Just bought an XCountry height adjustment?

[stevemersey]

So I was minding my own business when I came across Kenny selling his recently acquired 2007 Xcountry, and this evening it is in my garage. I was looking for something with a little more off road ability than my R1200GS, and something my wife might be happy riding on longer trips. My son rode it home and seems pretty impressed, but I have only had chance for a short blast so far. With a nice weekend ahead I hope to explore a few trails and byways in North Wales if I can get the bike back off my son.

The first job is to try and lower the seat height a little so my wife feels comfortable riding it. Looks like the rear shock has some length/height adjustment. Has anyone experience of riding a lowered Xcountry they can share with me?

 

[Ash]

Did mine today, seems fine.
Took about 5.mins, there is lowering ring on ebay for about £50.

 

[stevemersey]

Thanks, found the rings.

 

[dean0n0]

Loads of stuff here, the shock adjustment looks the same as the wilbers but I can't be sure as my air shock has been replaced with a Hyperpro.
http://mattsnook.com/bmw/bmwXCountry/WilbersShock/index.htm

 

[Wrinkly]

Enjoy,
Fantastic and somewhat underrated bike.
Very much regret selling mine.

 

[stevemersey]

Deano,
Thanks for the link. My wife has had her first ride un-lowered and is just about ok as it is so light. We will see how it goes.

Wrinkleyowlie,
It has proven itself today. My son has been out and done 300 miles in Wales on it and has come back with a big grin. My turn tomorrow, I have only been able to get i for an hour so far.

 

[dean0n0]

I understand how being able to touch the floor can increase confidence on a bike, but, if you have confidence in the bike you are less likely to need your feet on the ground. If your feet are on the ground whilst negotiating tricky going, the bike is going to be kicking about under your arse like a mad thing, if you can keep your feet on the pegs your arse is well clear of the mad thing that's kicking about under it and your weight can be put to use controlling the mad thing and anticipating what it may be going to do in the next millisecond and reacting accordingly rather than waiting for it to rattle your fillings out.
Usually you feel the need to get a foot down when the front wheel is on a big rock and the back wheel's on a tree stump and it's 6 feet down to the ground on the low side, much better to think "a bit of throttle" than "I must get my foot down" (Like what I do...)
Enjoy the bike (ignore the drunken ramblings)
I could go on....
and on

 

[stevemersey]

Dean0n0,
I agree with all you said on height, but the excuse for buying this bike was primarily to get my wife back on the road (tarmac) after an accident a year ago, and only secondarily for me and my son to have fun at the weekends. The remit from her was a lighter bike with ABS and with a bit of character. We got lucky with the Xcountry, had not even considered one before last week. The fact that we have got her a bike she seems really pleased with and got us a bundle of fun for tarmac twisties and trails, well that is win-win.

You can bet we will lower it as little as possible as I don't want to compromise it's excellent handling.