F650 twin & F700 seat height differences

Elle · Jan 21, 2017

Anyone here owned both the older F650 twin (800cc model) and the F700?

I once owned a standard version of the 2008 F650GS twin which was fitted with a lowered seat but no other modifications.
When I moved to NZ, rather than shipping it, I sold my BMW (bad decision).

I've been yearning to replace it & today visited the a BMW dealer to view a 2012 F700 but was incredibly surprised when I couldn't touch the floor! I couldn't even push it off the side-stand because I was so tip toe.

It looked like a standard seat & they claimed the frame between versions had not been changed. So what happened? :nenau

Dean · Jan 21, 2017

Elle said:
Anyone here owned both the older F650 twin (800cc model) and the F700?

I once owned a standard version of the 2008 F650GS twin which was fitted with a lowered seat but no other modifications.
When I moved to NZ, rather than shipping it, I sold my BMW (bad decision).

I've been yearning to replace it & today visited the a BMW dealer to view a 2012 F700 but was incredibly surprised when I couldn't touch the floor! I couldn't even push it off the side-stand because I was so tip toe.

It looked like a standard seat & they claimed the frame between versions had not been changed. So what happened?

Hi Elle

I would say the combination of the F7 having a standard seat compaired to your F65 Low seat was a big influence - also possibly the suspension raised slightly as they all have a variable height :nenau

But seeing as you engaged them and they claimed the frame height between versions had not changed (which I think is a fact). I,m surprised they never whipped out a low seat to encourage a deal :thumby:

Some of these BMW Dealerships need slapping with a cold fish

F650 GS great bike, never had a F7 :beerjug:

steve hughes · Jan 21, 2017

Elle as above, if the suspension preload is wound right up the back end of the bike rises very slightly, but more important it Doesn't sag when you sit on it. So the overall effect is A higher perch. Ask to try it with a low seat and if I remember the the old 650 has 17 clicks . So fully turn it anti-clockwise then back about 7 to pop it in the middle of the range.

Lastly I have raised the forks through the yolks on my old F650 by appx 3/4" this also helps if the f700 is still tippy.

soupdragon · Jan 21, 2017

Perhaps it had a higher than standard seat fitted? I think an 840mm (Rally seat?) is available - which would make it around 60mm higher than the low seat version of the f650gs you had. The standard seat on a 700gs is 820mm.

Elle · Jan 21, 2017

thanks for the confirmation that the frame hasn't changed

I couldn't remember which way to turn the suspension preload & they said it wouldn't make a difference to the seat height.

Unfortunately in NZ, BMW dealers aren't specialists, they simply sell bikes.
No one seemed to know what seat was fitted & they don't keep stock of other seats for me to try

I asked about ordering a factory lowered version and was told it "wouldn't be low enough" for me - despite telling him I had already owned the twin & that I currently ride a dual sport 250 which has a seat height of 810mm. He went on to say that it takes 4 months for delivery and didn't seem keen on making a sale at all.
He lost a customer but it put me off buying a second hand F700 too.

Dean · Jan 25, 2017

Elle said:
Unfortunately in NZ, BMW dealers aren't specialists, they simply sell bikes.

I asked about ordering a factory lowered version and was told it "wouldn't be low enough"

Danger is when the sales team think they are specialists (some are like that in England) :blast

one would think for a sale the sales team would ask someone that knows, BMW could arm them with Google as there special friend

Good luck in your search of lowness Elle. It's out there it is just getting someone to make an effort

Dean said:
Some of these BMW Dealerships need slapping with a cold fish

vRSG60 · Jan 25, 2017

BMW seat heights.

IOM · Jan 25, 2017

Had both and I am a proper short ar*se didnt notice any difference when settings were the same hyperpro lowering spring forks 12mm through suspension about 5clicks from bottom and a pair of daytona raisers couldnt live with seat so lost some of what I gained with comfort seat

Prof · Feb 12, 2017

Same problem as Elle

My wife has ridden some 20,000 miles on her F650GS which she bought new with standard suspension and lower seat. We took her lower seat to the BMW dealer and put it on an F700GS. Sitting on the bike (wearing her usual biking boots) she found the seating position higher than on her F650GS. She also found the F700 much more difficult than the F650 to get off the side stand. The salesman at the dealers said he understood the frame to be the same on both bikes - but Elle and my wife's experience suggests that something must have changed.

As for the difficulty getting the bike off the side stand - the salesman checked the part numbers for the side stands and they are different for the F650 and F700. The F700 seems to be shorter, thus increasing the lean of the bike, which coupled with the raised seat height would explain the problem.

These are the only issues stopping purchase of an F700 so any information and/or suggestions would be gratefully received. (Lowered suspension is not an option she wants to take.)

soupdragon · Feb 13, 2017

The side stand on the 700 is a peculiar design. My bike leans over much too far in my opinion to be safe when on even on a slightly cambered surface. It appears to be both too short and also points quite a bit towards the front of the bike. I always carry a wooden wedge that gives a choice of 10-30mm to support the stand on. Tied to a piece of string, it is easy to just drop it onto the ground and poke it under the stand and hook the other end of the string to the handlebar for retrieving ready to set off again.

F650 twin & F700 seat height differences

Elle

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Dean

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steve hughes

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soupdragon

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Elle

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Dean

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vRSG60

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IOM

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Prof

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soupdragon

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