sachs,and it is not possible to do any modification on it.

They will check if Øhlins or W.P have anything that will fit,\or almost fit and then modify,he said that inside off 2-3 months both Øhlins\W.P are sure to have dampers for the f800gs on the marked.
Estimated prize for the damper\mods\work 650-700£
Will have to tip toe a few months longer:D
 
The bike on the Hyperpro main page with the nice lady on it is lowerd 110mm:eek:
I spoke to Hyperpro services today,and will make an appointment to lower my bike 50mm,making it 780 mm seat height with the low seat.
Cost including labour 350 euros.
They will also modify the sidestand and mainstand.
They do the lowering with a shorter spring on the aft shock absorber the original one,so preload and return dampning will not be affected.

Hyperpro services 0031+172417171
http://www.hyperpro.com/home/index.asp

fishburger
 
As my bike will be used quite a lot for 2 up work with luggage whats the opinion on pillion comfort and how much effect it has on the handling??

My girlfriend says that pilon seat is not very comfortable.
Handling with luggage and pilon pasanger is OK.

Did 160 miles last weekend with wife on back.
Handling was still excellent but she did complain of a numb bum.
Told her she shouldn't have such a fat arse. :augie
 
had to set shock setting and preload to soft - its a bit better for the pilon passanger then... But if not enough, choices are to buy TT travel seat or to divorce :handbag
 
Or for a cheaper option try here:

http://www.sheepskinfactory.com/motorcycle.cfm

With the dollar on it's arse at the moment these come in pretty damn cheap! Bizarrely they don't charge for international delivery (& mine showed shipping of $19 on the UPS sticker when it arrived). It took about 3 weeks to arrive & is a well made thing (really it's just a shaped sheepskin with 2 elastic straps sewn on). Good for the occasional long trip. Obvoiusly not waterproof like the airhawk, but will make the seat more comfy for sure.

£25! :thumb
 
Hi fishburger.
Do they lower the front end in the process to keep the bike in "balance"?. Or if not will it not have too much weight on the rear end?

Hi
I not 100% shure,but think they put Hyperpro progressive springs up front.
I have been calling all week to make an appointment,no luck so far,tomorrow is the norwegian national holyday,will try to call after the weekend.

What I can say is that the guy I spoke to said that they had to do something up front,if not it would look like a chopper:eek:
I have lower my bike one inch by dropping it on the forks,and it looks the same,no noticable thing to see ,apart from the front forks is one inche above the steering crown.
 
When I took the 800GS out for a test ride at first I went for the "lower" seat, and less preload on the back.

But after a while found it really uncomfortable, took it back and popped the "higher" seat on, dropped a little more preload, not only was the "higher" one more comfortable I could get more foot down.

Just my experience of course.


Jolyon
 
► Seats: too high, too hard, pillion...

Anyone have a low seat on the 800??

My bike comes in a fortnights time with a low seat but not sure if I've done the right thing. I have a low seat on my 1200 but it aint that comfortable but at least I can reach the ground.

I tried the normal seat on the 800 and it seemed ok but not had the opportunity of trying it out over alonger period than an hours test ride. I know the bike is just higher but also narrower:nenau

I'd appreciate any advise from current owners - particularly vertically challenged ones??
 
I have the low seat on my F800gs,and also had a low seat on my 2004 1200gs,now that I have mounted my bar riser I sit in the "groove" on the 800 and the comfort is good.
Longest trip sofar in one day 700km,no sore bum, I think its acctualy very good,but if you have to slide all the way to the front of the seat to reach the handlebar it is not that good,its narrow and a little harder.
If I compaire the 1200gs\800gs as I remeber the 1200 it was not as good as the 800 low seat,but you have to get in the "groove"\not in the front.
fishburger
 
► Seats: too high, too hard, pillion...

I have just done near 300 miles around north wales and the bike was great, handeling, performance, fuel economy all fantastic but the seat designer should be put against a wall and then be beaten to death with an F800GS seat. The seat will have to go or be fixed, padded. I know Seargent wont be out till 2009 but what about super expensive toura-tw@t are they ready yet?

Bob - with numb bum
 
That's the disadvantage in going for an obviously more offroad oriented bike than the other GS ranges. :augie

Oh, hold on, the F650GS has the same bench seat as well. :rolleyes: As soon as I find the straps I shall be using my airhawk saddle from my 1200GSA on the F650GS. It's a cheaper solution and transferable from bike to bike. And when you're offroad and don't want the extra padding you deflate it.

Tim
 


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