Advice sought: Low Seat + Airhawk OR Low Suspension

[PV111]

Hello Everyone

A few years ago I had a '08 GS. Loved it but it was tad too tall so got a low seat.
Absolutely fine except on long trips - Southern Spain - got seriously sore backside.

Now looking to get a GS again. Low suspension seems to be the way to go but I just wondered
if low seat + airhawk is also a viable option.

Obviously there would be larger choice of 'standard' bikes including ESA which is not compatible/available on
factory lowered GS

Anybody else out there been through this? or got a factory lowered for sale maybe?

Any advice gratefully received.

 

[LittleJohn]

My first GS was low seat and lowered suspension with some seat pad (cant remember type) which worked fine until I got a 2nd hand low Sargent seat which was extremely comfortable and better on long trips.

 

[MikeS]

Airhawk is good regardless and doesn't add much height if inflated correctly.

Low suspension is also a good idea as it then gives you the option to use a low or standard seat on the bike to get the height you need. Some also says it rides better. ESA is not a great loss to be honest.

There is a very nice low mileage white low suspension twin cam GS at Bath Road in Bristol at the moment but they want a lot for it, their bikes are always good but pricey.

 

[Schtum]

Obviously there would be larger choice of 'standard' bikes including ESA which is not compatible/available on
factory lowered GS

I think you'll find that low chassis water-cooled GSes are only available with Dynamic ESA.

 

[pipeandslippers]

Hi,I go with the low seat and the Airhawk, its been a great combination.done 90,000 miles like this.Dont put to much air in the Airhawk and it will be fine.I am a 29inch inside leg and can get a flat foot down.I also use the Daytona M-Star boots which gives you an extra 20mm on the heel. great all round boots. Hope this helps .Allan.

 

[Bendy toy]

My 08 GSA was nice for leg reach and bottom comfy with a Kahedo low seat. The big snag was handle bars feeling like ape hangers. I only got a few hundred yards before going back home to refit the standard seat.

I did go for a standard height Kahedo seat. It's rounded enough to allow a reasonable floor reach, high enough to not scrunch my knees and it's very bottom friendly.

I can't get both feet flat on the floor, but the bike feels more stable with one foot on the peg and the other down flat. I usually stop right foot down as the road camber favours me and Im less likely to find a dropped drain cover (been there done that).

 

[Blackal]

So many variables when it comes to motorcycle-induced back pain/buffeting etc......

What works for someone, won't work for the next - neccessarily. But - I would say that the GS is a pretty comfortable ride for 99% of riders, and a low suspension model should do very little/nothing to improve that (since everything is "suspended").

Little things like seat height, peg height, bar height/angle will make a difference - but are very much a case of trial and error.

Buy the bike, borrow a low seat if nec, adjust the bar reach, and see if someone will lend you adj pegs to try?

Al