Lowered 650 - what are the implications?

[keithquad]

Daft question - however can some one inlighten me:-
1. a lowered suspension (at factory) bike will be lower to the ground & therfore less ground clearance - those of you that have one of these is it noticeable?
2. somewhere on this site is suggested that the carrying/pay load weight was lowered - is this true, as I assume from this that a different suspension unit is used?
3. I'm presently on a 03' GS 650 (lowered seat) which I do take off road - which is OK - however when I compare it to my wifes lowered GS 650,her's does feel more freindly (my grand height is 5 foot 2 inside leg 28), so at the end of all that - what are peoples perceptions of benefits/pros/cons of the lowered 650?

Note: I appreciate that a great deal of your views will be perception/oppininion - I'm apsolutley fine with that as I also need to be discerning with what I take on board.

Final question any body selling a lowered 650?

Hope you can help - thanks for looking.

 

[Tim Cullis]

Yes there will be less ground clearance. The lowered version of the F650GS comprises a lowered seat and a reduced height spring strut. Payload is reduced (presumably because of lack of springing) from the normal 236 kg to 150 kg.

If your inside leg measurement is accurate I should have thought the standard F650GS with the low seat might be low enough.

 

[Buz]

I've just purchased a new 650, i'm about 5'7" with 29" inside leg, i have the standard seat, i think the lowered seat would have made it slightly easier but getting used to it, pushing the bike backwards whilst sat on it and checking camber of the road when getting off is the only iffy bit, stopping at junctions/lights etc is no real problem.
I'd visit a dealer and have a sit on one with lowered and standard seat before worrying about lowering suspension etc i've also been told after it has been ridden for a while the suspension settles and the seat seems lower, not sure if this is correct but Tim may as I beleive he has owned one for some time and what he doesnt know about them aint worth knowing

 

[gregdyke]

I've just purchased a new 650, i'm about 5'7" with 29" inside leg, i have the standard seat, i think the lowered seat would have made it slightly easier but getting used to it, pushing the bike backwards whilst sat on it and checking camber of the road when getting off is the only iffy bit, stopping at junctions/lights etc is no real problem.
I'd visit a dealer and have a sit on one with lowered and standard seat before worrying about lowering suspension etc i've also been told after it has been ridden for a while the suspension settles and the seat seems lower, not sure if this is correct but Tim may as I beleive he has owned one for some time and what he doesnt know about them aint worth knowing

My take on the weight reduction is that BMW are being ultra cautious to prevent anything coming back to them if someone has a problem. I have a lowered '08 650 and have been 2 up with loaded panniers with no adverse effects... probably more of an issue if you wanted to ride on the rough stuff 2 up loaded with gear...

 

[Spear Ruler]

I have an 05 650GS and am just under 5' 2" with 29 inside leg. I am tippie toed at standstill and dropped regularly at junctions with cambers. Difficulty manoeuvring when parked or needing to make very tight u turns..don't ask...

I have a lowered seat and am riding the bike since last October, put up 6,000 KMs since then and at Easter tried 2" lowering links. I found manoeuvring in car parks etc great but on the road it was a different storey. The balance was all wrong, I was unable to sweep around bends with ease everything was a struggle. I also felt it was bottomimg out on bog roads eg lots of quick undulations, even with suspension adjustment. I never have had any hip cramps or any other leg problems wnen at regular height but when lowered I had pain in left hip constantly.

Went back to the original setting and have just completed almost 2000 KMs in Scotland in 4 days from Dublin on this and had the most amazing trip and now am convinced that the setting of low seat and everything else left alone is perfect for me.

By the way we were traveling with 4 ex pro road racers and were never more than half an hour arriving behind them. This I put down to the most amazing roads in Scotland. The more I use my bike the more I love it. My confidence has risen so much being able to be on such good roads and the constant riding.

It may be a matter of trying lowering the bike (I have 2" links available, really for a Dakar) but over the long run perhaps you need to try some some long runs and get to know the feel of the bike on the road and if this feel right I would be cautious of lowering the bike for stopped, camber situations.

Don't know if this helps.

Geraldine

 

[keithquad]

Geraldine - ref lowering of the bike

Interesting that you have tried lowering & felt that it was not good at the end of it all.

I sense from what people are suggesting that if you can get away with it - DONT MODIFY WHAT IS A GREAT BIKE!

Thank you for your views everybody.

I'm interested to know anybody who has had a single 650 to tell us what are the significant differences between that & the new twin??

Cheers again.

 

[D6]

the single only has 1 cylinder,a big point of significance

 

[oblertone]

I think Jaq ...

... is going to respond; but in case she doesn't then I'll give you my take on riding behind both.

The single responds well in the upper half of the rev range (as you'll know), but that does require you to ignore a certain amount of apparent mechanical torment from the engine. The twin is a de-tuned 800cc unit, and is therefore inherently smoother, and feels more 'relaxed' at the same speed; certainly Jaq has no problem in maintaining a constant 80mph (where permitted ). The low seat/low suspension is something only test riding will inform you about as it's a very personal choice, but the lowered twin certainly does not lack in cornering ability or ground clearance.

Hope this helps

 

[Jaq]

Interesting that you have tried lowering & felt that it was not good at the end of it all.

I sense from what people are suggesting that if you can get away with it - DONT MODIFY WHAT IS A GREAT BIKE!

Thank you for your views everybody.

I'm interested to know anybody who has had a single 650 to tell us what are the significant differences between that & the new twin??

Cheers again.

The single is a fun loving teenager.....the twin a fun loving adult!!...
Out of the two I'd prefer to take the single offroading and the twin on the tarmac.....
The twin is faster, smoother and a heck of alot quieter....an absolute joy to take touring.....10 1/2 hrs on one day, no problems except for a slightly numb posterior.....
However, the single is raucous and a heck of alot of fun to throw about on Salisbury Plain with Bakerman......
Can't really comment on the lowered part as both of mine were factory lowered from birth, so nothing to compare with......

 

[Ochoche]

ground clearance problem

I have an F650GS twin purchased slightly used with the factory lowered suspension option (I am 5'4", 28" inseam). Scraping the sidestand and the pegs in the twisties has become a problem for me due to the low ground clearance. This week it scraped so bad I lifted the rear wheel off the ground, and barely avoided a crash, which was very scary. In an effort to remedy this situation, I stiffened the rear shock to max, and made adjustments to the sidestand. Used a grinder to take off a bit of the kickstand stop, which makes the kickstand sit higher when retracted, and also ground off part of the sidestand foot.
I am hopeful these modifications might be enough. Otherwise I think I will have to invest considerable dollars in switching out rear shock and make fork changes, and I have concerns about what kind of impact such mods might have on the geometry of the bike. Or sell it and buy one with standard suspension with a lowered seat.
ANy other suggestions?
Ochoche
P.S. I like the twin engine much better than the single--smoother and has that extra bit of hp.