Lowered or standard suspension?

[batman1]

Does the lowered suspension bike ride as well as the standard suspension bike.

I have been told by one dealer that it does, and another dealer that it doesn't?

Has anyone here got anything more definitive?

 

[Nutty]

How tall are you? Inside leg?

 

[zoltan]

Does the lowered suspension bike ride as well as the standard suspension bike.

I have been told by one dealer that it does, and another dealer that it doesn't?

Has anyone here got anything more definitive?

I couldn't detect any difference in the ride between the two models,hence I have only a lower seat option. I have 29" inside leg . The lowered suspension bike gives less room for my knees and I didn't want ESA ( you can only specify lowered suspension with ESA ) , I am happy with the set up when I get my bike.

 

[stevie Allen]

29" inside leg, lowered suspension, lowered seat, fits like a glove but I like the balls of my feet on the ground rather than tip toe, took the misses on the back
An put it on two people soft suspension ,and it caught me out at traffic lights , just that couple of mill difference between tip toes and balls, made me feel uncomfy having no push off with my leg and foot at full reach. I also like being able to push the bike around and walk it backwards to park etc without getting off the bike

No difference in performance whatsoever,
Only you are going to find if its comfy for you, ref:the state of your knees position long distance etc

 

[The Hobbit]

Does the lowered suspension bike ride as well as the standard suspension bike.

I have been told by one dealer that it does, and another dealer that it doesn't?

Has anyone here got anything more definitive?

Short answer is yes, I cant tell the difference apart from at a standstill when my lowered WC is much better for me

 

[batman1]

How tall are you? Inside leg?

Nutty,
Inside leg 29 inches my height 5'-8'' ?

 

[Schtum]

IThe lowered suspension bike gives less room for my knees

Really...? The only time the suspension height can make any difference to the relationship between your knees and any point of contact on the bike is when you're stationary with your feet on the ground......

 

[johanncar]

I am 181cm and was on an F800R where I could always have both feet flat on the ground. Moved to an LC 2 weeks ago. Ordered the lowered version, and I can flatfoot easily! The best decision I have made in a long time. Just so comfortable with the bike!

 

[bobtail]

Hi I had a factory lowered version with low cut seat as I'm 5'10 with 32 inside leg the distance between the pegs and seat base was much to short for me so I changed the seat and went with a standard one .
As for the handling found it very good went around bends much quicker than the GSA I now have

 

[Appman]

If your not comfy and feel unsafe on the full fat version then your not going to ride a GS, so handling of the lowered suspension in comparison is academic if that's what you need to ride a GS.

The tough part will be finding a dealer carrying the lowered suspension for demonstration or even to sit on.

I certainly have not found the lowered suspension wanting, can touch the floor with confidence, but as has been already mentioned changing the ESA settings can affect things, so if you try the normal bike ensure you try all ESA modes to make sure you feel confident through the range.

28.5" inside leg and no heel on my boots.

 

[zoltan]

Really...? The only time the suspension height can make any difference to the relationship between your knees and any point of contact on the bike is when you're stationary with your feet on the ground......

Cock knows , I had the opportunity to test both versions , as a matter of fact once my pillion is on, my feet are flat on the ground

 

[batman1]

If your not comfy and feel unsafe on the full fat version then your not going to ride a GS, so handling of the lowered suspension in comparison is academic if that's what you need to ride a GS.

The tough part will be finding a dealer carrying the lowered suspension for demonstration or even to sit on.

I certainly have not found the lowered suspension wanting, can touch the floor with confidence, but as has been already mentioned changing the ESA settings can affect things, so if you try the normal bike ensure you try all ESA modes to make sure you feel confident through the range.

28.5" inside leg and no heel on my boots.

I feel very safe on the full fat when on the move, in fact I rented the full fat while on my biking holiday last week in the Austrian Alps, the handling was just awesome and I have to say that the rented bike was quicker up the alpine passes than my Explorer that I rode there on, the DS LC is very flickable indeed, I loved it!
So sadly, now my wonderful Triumph is going to need a new home. I was only a touch concerned about those awkward moments when on very uneven ground on loose gravel when fully luggaged up and pillion on the back.
I have found a lower model that I think that I can try against a full fat version, so I will have my definitive answer by the weekend. However please keep your comments coming, you know the best thing about this bike is the way it makes you grin, it's so much fun!

 

[Appman]

I feel very safe on the full fat when on the move, in fact I rented the full fat while on my biking holiday last week in the Austrian Alps, the handling was just awesome and I have to say that the rented bike was quicker up the alpine passes than my Explorer that I rode there on, the DS LC is very flickable indeed, I loved it!
So sadly, now my wonderful Triumph is going to need a new home. I was only a touch concerned about those awkward moments when on very uneven ground on loose gravel when fully luggaged up and pillion on the back.
I have found a lower model that I think that I can try against a full fat version, so I will have my definitive answer by the weekend. However please keep your comments coming, you know the best thing about this bike is the way it makes you grin, it's so much fun!

The Explorer is no shortie though! Sounds like you may just need to try the lowered seat on the full fat version, for the extra comfort level.

 

[batman1]

The Explorer is no shortie though! Sounds like you may just need to try the lowered seat on the full fat version, for the extra comfort level.

Hi Appman,
Although the Tex may look like a big monster the seat is in fact very low as standard, quite a bit lower than the HEX HEAD that's one reason I went for it in the first place, however the weight is quite high up in the bike due to the tall motor and it can feel a bit of a top heavy lump when fully loaded especially if you are slightly short in the arse. (5'-8'')
The wasser however just feels like a medium size trail bike, when on the move it feels like a small bike as it's weight is so low down...clever BMW.

I think that you are right re the standard bike and the lower seat, if I can get the back to back test ride sorted this week, I'll have a definitive answer by the weekend.

 

[krytengs]

Nutty,
Inside leg 29 inches my height 5'-8'' ?

Me too.
I did try a Multistrada first but was balancing on the tips of my toes, and the KTM was worse in that I couldn't even get a leg over it.
The BMW dealer had to order a short seat for me, so that I could demo the LC. In my first few mins of riding I was on tip toes at lights, and then I came up with a cunning plan...just before stopping I changed the ESA to Soft and that made the suspension sag enough for me to get most of my foot down.

I didnt want to go for the lowered suspension as the tallness of the GS was part of its appeal for me. So I opted for the short seat and set it to the low position, which enabled me to get the balls of my foot down (just be careful around gravel caught me out a couple of times).

Now that I own the LC and have been putting the miles on, I have adjusted my riding so that when I stop, I put a foot down and lean the bike over slightly to that side. So now I can put my foot down flat without thinking about it...and there is no real discernible extra weight on my leg.

 

[batman1]

Thanks for all or your replies, from which I have made a decision to get the standard bike with an option for a swop to a lower seat at no extra cost should I find the standard seat is a bit too tall. Deal done!

 

[Nutty]

Thanks for all or your replies, from which I have made a decision to get the standard bike with an option for a swop to a lower seat at no extra cost should I find the standard seat is a bit too tall. Deal done!

Good move. you can always fit a lower seat, and even get that re-sculpted if necessary. When does the new bike arrive? Colour/ spec?

 

[Appman]

Thanks for all or your replies, from which I have made a decision to get the standard bike with an option for a swop to a lower seat at no extra cost should I find the standard seat is a bit too tall. Deal done!

Shit! Have I missed another weekend

 

[The Hobbit]

Good move. you can always fit a lower seat, and even get that re-sculpted if necessary. When does the new bike arrive? Colour/ spec?

One point normally overlooked is that the lowered one is much easier to swing a leg over if you are short!
Low seat is not the issue, its the pillion seat that you have to clear.
A lowered bike with a standart seat may be the answer

Cheers

 

[batman1]

Good move. you can always fit a lower seat, and even get that re-sculpted if necessary. When does the new bike arrive? Colour/ spec?[/QUOTE

Hi Nutty,

I get my new GS-LC in just 7 sleeps time, it will be delivered to me next Wednesday, colour red, fitted with engine bars. The Panniers and Top box will arrive later probably at 1st service.
It is a standard height bike, with a free option to swop to a lower seat at no extra cost if I don't like the standard seat height, dealer thinks it's worth a try first, I can't argue with that offer.
I actually ordered the bike about 2 months ago with a £100 deposit but my dealer said if I changed my mind when the bike arrived I could have my full deposit returned.

I have an Explorer which is a great bike and a massive mile-muncher but it lacks the chuckabilty of the LC.

This was brought into full focus last week in Austria. We were staying in the Enzian biker Hotel in Landeck (google it!) its a great place to stay 650 miles from Rotterdam, overnight stay in Ibis hotel Heildelberg which is exactly half way there at 325 miles).

The Enzian is also a Motoraad bike hire hotel, so I took the opportunity to rent an LC for the day and go out my mates up and around the alps. My mates are quick riders, who ride a mixture of Tex's and various BMW's, they are normally a bit quicker than me as I regard myself as a rookie.
On the rented bike with my girlfriend on the pillion I was without any doubt comfortably quicker through the twisty's and hairpins than I could ever be on my Triumph which I have had for 9500 miles, in fact I was right up the exhausts of the fast lads in front who were mostly riding one-up!

Now I'm not definitively saying that the LC is the quicker bike, but what I am saying that I could ride the rented LC appreciable quicker within just 4 hours in the saddle than I could ride my Triumph that I have been riding for the past year! I just seemed to gel with the LC within minutes of getting on it, and it gave me a big grin, and I felt like I was 18 not 61.

The rented bike was a standard height bike with a low seat.
Load = 1-helmet and suitcase.
Ride= HARD
Power = NORMAL

I'll be sad to say goodbye to my Tex but very happy to receive my new ride.

Q 1.
I'm thinking of having it treated by 'allyearider-ACF-50' what do you reckon, is it worth it, or does it attract more muck to stick to the bike?
Q 2.
I'll need some good quality pannier & t/box bags, do I get the BMW ones or are there some decent aftermarket makes that look good?

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