2024 1250 GSA: lowered or standard?

[Trento]

Hi there folks, I'm about to pull the trigger on my first GSA and am unsure whether to get a 1250 with standard or low suspensions.

I've never owned a GS before (only a HD 883 for many years), therefore have no experience with tall / endure bikes. I'm 33 years-old, 1,82 (nearly 6ft tall) with a 33" inseam (84cm) with around 72kg and went to BMW to sit on the bikes and with the standard suspension with standard seat I was standing in the balls of both foots. Then I lowered the standard seat and could practically flat foot both foots. The bike was completely off (I've heard that it tends to get softer when it's on). I haven't had the chance to try the lowered suspension, as they did not have any in stock. I tried a GS1300 and was comfortably flatting both feet.

I plan to use it mostly for long distances asphalt rides with a lot of luggage + pillion - perhaps a very mild off-road every now and then. After reading lots of threads, I'm still not 100% sure, because:

- Lowered bike could be more comfortable to manoeuvre in low speed, especially with pillion and luggage and considering I don't have experience with tall bikes, but at the same time, lower suspension could not be ideal for a loaded bike.
- Lowered bike could also be better for asphalt and curves, as lower centre of gravity.
- Standard bike should be better for more loaded rides, but could be a bit of a hassle to manoeuvre in tricky situations.
- Standard bike could potentially give a better visibility / smoother riding experience.

Due to the triangle / peg distance, I would rather not buy a lowered seat, but, at max, adjust the standard seat to low. What I thought could be a good idea is to get the standard bike, use lowered seat adjustment for city rides and the high seat adjustment (normal) for long distances to preserve knees.

Trying them both is not much of an option, as I'm buying second hand and the local BMW does not have a lowered in stock.

Thanks a lot for any insights! Cheers.

 

[djgsa]

With your height, deffo go for standard (unless you got short legs)
I'm 5.7" (170cm) 33cm inside leg, and I have a standard 1250 GSA and no issues, just put the seat adjuster in the low position.

I have no problem with this foot flat on the floor thing. I'm on the balls of my feet both feet down and feel perfectly stable
If I go one foot down I'm flat foot.
You'll have no issues

 

[GSMarky]

I'm 180cm (5'11") with a 813cm (32") inside leg and ride a standard GSA with the seat in the upper most position - super comfy as was my previous 1250 GS in the same format.

I think you will both feel cramped & look daft on a lowered bike.

 

[GSMarky]

My advice if you feel even a little apprehensive with the shear size of the GSA is to keep the tank half full maximum for the first few hundred KMs and don't load it up. The fuel tank range on the dash is super accurate FYI!

Get a feel for it & try both seat positions with the suspension in Road mode (soft!). You will quickly realise how balanced & predictable they are in fact, so at that point brim the 30 ltr tank and crack on..

 

[djgsa]

My advice if you feel even a little apprehensive with the shear size of the GSA is to keep the tank half full maximum for the first few hundred KMs and don't load it up. The fuel tank range on the dash is super accurate FYI!

Get a feel for it & try both seat positions with the suspension in Road mode (soft!). You will quickly realise how balanced & predictable they are in fact, so at that point brim the 30 ltr tank and crack on..

I brim the tank every time Plus a load of crap in my top case

 

[GSMarky]

I brim the tank every time Plus a load of crap in my top case

Me too, but we're used to the size & weight. As a newbie to the behemoth GSA, slowly slowly etc...

 

[Trento]

Thanks a lot for the reply and attention, guys, I really appreciate it. Indeed, I think it doesn't make sense to get a lowered one.

I'm sure the height / weight of the GSA makes the piloting experience amazing, but I guess my main concern is, indeed, very slow speed manouvering. But indeed, considering that this represents 2% or less of the usage of the bike, it doesn't make much sense to get a lowered just for that. Also, I guess if I get stuck or something, I could always lower down the suspension electronically for the moment right?

 

[GSMarky]

Thanks a lot for the reply and attention, guys, I really appreciate it. Indeed, I think it doesn't make sense to get a lowered one.

I'm sure the height / weight of the GSA makes the piloting experience amazing, but I guess my main concern is, indeed, very slow speed manouvering. But indeed, considering that this represents 2% or less of the usage of the bike, it doesn't make much sense to get a lowered just for that. Also, I guess if I get stuck or something, I could always lower down the suspension electronically for the moment right?

I don't think you can just lower it....

You'll be fine.. Enjoy the ride!

 

[Yorkshire Twat]

I don't think you can just lower it....

You'll be fine.. Enjoy the ride!

You should have 3 settings I think, low, auto, high,
It was recommended to me to use all 3 settings regularly so as to keep the gubbins working, bit like using air conditioning regularly to stop seals drying out

 

[GSMarky]

You should have 3 settings I think, low, auto, high,
It was recommended to me to use all 3 settings regularly so as to keep the gubbins working, bit like using air conditioning regularly to stop seals drying out

Really?

I just use Road or Dynamic on suspension settings - blissfully unaware I can vary the ride height manually, but then I've never thought to look or thought it needed adjusting.

Interested to learn if it can be done...

I recall on previous ESA bikes the pre-load can be adjusted - same thing I guess.

 

[Yorkshire Twat]

Really?

I just use Road or Dynamic on suspension settings - blissfully unaware I can vary the ride height manually, but then I've never thought to look or thought it needed adjusting.

Interested to learn if it can be done...

I recall on previous ESA bikes the pre-load can be adjusted - same thing I guess.

Press and hold the little shock button, it cycles through

 

[GSMarky]

Press and hold the little shock button, it cycles through

Does that override the Auto setting then in Road/Dynamic mode?

 

[Yorkshire Twat]

From what I remember
Quick press road and dynamic
Hold cycles through min auto, max

Engine needs to be running

Think you need to be sitting astride the bike as well for the auto get a reading

Carl on 'just the way it is' explains things much more fully on U tube.

He's worth watching re gs matters

Hope this helps

 

[Victor c]

You should have 3 settings I think, low, auto, high,
It was recommended to me to use all 3 settings regularly so as to keep the gubbins working, bit like using air conditioning regularly to stop seals drying out

Not sure about the current guidance in the oem handbook, but my previous GSA had it written in to cycle the suspension through low - auto - high every third fuel fill. I also found when in auto, the suspension would cheap up over time, and cycling it through the settings would reset it to the default height.

 

[Hartley]

I’m about 5.11 and have a standard GSA. For me I do find it a little tall, I was more confident on my GS.
I ride with the seat high at front low at back as I prefer it to be level.
I do wish it was the same height as my 1250 GS.

What I will add though is I had concerns about the height and weight two up with luggage like you. Thankfully the extra load did make the bike sit a little lower allowing me to flat foot and fell a bit better.
My suggestion would be try both of at all possible.

 

[GSMarky]

Just back on mine having had it serviced and thankfully now returned the nasty Auto GS13 GSA - yuk...

It's the Suspension - Auto/Max/Min - It does indeed raise & lower quite significantly, never really thought of it as adjustable height. but fair play it is just that!

I've done all my miles in Auto.. If the suspension is set to Max or Min, do we still have the same 'automaticness' with it or is it simple jacked up or down and just stays there? Does that even make sense?

 

[Trento]

Nice! that's good to know. Then it means that in tricky situations we can actually set it up to Min, right? How "long" does it last? Meaning: can we ride with the Min setup as much as we want, or is there a speed limit that sets it back up to auto?

 

[Trento]

I’m about 5.11 and have a standard GSA. For me I do find it a little tall, I was more confident on my GS.
I ride with the seat high at front low at back as I prefer it to be level.
I do wish it was the same height as my 1250 GS.

What I will add though is I had concerns about the height and weight two up with luggage like you. Thankfully the extra load did make the bike sit a little lower allowing me to flat foot and fell a bit better.
My suggestion would be try both of at all possible.

Thanks for sharing! It's a similar situation as mine indeed. Given the impossitiblity to test, I'm thinking to get the standard version, use the low set setting for city rides and the normal setting for long distances (with +1 and luggage).

 

[GSMarky]

Nice! that's good to know. Then it means that in tricky situations we can actually set it up to Min, right? How "long" does it last? Meaning: can we ride with the Min setup as much as we want, or is there a speed limit that sets it back up to auto?

I've just been out with my tape measure on the luggage rack & i reckon it goes up/down about an inch from Max to Min.

Put it back to Standard, but now I know!

 

[GSMarky]

Nice! that's good to know. Then it means that in tricky situations we can actually set it up to Min, right? How "long" does it last? Meaning: can we ride with the Min setup as much as we want, or is there a speed limit that sets it back up to auto?

I guess it just stays put.