GS Ride Height Adjustment ???

[suzuki stumpy]

Well, I'm finally getting rid of the cage and contemplating a full-time all-round bike to go alongside my Suzuki SV.

I've been for a test ride on the R1200GS and have fallen in love with the bike. It handles beautifully, it's comfortable, fun and pulls like a train.

BUT - being a bit of a shortarse (understatement ) I do have a bit of a problem with the ride height. With the lower BMW seat, I'm right on tippy-toes if trying to put both feet on the ground. I can plant one foot flat, but only if I slide half off one side of the seat.

This obviously doesn't inspire much confidence when pulling up or away from sharp cambers.

My dealer tells me there is no 'official' BMW lowering kits for the GS other than the lower seat, so the question is - before I part with my hard-earned - are there any aftermarket solutions to getting around 25-30mm shaved off the ride height????

Cheers,
Mark

 

[DavidHale]

Hello SS and welcome to the site!

I'm sure a few more folk will be along to suggest other methods, but my understanding is that seat height has a lot to do with the width of the seat. Obviously a wider seat means that your legs are splayed out further, reducing their vertical reach. One option is to take the seat to a seat maker (there are some, but their names escape me at the moment) and have some material shaved off of the side of the seat.

Hope this is of some help

Actually, thinking about it - any good upholsterer should be able to do the job. After all a seat is only some foam stuck to a plastic carcass with some vynal stapled over it!

 

[Deadskin]

Seat Height

Hellooo
You may be interested in what somebodys done to this 1200

 

[suzuki stumpy]

Thanks for the suggestions so far ...

I've emailed the seller of the other 1200, so waiting a reply from there. Anyone else have any suggestions?

Cheers,
Mark

 

[Flipfly]

Melvyn Hunter seats can be done to your specification. Do a search here or on Google and you'll find him. The guy is top notch and talks you through your options. Knows his stuff and is really nice. Not the only option but a good place to start.

 

[marcus]

With the lower BMW seat, I'm right on tippy-toes if trying to put both feet on the ground. I can plant one foot flat, but only if I slide half off one side of the seat.

MArk,

me too - making sure your boots have very sticky soles might seem like a stoopid-suggestion idea but it makes a surprising difference.

Only dropped the bike once (the old one ) and that was down to a stoppie misjudgement. ahem.

 

[Deadskin]

MArk,

me too - making sure your boots have very sticky soles might seem like a stoopid-suggestion idea but it makes a surprising difference.

Only dropped the bike once (the old one ) and that was down to a stoppie misjudgement. ahem.

Good point
The shiney toe bits on enduro boots