GS with lowered suspension

[Larton'GS'er]

I have a mate who is vertically challenged but is interested in buying a GS1200. Does anyone have or know where there is a lowered version that he can take a look at and have a chat about the work needed to get it low enough for a 29" inside leg.
He is willing to travel in North West and maybe further depending on work.
Thanks in advance.

 

[Devil]

I have a mate who is vertically challenged but is interested in buying a GS1200. Does anyone have or know where there is a lowered version that he can take a look at and have a chat about the work needed to get it low enough for a 29" inside leg.
He is willing to travel in North West and maybe further depending on work.
Thanks in advance.

You can low the bike by 80mm using Wilbers shocks. Ok, not the cheapest option. But and idea for you.

 

[Larton'GS'er]

You can low the bike by 80mm using Wilbers shocks. Ok, not the cheapest option. But and idea for you.

Thanks, yes we have been looking at the options of kit to lower but it would be good to see one in the flesh which has been done already.
80mm with a lower seat too could be just what is needed.

 

[Schtum]

Much depends upon his level of experience and confidence but does he really need a low chassis bike? If his inside leg is 29", that's pretty much the same as mine and I've had 4 1200s using the low BMW seat and am now using a low Sargent seat. I've also ridden GSes with higher seats, on the odd occasion.

 

[Larton'GS'er]

Much depends upon his level of experience and confidence but does he really need a low chassis bike? If his inside leg is 29", that's pretty much the same as mine and I've had 4 1200s using the low BMW seat and am now using a low Sargent seat. I've also ridden GSes with higher seats, on the odd occasion.

That's useful to know. We'll note that one too. Thanks for the reply!

 

[Delboy777]

I have a factory lowered GS, and i find with the low chassis i can easily use a standard seat with no problems. I can use the standard GS with a lowered seat and they are the same height. I have a 29" inseam. Id like a GSA but wasnt sure if it could be lowered to GS height or not.

 

[Foxxy]

Just to throw a curve ball in...

I have a 700GS with the lowered susp and seat. My inside leg is 28" and I can just about flat foot. Might be an alternative? The weight might be more managible too

 

[Schtum]

Id like a GSA but wasnt sure if it could be lowered to GS height or not.

It might not even be a case of lowering an Adventure to the same height as a standard GS. There seems to be something of a variation in the height of the bikes as they come out of the factory. At the end of last year, I put my low Sargent seat on the Adventure belonging to young Mr fringe of this parish. It was, if anything easier to get my feet down on that than it is on my bike.

 

[Bendy toy]

My inside leg is 31.5" but I cope with the GSA seat eight, but a GS seat is better for leg reach. I dont believe a flat foot is necessary or even desirable. Flat foot means I have to lift my whole leg if the bike needs to be paddled along. Balls of feet work better. If it has to be moved more than a yard or two, I get off. If any large bike leans too much its going down anyway - flat feet or no flat feet.

 

[Wilsdorf]

29 is fine with the standard lowered GS. We have one in the fold, for the shorter member

 

[Larton'GS'er]

I have a factory lowered GS, and i find with the low chassis i can easily use a standard seat with no problems. I can use the standard GS with a lowered seat and they are the same height. I have a 29" inseam. Id like a GSA but wasnt sure if it could be lowered to GS height or not.

Thanks for the info. Starting to take a view that either a factory lowered with std seat or a std bike with lowered seat will suit a 29" inside leg.

 

[Larton'GS'er]

29 is fine with the standard lowered GS. We have one in the fold, for the shorter member

Thanks .... Another view that a std. lowered GS is ok for a 29" inside leg.

 

[Larton'GS'er]

Just to throw a curve ball in...

I have a 700GS with the lowered susp and seat. My inside leg is 28" and I can just about flat foot. Might be an alternative? The weight might be more managible too

Thanks for the curved ball, but my mate really wants a GS1200. But it's good to have the feedback. Cheers.

 

[Larton'GS'er]

My inside leg is 31.5" but I cope with the GSA seat eight, but a GS seat is better for leg reach. I dont believe a flat foot is necessary or even desirable. Flat foot means I have to lift my whole leg if the bike needs to be paddled along. Balls of feet work better. If it has to be moved more than a yard or two, I get off. If any large bike leans too much its going down anyway - flat feet or no flat feet.

I'll pass it on but I ride a GS and much prefer to have flat feet !!

 

[Gossy]

I'll pass it on but I ride a GS and much prefer to have flat feet !!

Gain 25mm the other way - Daytona M Star boots - Im 5'10" can just about flat foot on a GSA with a Kahado low seat

 

[Larton'GS'er]

Gain 25mm the other way - Daytona M Star boots - Im 5'10" can just about flat foot on a GSA with a Kahado low seat

Now that's what I call blue sky - thinking outside the box. Thanks.

 

[juddadredd]

come on guys anyone who's seen me knows I'm 5 6" with about a 29 inside leg and all of 11 Stone soaking wet and I'm a non lowered GSA for gruds sake !

Use a BMW low seat and get the hell used to the bike, if need be fit luggage and load the fucker down but don't shorten it's legs, because if I'm on one anyone can be.

 

[Rockred]

I use the low seat and a thick sole riding boot, the boot gives me an extra inch over a normal boot, hope this helps.

 

[Bendy toy]

I'll pass it on but I ride a GS and much prefer to have flat feet !!

come on guys anyone who's seen me knows I'm 5 6" with about a 29 inside leg and all of 11 Stone soaking wet and I'm a non lowered GSA for gruds sake !

Use a BMW low seat and get the hell used to the bike, if need be fit luggage and load the fucker down but don't shorten it's legs, because if I'm on one anyone can be.

Its all about confidence. There is absolutely no need to have the feet flat on the floor. If it was we would all be riding hardley cruisers. I'm not saying a 29" inside leg will manage with a standard GSA seat but if a 32" can, the guy with the shorter legs just needs the seat to be 3" lower. Which is pretty much what you get between the low low seat and the std GSA seat.

As I said before if the bike is going to fall it will go regardless of the riders weight. I accept that feet flat on the floor can stick out a bit further and feels more stable. But the rider risks getting hurt trying to save the unsavable.

All new bikes take some getting used to. The tall GS/A is just a different learning curve. Gaffa tape some milk bottle plastic to the crash bars and cylinder head guard protectors. The bike will fall over but in a few week you will be sorted. The gaffa tape and plastic can go in the bin and the bike wont have a mark.

That all said there is a case for retracts for (almost) anyone. Then the seat/pegs can be 100% comfy without worrying about reach to the floor.

 

[birdseye]

I have a mate who is vertically challenged but is interested in buying a GS1200. Does anyone have or know where there is a lowered version that he can take a look at and have a chat about the work needed to get it low enough for a 29" inside leg.
He is willing to travel in North West and maybe further depending on work.
Thanks in advance.

I have a 29" inside leg and manage fine with a normal GS without the electronic suspension. The ES reduces the amount of adjustment you have. I wind the manual rear preload down to the lowest useable ( I ride single handed and weigh only 77 kg) and put the seat on its lowest setting. I have a low seat available but at the moment I'm using the normal seat. Sure I cant get both feet flat on the floor astride the bike but I can get the balls of both feet down at the same time.

never dropped the bike or its predecessor - yet anyway!