Finding the 1250 GSA a little too tall

[andy14049]

Hi all,
I purchased an immaculate 2024 low mileage 1250 GSA a few months ago and have been struggling with the height a little, especially when carrying a pillion and luggage.
I’ve tried several options including lower seats etc but find this uncomfortable as it reduces the distance between the pegs and your tosh.
My alternatives at the moment seem to be fit lower suspension to my current bike, pull my big boy pants up and get on with it or admit I might have chosen incorrectly and change it for a standard GS or lowered GSA.

What are your thoughts and does anyone have a standard height GS or lowered GSA of similar age and been thinking they would prefer a standard height GSA?




Regards
Andy

 

[Hartley]

I feel your pain Andy and find myself in a similar position. I cannot quite flatfoot the GSA and it causes me a little anxiety.
Thankfully two up the bike sits a little lower which means I can but it’s not ideal. I had a standard height GS before, loved it and had no such issues.
Oddly my wife prefers the GSA. If the GSA could be made to run the same height as a standard GS I’d be laughing.

 

[Mr Bean]

Is the seat wider on the GSA compared to a std GS? If so, it may make enough of a difference.

 

[andy14049]

I feel your pain Andy and find myself in a similar position. I cannot quite flatfoot the GSA and it causes me a little anxiety.
Thankfully two up the bike sits a little lower which means I can but it’s not ideal. I had a standard height GS before, loved it and had no such issues.
Oddly my wife prefers the GSA. If the GSA could be made to run the same height as a standard GS I’d be laughing.

I have wondered if the standard length GS shocks could be fitted to the GSA, Has anyone done this on a late model and configured it ok to the bike electronics? It seems to have been achieved swapping to the factory low shocks.

 

[Hartley]

Post 20 on this thread gives a really good explanation of what’s required

Post in thread '1250 GSA lowering'

Mar 24, 2025

I did consider the M Star Pro boots but I like to have the option of different boots depending on my riding. More casual boots when popping into the city for example and walking around.

Ok, you could ask @Denz0 if he could change the springs in your existing shocks he services and rebuilds suspension units and has a very good name on here.

• littleade

• 

 

[Mike_E]

Possibly fit the lower seat but also fit lowered pegs to keep the knee angle the same? Maybe cheaper/easier than swapping bikes or suspension?

From what I've read and seen so far the GSA seat is higher than the GS seat. Did you try and standard GS seat or a lowered GS seat?

 

[andy14049]

Possibly fit the lower seat but also fit lowered pegs to keep the knee angle the same? Maybe cheaper/easier than swapping bikes or suspension?

From what I've read and seen so far the GSA seat is higher than the GS seat. Did you try and standard GS seat or a lowered GS seat?

I’ve tried the lower seat but I’ve not tried a standard GS seat as I thought they were the same.

 

[andy14049]

Post 20 on this thread gives a really good explanation of what’s required

Post in thread '1250 GSA lowering'

Mar 24, 2025

I did consider the M Star Pro boots but I like to have the option of different boots depending on my riding. More casual boots when popping into the city for example and walking around.

Ok, you could ask @Denz0 if he could change the springs in your existing shocks he services and rebuilds suspension units and has a very good name on here.

• littleade

• 

Thanks for that, interesting read

 

[GSian]

Hi all,
I purchased an immaculate 2024 low mileage 1250 GSA a few months ago and have been struggling with the height a little, especially when carrying a pillion and luggage.
I’ve tried several options including lower seats etc but find this uncomfortable as it reduces the distance between the pegs and your tosh.
My alternatives at the moment seem to be fit lower suspension to my current bike, pull my big boy pants up and get on with it or admit I might have chosen incorrectly and change it for a standard GS or lowered GSA.

What are your thoughts and does anyone have a standard height GS or lowered GSA of similar age and been thinking they would prefer a standard height GSA?

View attachment 415630
View attachment 415631

Regards
Andy

This may seem like A silly or obvious question, but, have you tried setting the suspension to Low, rather than Auto or Max?

 

[andy14049]

This may seem like A silly or obvious question, but, have you tried setting the suspension to Low, rather than Auto or Max?

Yes I have but find the setting makes the ride very soft a wallowing, so not something I would like to do long term.

 

[GSian]

Yes I have but find the setting makes the ride very soft a wallowing, so not something I would like to do long term.

Even when set to Dynamic?

I occasionally use it, the only thing I notice is the lower ground clearance.

 

[Robbieben]

My mate, "little legs" has a Standard height GSA with the standard seat, he rides it with the suspension set to LOW and in Dynamic mode, he is happy at that.

 

[andy14049]

Thanks I’ll give that a try

 

[Mike_E]

I’ve tried the lower seat but I’ve not tried a standard GS seat as I thought they were the same.

I've a GSA and a GS comfort seat here in the shed. I'll measure tomorrow. If you look at the Wunderlich ste for their seats they are pretty clear there is a difference between GSA and GS seat designs and I had a look at the microfiche online and part numbers so look different.

Cheers
Mike

 

[andy14049]

I've a GSA and a GS comfort seat here in the shed. I'll measure tomorrow. If you look at the Wunderlich ste for their seats they are pretty clear there is a difference between GSA and GS seat designs and I had a look at the microfiche online and part numbers so look different.

Cheers
Mike

That’s great Mike I appreciate that, be really interesting to know if the standard GSA seat and GS seat have any differences in width or height

 

[TechnoGSA]

I had the same issue when fully loaded and 2 up on my 23 1250 GSA with the touring comfort seat even in the low setting. I just couldn't get the flat footed security. Even with a 35in inside leg to the floor, on off camber, hilly or on those small dips you get at road junctions that can really catch you out. It was fine with just me riding but not when fully loaded. When I used the low suspension setting it was way to soft even on dynamic damping for riding. If the low to Auto/High settings could be adjusted on the move that would be the end of the problem, but as you know you have to stop to make adjustments. I've now fitted a OE BMW low option seat. In the low position I can very easily get flat footed fully footed but found my knees were bent slightly more than was comfortable. I put the seat into high and bingo, it's now 90% better.

I accept this is still inside leg length that really makes the difference, but if like me your only looking for 25mm or so going from the touring/comfort pack seat to the low seat is a 90% cure. Interestingly I find the low seat just as comfortable as the comfort seat.

 

[Mike_E]

Measured up.

Standard 2024 GSA seat vs unknown year GS comfort seat. The one with the perforations is the GS seat. GS seat is 20mm lower and a slightly different shape. Width wise appear the same.

Note that I've used the aftermarket eccentric rubber seat supports to raise the front of the seat... So it's sitting at a slightly different angle to normal. I'm 6ft 5 so have the GSA seat set on high front and high rear and then raise the front even more with the eccentric "lowering rubbers" mounted upside down to get a better angle. Lowering the rear whilst leaving the front on high leaves me without sufficient leg room.

Thanks
Mike

 

[andy14049]

Measured up.

Standard 2024 GSA seat vs unknown year GS comfort seat. The one with the perforations is the GS seat. GS seat is 20mm lower and a slightly different shape. Width wise appear the same.

Note that I've used the aftermarket eccentric rubber seat supports to raise the front of the seat... So it's sitting at a slightly different angle to normal. I'm 6ft 5 so have the GSA seat set on high front and high rear and then raise the front even more with the eccentric "lowering rubbers" mounted upside down to get a better angle. Lowering the rear whilst leaving the front on high leaves me without sufficient leg room.

Thanks
Mike

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Thanks Mike that’s quite a comprehensive review of both seats, I really appreciate you taking time out of your day to do that for me. It appears whichever option I take with the standard height GSA I’m going to have to make compromises.
Thanks for everyone’s thoughts and advice
Regards Andy

 

[Larry Langford]

I picked up a 2019 GS and it is a little on the tall side. I have a 30 inch inseam. This particular bike was ordered with the sport suspension which is the same as the GSA. It also came with the factory lower seat according to the paper work. I put the seat in the lower position, and that made the foot peg to seat distance pretty good imo. But you do have to pay attention when stopping. My go to bike is an 2022 RS, and that thing seems to have been made for shorties .... But the GS is turning out to be an interesting machine, a great dirt road tourer for sure. I guess I will just have to get used to the tall bike, but I glad I found this out with a used bike. The suspension seems to be very good though and it would be nice to check out a lowered one to see how much that extra travel actually matters.

 

[Santa-2512]

Get you current seat reprofiled , and drop ina set of 5mmm lowing bobbins