Any shorter riders out there??

[Daddyshortlegs]

I became interested in the gs having read various reviews etc., and so merrily went out into the wide world to take a look at one.

Yes I'd seen a few on the road but, when I got to see one in the metal, I couldn't believe how big the b*gger was!!

So, here I am being somewhat vertically challenged, wondering if there's anyone out there around the 5'-6" mark who owns one and, if so, how manageable you find it.

Are there any options or tricks to make it a little lower such as different suspension or lower / narrower seats. I guess the std suspension could be softened, but does that adversely affect the ride / handling?

It seems to be the ideal all-rounder so I'm hoping there's some hope for those of us who aren't 6'-7"!!

Cheers

 

[BawdyMonk]

I met a GS650 owner who was 4'11".. and had amazing tits.

 

[Deadskin]

Get down to the dealers and have a sit on one

don't forget to park around the corner just in case
you need to do a runner if you drop it

 

[littleredrooster]

wondering if there's anyone out there around the 5'-6" mark who owns one and, if so, how manageable you find it.

Yup, had one for 12 months / 11500 miles. I'm 5'6" (just!) with a 29" inside leg and it has only got the better of me once (at Stratford waterfront in front of 200 other bikers!!). Generally manage OK, even with luggage and SWMBO on the back. You can drop the preload off the rear spring to lower it, but this makes the steering too slow for my taste - starts to run wide in corners; now have it in about the middle position so I can get either both tippy-toes down, or one flat-foot down. Gotta watch out where you plant your landing-leg when coming to a standstill, particularly at race circuits on uneven fields etc., but other than that, have had nae bovver. Love the thing to bits, in fact.

Top tool - it can get the better of almost any other bike at sub-100mph speeds, loses out at licence-threatening velocities above this, but that suits my style these days. Can't recommend it highly enough - best bike I've had by quite a margin.

Try one for a demo and don't let it intimidate you!

 

[Madmountainman]

Get in touch with Wessie!

 

[Keyframe]

Hurrah! Im in good company here, wearing my invisible Cuban lift brogues I'm ony about 5'6". Littleredrooster is spot on about the rear suspension, be sure to wind it up a bit when you're two-up. The bike has perfect balance and is a doddle to ride feet up at walking pace, you'll be doing near full lock u-turns before you know it and you'll only need to put a toe down at a stand-still. This is one bike that doesn't need paddling around. Also, once you're used to riding the bike you could move the seat up one positon it's not nearly so cramped for your legs, or get a peg lowering kit. Being short I have to be quite disciplined about mounting: in gear or front brake, handlebars open, s/stand up and throw my leg over as far the r/h footpeg) I'm sure the dealer will be happy to stand close first time you get on and off just in case you go past the balance point which is highly unlikey. Don't be intimidated, Get stuck in and have some fun.

 

[wessie]

Get in touch with Wessie!

I'm 5'8 but have a 31" inside leg.

A few people have commented about my height when I'm stood next to the bike. Hence my sig.

It does take a certain knack to get the bike upright if the fuel tank and topbox are full when parked on a camber.

On the trip to Italy when I had the soft panniers fitted I had to stick a leg in the air and hop towards the bike as I couldn't swing my leg over the luggage.

Never a problem once on the move as the bike has a low c of g and is very well balanced. Also, once I'm on the bike the effect of gravity combined with my weight soon lowers the bike enough for me to get both feet on the ground.

You will have to do what I did - take a bike out for an extended test ride. I borrowed a year old 1150GS from Bath Rd m/c in Bristol, did 70 miles around the Cotswolds and went back and bought it.

 

[rickyxsara]

Another shortie here...5'6" and no probs at all. It is more in your head more than anything else...wouldn't dare try the Advenure though. Good luck anyway, Ricky

 

[Deleted Member Mtn]

I met a GS650 owner who was 4'11".. and had amazing tits.

have we met bawdy monk????

anyway.... seriously .... you can get lower seats from accessories people like touratech and wunderlich.

as for being short, i'm 5 foot nothing and ride a 650gs but hanker after an 1150... but its not only the height for me its the bloody weight of them.

if you can wait until next year, the new 1200 is supposed to be lower and 30kg lighter than the existing 1150 although i dont know how they are going to shave that much off without losing something important.

 

[littleredrooster]

I'm 5'8 but have a 31" inside leg.

Almost normal size, then? Don't forget keyframe and littleredrooster are just two-thirds scale-models!!!

 

[Daddyshortlegs]

Feedback

Thanks for the feedback received from other shorter riders.

I have had a sit on one in the showroom & fully intend to take a test ride, but it's difficult to judge years of ownership on the strength of an hour or two's ride - hence the question.

I've had a couple of tall'ish bikes in the past (though, from memory, they didn't seem quite so big....) so I'm used to thinking about where / how to park etc., to make life a little easier. One of them only got the better of me once (0mph, off-camber, seat shuffling, went the wrong way, bugger, kind of an incident....) so I'll look into the 3rd party lower seat options mentioned, just to be safe - thanks for that.

Anyway, it only remains for me to do the test ride deed I guess, so you might see another post from me soon offering to sell the wife & kids to afford one!!!!

Cheers

 

[magee]

I'm 6 foot tall with a 29'' inside leg. I've previously owned a ZX9R which was awful to manouvre at slow speed. GS's are a million times better. Don't worry, just go out and have fun on one!

 

[Deleted Member Mtn]

affording it

if you do decide to buy one....

a word of advice... if you sell your soul to bmw finance thinking that you'll only do 6,000 miles a year.. think carefully

i bought my 650gs on their leasing package to keep the price down until i graduated and got a better salary.

i bought it in march this year and i enjoy the bike so much, i'm having my 6,000 service this week... and thats a lot considering i did 2,500 miles in the previous 2 years on my kawasaki ..1,00 of it was probably done by my husband.

 

[APE]

I totally agree with Keyframe. I bought the low Touratech seat to use on my GS but after a year I have moved on to the medium height as its less cramped and I prefer the higher riding position.

Anyone interested in a secondhand Touratech low sports seat ?

 

[jpisace]

I'm another short arse (5'6"). Wanted an adventure but NO WAY could i hope to manage that without extensive (expensive) modifications. 1150GS is proving to be fine though, but i have had to have a lower seat option (B*W one). Very little padding though so numb bum comes with the experience.

Have dropped mine once already (on a farm, at a BBQ, in front of everyone) and suggest you get crash bars for any similar occurrences when short legs are simply inadequate.

Other than that the bike is great. Have yet to put it to a proper test off-road but i will eventually. Then see how my vertically challenged characteristics manage to cope with the bike.

One thing i have added is a 'side handle' to assist me in getting the bike on/off the centre stand under control. That's made things a lot better for me, as there's precious little to get hold of otherwise. It was expensive, but worth it.

If you're test riding you're dealer ought to be able to manage better than a couple of hours. Ocean in Plymouth offered me one for a weekend.

Johnieeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

 

[andy2003]

Lower Seat

Mike I may have that seat from you, let me know how much you want for it? e- me at [email protected]

 

[Little legs]

Hello Little Fella,

I am also a little un @ 5 foot 6 and have a 29 inch shlong pipe. The ride height does vary a lot depending on the load carried (obviously) but i am sure you will have no problem with the GS with a low seat on it.

It does look funny when you catch a glimpse of yourself and you just realise how big the bike looks. The only disadvantage i find with the size of the bike and my staure is that whilst filtering i find it difficult to judge the width of the bike as i cant really see the engine under the tank.

The weight is really not an issue, last week i took a friend of mine up to my new gaff in Stalbridge, he weighs in @ a knee trembling 16 stone and is about 6 foot 4 and i weigh 10 and a half stone. My only problems on the journey were coming out of T junctions shatting my pants in case i stalled and wheelies in each gear which was an added bonus.

He is now thinking about ditching his scoot in favour of a bigger bike like a GS.

 

[needlongerlegs]

slightly short of suffolk here

I'm a bit on the short side too, invested in a lower seat option (BMW) helps a great deal with lowspeed manovers (traffic lights etc) and getting my feet down for a dab but it is not so comfatable

I now always plan my landings so I can takeoff again without too much effort.

Getting the bike off the side stand while sitting on it is vurtually impossible for me, so I'm a centre stand man if I can.

G...

 

[guitarman]

5' 8" - 29" inside leg

I'm seriously pissed off with the height now.

The bike is brilliant on the road and the height isn't a problem at all but during a 3000 mile trip to France and Spain a few weeks ago I began to get increasingly frustrated by the seat height.

You've always got to be aware of the camber as you simply won't be able to get the bike upright (especially if loaded up) if you park it the wrong way.

Nearly came off when the bike stalled going round a corner in a town. Luckily I was next to the kerb and managed to get my foot down.

When my wife was on the bike we had to find kerbs so she could climb on over the top box and panniers and I could keep my leg bent (a lot stronger than a straight leg).

Bottom line is I'm investigating the lowered suspension I've seen on a couple of GSers.

It's a real pity as the bike is the best bike I've ever had in terms of the riding experience but it'll be better if I can get it lowered and make it easier to live with.

Cheers

Dick