800 and 1200 lower suspension

[Greger]

Hi there,

first post for a newbie.

I am looking at the twin 800GS and the 1200GS/GSA and am up against the usual issue of ideas above my reach!

I have a respectable 29inch inside leg and would like to be able to stop the bike with me on top it rather than it on top of me!

My question to the vastly more experienced on here is how to go about it and what issues after purchase mods have for the warranty and the handling of the bikes.

I have seen some mention of progressive springs or lowering kits but cannot retrace where or what they were called.

I would ideally like to get a seat height around the 770-780mm mark.

I realise the 1200GS has a factory option that gives 790mm but have not yet located a dealer with one in stock to at least sit on, and anyway this mucks up the option of ESA.

Thanks...

 

[EggChaser]

Hi there, welcome

I have a 29.5" inside leg and ride a factory lowered R1200GS and have also ridden the standard version with the lowered seat fitted.

I find I can ride both, I just felt slightly more comfortable when stopping on uneven terrain with the lowered one. Although I have sourced a standard seat (cheap, second hand on fleabay) which lifts the height slightly that I find more comfortable on longer trips. I am planning to get this seat recovered and lowered to about half way between the 2 seats at some point.

BTW I also usually ride wearing the Daytona boots that contain inbuilt heel lifts.

With regards the ESA it is good, and riders that have it, seem to love it, some have concerns that it is an extra expense to specify and is extra complexity on the bike to go wrong later that would not be easy to fix without going to a main dealer - it also means you can't put 3rd party shocks on at a later date. I guess it really depends on how often you change the type of riding you do (including on/off road) or how often you alter the amount of weight you are carrying as to how useful being able to auto adjust the suspension is.

Finally if you can wait two weeks and still want to sit on the lowered GS I will be passing the Chippenham area on the Saturday.

Egg (Colin)

 

[Billywhizz]

Hi Greger,

I had the same problem. I foud the low seat model uncomfortable as it seems they have just hacked the padding out of the seat, whereas the factory lowered option has a proper seat. The only place I could get to try one was at Ocean in Plymouth but it was worth the trip.

 

[EggChaser]

Hi Greger,

I had the same problem. I foud the low seat model uncomfortable as it seems they have just hacked the padding out of the seat, whereas the factory lowered option has a proper seat. The only place I could get to try one was at Ocean in Plymouth but it was worth the trip.

The factory lowered one should come with the low seat as well (standard spec and what they quote the reduced height against) you might find you got a factory lowered one with the standard seat - way to tell is if underside of seat has the height adjusters it is the standard seat not the low one.

As an aside I have seen comments that the later lowered seat is more comfortable than the early ones so it is possible that you are comparing an early low seat with the current low seat.

 

[freeloader]

F800GS with standard suspension, low seat **, 29" inside leg.

Can't quite get both feet down, but don't often find it a problem.

However with BMW's ally panniers on, I usually stand on the left peg to mount/dismount, otherwise I risk falling over...


** Low seat is cack though. I think the main problem is the lack of width, but lack of decent padding is probably also contributing to the overall cacky effect.

 

[Billywhizz]

The factory lowered one should come with the low seat as well (standard spec and what they quote the reduced height against) you might find you got a factory lowered one with the standard seat - way to tell is if underside of seat has the height adjusters it is the standard seat not the low one.

As an aside I have seen comments that the later lowered seat is more comfortable than the early ones so it is possible that you are comparing an early low seat with the current low seat.

That's interesting....and pretty much the opposite of what my dealer told me although your comments make a lot more sense. There's no height adjusters on mine but it definitely isn't as hard as the low seat one I tried. Maybe I've got the later (more comfortable) low seat and the one I tried was the older one?

 

[EggChaser]

That's interesting....and pretty much the opposite of what my dealer told me although your comments make a lot more sense. There's no height adjusters on mine but it definitely isn't as hard as the low seat one I tried. Maybe I've got the later (more comfortable) low seat and the one I tried was the older one?

The original release notes for the low suspension were posted here
http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=155562

Note the seat profile differences in the images and the sentence that says
"All of the BMW factory-engineered lowered suspension bikes come with a low seat"

BTW I did do some checking of part numbers between low seat on an '06 vs low seat on on '08 and if they did change the profile of the seat they did it without changing the part number.

 

[Greger]

That would be great if we could have a quick get together - do you mean the 29th Sept. if so I am around.

 

[EggChaser]

Saturday 26th is when I will be passing by, should be in the area 11:00 to 12:00 ish.

As it is usual to pass personal contact details via private message (within UKGSER) instead of using a forum post - you will either need to subscribe to the forums, which will also get you access to section on items and bikes for sale, or you will need to suggest somewhere public in the area to meet.

Rgds

Egg (Colin)

 

[bmwblue]

I have a 29" inside leg.

I tried the R1200GS with factory lowered suspension and the standard one with a low seat.

I bought the standard one with the low seat and have not regretted it. It also meant I could have ESA which I think is just brilliant!

 

[Old Git Ray]

Lee at www.vikingvinyl.co.uk will lower the seat and place a gel pad in for you.

We just had both of ours (front and back) done. (on our 1200 ESA)
Front was lowered dramatically and gel inserted. Rear was raised at front and gel pad inserted. Both then recovered.

£270 in total. I have a 29" inseam and it has transformed my riding from unsteady endurement (is that a word ?) to pure enjoyment. It is a bit firm but there is not much space between my bum and the hard plastic seat frame.

He is based at Brands Hatch and does a lot of BMW seats for the 800 and 1200s. Most of these are by post but we went to him to get ours done as we wanted. He will also modify it if you are not completely happy with the result.

 

[profheesh]

The Low seat is Okay for short trips, Standard seat is more padded.
The Low Seat provided by Sargent is Very Very Comfortable. Worth every penny. I had the Sargent Low Seat on my R12GS and R12RT.
They appear on ebay from time to time.