Identifying factory low suspension vs low seat on an R1250GS Rallye

[Brizo247]

Hi All,

I'm looking to buy a 2020-22 R1250GS Rallye and as I'm vertically challenged at 5'8" with a 29-inch inside leg I'm on the lookout for a factory low-suspension model.

This is easier said than done because from what I can gather there may be several options, low Rallye seat vs low suspension etc and I was hoping someone would be able to provide me with the various option codes for both or some advice on how to identify a factory lowered bike from the build sheet.

For example one of the bikes I'm interested in has option code "X0756 Motorcycle Seat Rallye Low" on the build sheet and the seller states this is the factory lowered model not just one fitted with a low seat from new, is this accurate?

Any advice would be much appreciated as my search is complicated by the fact that I live in rural Scotland and most of the bikes available are down south. Buying the wrong one is a mistake I would very much like to avoid.

I test rode a bike with the factory low option and it fitted me like a glove so I know that's what I want rather than a standard one.

 

[Santa-2512]

x499 is the low suspension option

It works like this

Std suspension
Seat high
Seat norm
Seat low

each seat has a high and low position as well

so std bike

High seat - high position
High seat - low position

Norm seat - high position
Norm seat - low position

Low seat - high position
Low seat - low position

If you have the x499 option - low suspension
the same applies

High seat - high position
High seat - low position

Norm seat - high position
Norm seat - low position

Low seat - high position
Low seat - low position


Then to add a curve ball in there is an ultralow seat

bd the other curve ball is the bike is 60mm wider than the LC / hexhead model it replaced


so the 30mm factory low is not really any lower than a std TC

as you loose the down reduction by having to spread your legs 30mm more each side


I had a 2016 LC factory low, and i needed the suspension set to soft and single rider with an ultralow seat


that let me get the balls of my feet down


i have a seat comparison pic on the other PC i'll post it up tomorrow

 

[Brizo247]

x499 is the low suspension option

It works like this

Std suspension
Seat high
Seat norm
Seat low

each seat has a high and low position as well

so std bike

High seat - high position
High seat - low position

Norm seat - high position
Norm seat - low position

Low seat - high position
Low seat - low position

If you have the x499 option - low suspension
the same applies

High seat - high position
High seat - low position

Norm seat - high position
Norm seat - low position

Low seat - high position
Low seat - low position


Then to add a curve ball in there is an ultralow seat

bd the other curve ball is the bike is 60mm wider than the LC / hexhead model it replaced


so the 30mm factory low is not really any lower than a std TC

as you loose the down reduction by having to spread your legs 30mm more each side


I had a 2016 LC factory low, and i needed the suspension set to soft and single rider with an ultralow seat


that let me get the balls of my feet down


i have a seat comparison pic on the other PC i'll post it up tomorrow

Thanks, Santa, your explanation makes a lot of sense. Who says you only deliver at Christmas?

 

[Ash700]

Saw a YouTube vid that didn’t say favourable things about the low suspension GS. Stated that the low suspension was compromised! No idea if it’s true but might be worth looking into.

 

[Brizo247]

Saw a YouTube vid that didn’t say favourable things about the low suspension GS. Stated that the low suspension was compromised! No idea if it’s true but might be worth looking into.

I imagine if you're going to use the bike off-road or on track it could make a difference. I won't be doing either so it's not something I'm worried about.

 

[littleade]

Saw a YouTube vid that didn’t say favourable things about the low suspension GS. Stated that the low suspension was compromised! No idea if it’s true but might be worth looking into.

I've had 2 lowered 1200s and a 1250 and can't say I noticed a difference between them and the standard GSs on the road. If anything the handling will be slightly quicker as the wheelbase is shorter as the shocks are shorter and use the same front end

 

[GSite]

It may be worth trying a standard height bike with a low seat which I found to be just about the same for me as a low bike with a high seat. This may help when you come to sell as more buyers and dealers will be interested, selling a low bike has a limited market. An ultra low seat on a stamdard bike would be the next step down in height as Santa says.

 

[wessie]

It may be worth trying a standard height bike with a low seat which I found to be just about the same for me as a low bike with a high seat. This may help when you come to sell as more buyers and dealers will be interested, selling a low bike has a limited market. An ultra low seat on a stamdard bike would be the next step down in height as Santa says.

I have had two factory lowered bikes. Admittedly, neither was a GS. A Triumph Explorer and a S1000XR. At 5'8" with a 31" inside leg they both made a massive difference to improved ergonomics and confidence. Handling was not compromised in any way.

As for moving the bike on, I think you have it the wrong way around. Lowered bikes are scarce, lots of riders are short arses. If anything, a lowered bike could command a price premium. I part exed the Triumph for the XR and when I sold the latter, I posted here and an XR forum. I had half a dozen expressions of interest the same day, a holding deposit the day after and the asking price in my bank a few days later. If anything, I should have added another £500 to the price but I judged it on the standard bike prices.

 

[RichardD]

It may be worth trying a standard height bike with a low seat which I found to be just about the same for me as a low bike with a high seat. This may help when you come to sell as more buyers and dealers will be interested, selling a low bike has a limited market. An ultra low seat on a stamdard bike would be the next step down in height as Santa says.

I guess it depends whether you want the additional height between seat and pegs or between pegs and ground.

For me, a lower bike with a standard seat in the high position is far more practical than a standard bike with a low seat in the low position.

Yes, both have similar seat heights but the lower bike is easier to handle, easier to get on/off and easier on the knees on a long journey.

On the other hand, for off-roading, the added ground clearance of a standard bike is probably more useful.

 

[sven]

I’m a similar height to you with a 30” inseam and have owned a standard height 2014 R1200GS, a low suspension 2019 R1250GS and now a low suspension 2022 R1250GSA.

It’s easier to touch a boot down in corners on the low suspension bikes, but I soon learnt to tuck my feet in. Other than that I can’t say I noticed a difference in handling. They’re still big bikes, but a lot more manageable at lower speeds or when coming to stop, especially two-up and fully loaded.

 

[littleade]

It may be worth trying a standard height bike with a low seat which I found to be just about the same for me as a low bike with a high seat. This may help when you come to sell as more buyers and dealers will be interested, selling a low bike has a limited market. An ultra low seat on a stamdard bike would be the next step down in height as Santa says.

Have to agree with @wessie . I've had 3 lowered GSs. I got great trade in deals on each one and all 3 bikes sold very quickly. There are always more standard height bikes for sale which is probably why the lowered ones sell so.quickly, especially low milage good examples.

 

[Santa-2512]

OK pics as i mentioned, from the top

Hexhead 06-12 low seat
LC 13-19* low seat
LC 13-19* Ultralow seat

 

[GSite]

I have had two factory lowered bikes. Admittedly, neither was a GS. A Triumph Explorer and a S1000XR. At 5'8" with a 31" inside leg they both made a massive difference to improved ergonomics and confidence. Handling was not compromised in any way.

As for moving the bike on, I think you have it the wrong way around. Lowered bikes are scarce, lots of riders are short arses. If anything, a lowered bike could command a price premium. I part exed the Triumph for the XR and when I sold the latter, I posted here and an XR forum. I had half a dozen expressions of interest the same day, a holding deposit the day after and the asking price in my bank a few days later. If anything, I should have added another £500 to the price but I judged it on the standard bike prices.

Good to hear you did well when selling the XR, but I do feel this may not be the norm. I agree that at the BMW dealer a used low bike could be seen as desirable which is great if staying within the BMW network when changing bile. At non-Motorrad dealers they may not be viewed as such, many would not want it as they view it as appealling to fewer buyers and consider that they make take longer to sell it, risk it losing value while they stock it and if it does not sell having to move it on at a loss, hence they offer a lower price. I know this from experience both personal and from shortie riders I know trying to move away from BMW and selling their low bikes.

Some may not believe this, but I would suggest they approach multiple bike traders, dealers BMW and otherwise and compare the offers received.

 

[Santa-2512]

Dont tell em its a low , most people wont know the difference lol

 

[wessie]

Some may not believe this, but I would suggest they approach multiple bike traders, dealers BMW and otherwise and compare the offers received.

you seem to be making a claim against the forum consensus so the onus is on you to back up your hypothesis with evidence based research

just to add to my story, I bought the low XR from Completely Motorbikes. At the time a single used bike dealer near Gloucester Airport. A somewhat larger operation now so I'm guessing they know what bikes to have in stock. I liked the XR and traded my low Triumph Explorer XRX for it. They only had the XR in stock a few days and I was lucky to find one in stock locally. My Triumph was on their website for a couple of days as it was sold on the first weekend it was in their showroom.

 

[littleade]

you seem to be making a claim against the forum consensus so the onus is on you to back up your hypothesis with evidence based research

just to add to my story, I bought the low XR from Completely Motorbikes. At the time a single used bike dealer near Gloucester Airport. A somewhat larger operation now so I'm guessing they know what bikes to have in stock. I liked the XR and traded my low Triumph Explorer XRX for it. They only had the XR in stock a few days and I was lucky to find one in stock locally. My Triumph was on their website for a couple of days as it was sold on the first weekend it was in their showroom.

Sounds like he might be a victim of some unscrupulous bushshit salesbod, "Oh sorry sir it's not standard height so they are difficult to sell so I can only offer you x amount below what a standard bike in similar condition is worth in my CAP book". Meanwhile another punter comes in with a standard bike. "Oh sorry sir that's a standard bike, there are lots on the market so we can only offer you this paltry trade in price for it as we have 6 already. If it had been the low version I would have been able to give you a far better trade in as they are quite rare and they are always in demand. The last one we had was here less than a week before we sold it"

 

[GSite]

It appears that both our opinions are based on our own experiences and that of others when trying to sell a "low" bike, so I guess we both use these as our evidence base.
I am sure we both think our opinion right, so it seems we need to agree to differ.