Has my Urban been lowered?

[gabriel_gs]

So I've just come back to another Urban GS - missed it too much

Got a good deal on a very nicely kept 2018.

However, I suspect it's been lowered and want to see how I can check for sure. I'll caveat all of this with the fact that I've asked the selling garage to check with the previous owner, so waiting on a response there.

When I first sat on it once it'd been delivered, I thought, "Hmm, this seems a tad low" - I measured the seat height and it's definitely only 820mm

So things I know...

• Bike was NOT spec'd as a factory low option (checked with the VIN)
• Bike has Hyperpro rear spring
• I have documentation showing serial numbers for a rear spring, fork springs and a 'combi kit' - the numbers for each suggest stock height replacement springs, NOT the lowered (-25mm) option springs, but it's not necessarily clear which have been fitted (rear only, or rear and forks)
• The shock itself looks to be the stock BMW item with sticker (albeit with the Hyperpro spring) and seems to have a good 20mm of thread above the preload adjustment rings, so it's not like the preload rings have been dialled right up to the top of the threads to lower the rear of the bike
• The seat is NOT the low option (confirmed with the serial numbers)
• The forks have NOT been pulled through the clamps (they're pretty much flush with the top clamp as expected), so they 'look' stock - there's about 140mm of chrome showing between the fork seal and the lower clamp

The reason I want to know is that I want to fit a new rear shock (the Hyperpro spring doesn't seem to have made the rear shock any better than stock and I loved the Shock Factory shock I had on my last Urban), but I want to get a stock height one, so back to a 850mm seat height - my worry is that if the front's been 'lowered' might it throw off the whole geometry/feel of the bike?

So, while I've asked the selling garage to discuss with the former owner to hopefully get clarification, is there a sure-fire way to tell if I've got stock 'height' forks?

 

[Paul S]

My scrambler is long gone but found a photo I had showing the length of the standard shock which may assist - that said cannot remember whether I was measuring total length or centre of the mounting holes . I swapped it out for an adjustable ht Wilbers shock so that I could play around with the height.

 

[gabriel_gs]

Thanks chap, but it's the front I'm more concerned about - how do I know if it's been altered?

 

[Paul S]

Guess you are going to have to go to a BMW dealer with a couple in stock and take your tape measure

 

[gabriel_gs]

Guess you are going to have to go to a BMW dealer with a couple in stock and take your tape measure

It might come to that!