Low/Standard Suspension

[Ant1200]

Does anybody know what the difference is between a factory lowered bike and a standard bike? My understanding is that it is just the shock absorbers that are different length (and I think, different side and centre stand). A long story, but I inadvertently bought a factory low suspension 2015 model that I would like to convert to standard.

 

[CPJS]

As you correctly say the only difference is length of shocks and stands.
I assume you test rode it and thought it fine, why bother changing it.
The seat to peg height is the same as standard, you can swap seats around to change the amount of knee bend.
Unless you are going to put sticky tyres on it and do track days( and be very quick) or off roading you will not run out of ground clearance.

 

[Ant1200]

There is no good reason to be honest, it's just at 6' 2" the taller bike suits me better. It rides and handles great, was perfect on a 2500 mile trip around Europe in the summer. I suppose it's just irritating now I know! I've ordered a Touratech seat, i'll probably take a view once it arrives and I've tried it.

 

[stevie Allen]

Have you tried putting the seat up in the high position front and rear.
Come to think of it When i bought Nutty,s standard size 2014 GSA i got the wilbers shocks put on it lowered and they gave me the standard springs back. Not being technically minded, would this just be the bit you have to change on your shocks being standard bmw parts?
Then your center stand and side stand (standard size) which i also still have .

 

[slaphead GSER]

Stands

If you DO convert it to standard , I would be interested in your lower stands.

 

[Ant1200]

I think (not certain) the length of the shock is different, so my shocks will be be physically shorter than standard, unless anyone knows different? Might be interested in the stands if I do change.

 

[Deleted account 191119001]

Why not just pop into your local dealer, and ask exactly what they do to lower the bike, then you will be certain, it might also have software settings involved.

 

[fred_jb]

I decided to buy the lowered bike even though the standard one would have been fine, because I can then have the seat on the high position for minimum knee bend while still easily flat footing. As I frequently carry a pillion and luggage I also find the lower centre of gravity a significant benefit when balancing the bike at junctions, etc, and this was definitely noticeable compared to the standard bike I had a test ride on. I believe the shocks are 20 mm shorter so you get 20 mm less suspension travel but as I understand it the minimum ground clearance under full compression remains the same. I have not experienced any downside to this, just benefits, but then I don't ride off road where a small reduction in suspension travel might be a disadvantage.

Fred

 

[ChazzyB]

Why not just pop into your local dealer, and ask exactly what they do to lower the bike, then you will be certain, it might also have software settings involved.

It happens ex-factory. The average dealer probably doesn't have a clue how it's made shorter.

 

[Ant1200]

Correct, that's how I ended up with a factory lowered bike in the first place! They told me it was just the seat.

 

[AP11 LAD]

I’ve just returned a tb with lowered setup and just got normal height so here’s an informed answer to op question
The differences are as follows :- shorter length front forks, esa set up different for rear end to lower it. Different side stand and centre stand. That’s it. On full load it DOES ride lower and can occasionally cause centre stand to hit the ground on very uneven surfaces such as found sometimes in the Dales / Lake District etc Having said that, you have to be going seriously quick for that to happen

 

[Santa-2512]

Id like to say if you want a std set up, i'll have your lowered setup

however mines a 2006 non esa

 

[littleade]

It'll probably cost you more to convert it than to swap it for a standard model. The lowered ones are not as common so a dealer will probably be keen to do a deal, especially if he has a number of standard ones in stock.

 

[Karlos]

It'll probably cost you more to convert it than to swap it for a standard model. The lowered ones are not as common so a dealer will probably be keen to do a deal, especially if he has a number of standard ones in stock.

The dealer I bought mine from said they had sold many more lower versions than the standard version, which would suggest there are more lower versions about or just shorter people where I live.


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[ChazzyB]

The dealer I bought mine from said they had sold many more lower versions than the standard version, which would suggest there are more lower versions about or just shorter people where I live.


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Edge of the Fens? You only get short legs with 6 toes on each foot.

 

[littleade]

The dealer I bought mine from said they had sold many more lower versions than the standard version, which would suggest there are more lower versions about or just shorter people where I live.


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I've just looked at my 2 local dealers and out of 20 GS's for sale they have 1 with lowered suspension. I'm not doubting what your dealer has told you but it looks like he's referring to new bikes sold so looks like those that have bought the lowered ones are keeping hold of them for now as they don't appear to have any used lowered ones either?

 

[Karlos]

I've just looked at my 2 local dealers and out of 20 GS's for sale they have 1 with lowered suspension. I'm not doubting what your dealer has told you but it looks like he's referring to new bikes sold so looks like those that have bought the lowered ones are keeping hold of them for now as they don't appear to have any used lowered ones either?

He did refer to new bikes sold. I wasn’t sure as to which model to go for, but after trying both I went for the lower model, I quite like the lower CoG although I’m not sure in real terms if it makes much difference. Having the seat on the high setting on the low model is the same as the seat on the low setting on the standard model. I think this is better as it gives a better distance from seat to footpeg, as it is possible to have the standard model with the optional lowered (thinner) seat to get the same foot on the ground advantage, but the angle between seat and peg is not as good, and my knees hurt on the best of days.


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[fred_jb]

I’ve just returned a tb with lowered setup and just got normal height so here’s an informed answer to op question
The differences are as follows :- shorter length front forks, esa set up different for rear end to lower it. Different side stand and centre stand. That’s it. On full load it DOES ride lower and can occasionally cause centre stand to hit the ground on very uneven surfaces such as found sometimes in the Dales / Lake District etc Having said that, you have to be going seriously quick for that to happen

I can understand that with normal loading of the bike then everything on the lowered bike starts off closer to the ground, so there is a slightly higher possibility of grounding something in extremis. However I don't think it's as bad as it seems, as for example with the self leveling suspension, if we assume for arguments sake that the bike adjusts to provide a loaded sag of about 1/3 of the available suspension travel, then the loaded ride height of the standard bike will not be 20 mm higher, but only be 2/3 of 20 mm higher than the lowered bike - so about 13 mm difference.

I can't remember the exact figures, but if the standard bike has 200 mm maximum rear suspension travel and the lowered bike has 180 mm, then the loaded suspension figures with 1/3 rd compression should be 133 mm v 120 mm.

I also read that the lowered bike has slightly stiffer springs so that it uses up a little less suspension travel for any given load than the standard bike, and so should be no more prone to bottom out the suspension. In the case of road or off-road conditions which cause the suspension to hit maximum compression and bottom out, then there should be no difference in minimum ground clearance between the two.

 

[AP11 LAD]

I can understand that with normal loading of the bike then everything on the lowered bike starts off closer to the ground, so there is a slightly higher possibility of grounding something in extremis. However I don't think it's as bad as it seems, as for example with the self leveling suspension, if we assume for arguments sake that the bike adjusts to provide a loaded sag of about 1/3 of the available suspension travel, then the loaded ride height of the standard bike will not be 20 mm higher, but only be 2/3 of 20 mm higher than the lowered bike - so about 13 mm difference.


I can't remember the exact figures, but if the standard bike has 200 mm maximum rear suspension travel and the lowered bike has 180 mm, then the loaded suspension figures with 1/3 rd compression should be 133 mm v 120 mm.

I also read that the lowered bike has slightly stiffer springs so that it uses up a little less suspension travel for any given load than the standard bike, and so should be no more prone to bottom out the suspension. In the case of road or off-road conditions which cause the suspension to hit maximum compression and bottom out, then there should be no difference in minimum ground clearance between the two.

We are possibly not making the same comparisons ? My post referred to my GS tb that had standard suspension. The rear shocks were not stiffer. My latest bike a GSA tb does have self levelling suspension. I would imagine that on the latest bikes with self levelling, that the lowered version may cope better and as you suggest compensate for the load being carried. But it will still sit lower to the ground and therefore under high compression on very uneven roads it may occasionally catch the centre stand on the ground

 

[fred_jb]

We are possibly not making the same comparisons ? My post referred to my GS tb that had standard suspension. The rear shocks were not stiffer. My latest bike a GSA tb does have self levelling suspension. I would imagine that on the latest bikes with self levelling, that the lowered version may cope better and as you suggest compensate for the load being carried. But it will still sit lower to the ground and therefore under high compression on very uneven roads it may occasionally catch the centre stand on the ground

Well I guess you can still adjust preload on earlier bikes, either manually or with the three ESA presets, just that it probably won't be quite as accurate as the latest version.

However, I think the point still stands that for increasing levels of suspension compression then the differences in ride height reduce. So, unloaded there is 20 mm difference, for about 1/3 compression the difference reduces to 13 mm, and ultimately once you are at full compression with all suspension travel used up, then both bikes should have the same minimum ground clearance.