Lowered or standard suspension?

[Nutty]

You've definitely done the right thing. Once you buy a lowered bike, I'm not sure if it can be "raised", but it will always be a lowered bike when it comes to resale time. My local dealer has had a lowered Triple Black twin cam for over a month, and it's still for sale, so they aren't as desirable. I have a 31" inside leg, and am fine on the standard seat and the enduro seat (I have both) in the high position at the front, and low at the back.

Re your questions,
Q 1. If you ride all year round, get it done. If you just ride for fun, like I do, then Scotoiler 365 is great in the winter, as long as you have the time to rinse the bike off and dry it after every ride.
Q 2. I went for the BMW bags as they were designed for the panniers and expand/ contract. There are some aftermarket ones available now, that are probably half the price and just as good.

7 days will fly by, then you'll have your new toy, and stick some miles on. It won't be as fun as mine though, as I've got the fastest colour!

 

[krytengs]

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?

]

I'm getting mine ACF'd this weekend - the bike doesnt really need it now as its summer, but I'd rather get it done now while the bike is still new and not yet being attacked by road grime. I did my last bike myself and could have done the LC myself....but would rather be riding it and it looks like it will be a nice ride there and back anyway.

I toyed with the idea of panniers, but decided on soft luggage as I couldn't justify the cost at this stage....and not really sure I would need them.

Someone mentioned that even with the lower seat, the issue is getting you leg over the pillion seat...this is true. It is even worse once the soft luggage is strapped on the pillion seat...I have to get up on the pegs to get my leg over

 

[dave hendy]

I am 5ft 8ins with a 29 inch leg measurement I had a 2005 and a 2007 1200GS both standard with standard seats I also test rode the LC for about 110 miles totally standard and didn't have any real issues with the bike being too tall. I had a Fazer 1000 before the 1st GS on which I had the seat lowered when I had gel inserts fitted, worse discussion I ever made, changed my knee position the bike was never as comfortable again

Dave

 

[Bendy toy]

I'm a similar height, with a bit longer legs but my hexhead GSA is a struggle with the standard seat. Ive eventually ended up with a Kahedo standard which is effectively the same as the GS seat. I found the standard GSA seat too soft, but a better leg length - floor reach - seat - footpegs compromise.

I like the seat/footpeg position of the GSA seat but its just that bit too much of a struggle to reach the floor. The standard GS seat is only 20mm lower and even that isn't as good on the knees but I can at least reach the floor. There is absolutely no way I can get both feet flat and no way that would be anything like comfortable to ride. I tried a Kahedo Low Low but for me the height was absolutely horrible on the knees, wrong handlebar height, everything.

With a GS seat I get my right foot is comfortably on the floor on ball of the foot. The left is on the footpeg. If the bike has to be paddled backwards, I get off and push (with side stand down). But I would on any large bike. Even with a low seat its all too easy to let it go.

I would say with the new LC (or an older GS) go as high as you can with the seat then take off the minimum to get an acceptable foot to floor reach. 99% of the time we have our feet on the pegs, so as long as we can get one foot down reasonably then no point suffering the bad posture and cramped legs caused by a low seat.

 

[The Hobbit]

You've definitely done the right thing. Once you buy a lowered bike, I'm not sure if it can be "raised", but it will always be a lowered bike when it comes to resale time. My local dealer has had a lowered Triple Black twin cam for over a month, and it's still for sale, so they aren't as desirable. I have a 31" inside leg, and am fine on the standard seat and the enduro seat (I have both) in the high position at the front, and low at the back.

Re your questions,
Q 1. If you ride all year round, get it done. If you just ride for fun, like I do, then Scotoiler 365 is great in the winter, as long as you have the time to rinse the bike off and dry it after every ride.
Q 2. I went for the BMW bags as they were designed for the panniers and expand/ contract. There are some aftermarket ones available now, that are probably half the price and just as good.



7 days will fly by, then you'll have your new toy, and stick some miles on. It won't be as fun as mine though, as I've got the fastest colour!

Not sure about lowerd bikes being less desirable. MY kowered TC went within a week at the dealers when I changed to the LC.

 

[stevie Allen]

Not sure about lowerd bikes being less desirable. MY kowered TC went within a week at the dealers when I changed to the LC.

My last lowered was in the shop 3 days. I gave it in on the Wednesday it was sold by the Saturday

 

[batman1]

I am 5ft 8ins with a 29 inch leg measurement I had a 2005 and a 2007 1200GS both standard with standard seats I also test rode the LC for about 110 miles totally standard and didn't have any real issues with the bike being too tall. I had a Fazer 1000 before the 1st GS on which I had the seat lowered when I had gel inserts fitted, worse discussion I ever made, changed my knee position the bike was never as comfortable again

Dave

Hi Dave,

The bike height one-up is never an issue, it's only when you are 2-up with full luggage on dodgy terrain as I found out in the Dolomites the week before we reached Austria, I was a bit new to the mountain passes, it was my first one, and we had to stop on a steep incline behind some stationary traffic at some road works on a mountain pass.
I'm still not sure just what happened but when I put my foot down there was nothing beneath it and the fully loaded Explorer started rolling backwards, I thought we were a gonna but I just managed to gather it up at the last minute saving a catastrophe.

I took extra care at any other stops to make sure that it never happened again...a scarey moment.

I intend to take the beema off-road school training in Wales to get the boss of the LC asap, and I already have a bikesafe police run track day at Cadwell on July 9th. Should just get it run in before then...I hope!

Anyone done the Wales off-road school?

 

[Appman]

Not sure about lowerd bikes being less desirable. MY kowered TC went within a week at the dealers when I changed to the LC.

Dealer told me second hand lowered were like the proverbial Rocking Horse leftovers, so market forces apply to pricing.

 

[Appman]

Hi Dave,

Anyone done the Wales off-road school?

Yep! Four years ago, best 2 riding days to that point, I even got a free Helo ride to Swansea!

Freaky accident in the last 15mins gave me a Quad Fracture and 21 weeks in a cast.

Give my.regards to Simon when you go.

XRays available upon request.

Worth every penny, I would just advise you take out some personal injury insurance as BMW small print will advise you they don't provide it and they don't even offer it - something I feel is an oversight on their part.

 

[Nutty]

Yep! Four years ago, best 2 riding days to that point, I even got a free Helo ride to Swansea!

Freaky accident in the last 15mins gave me a Quad Fracture and 21 weeks in a cast.

Give my.regards to Simon when you go.

XRays available upon request.

Worth every penny, I would just advise you take out some personal injury insurance as BMW small print will advise you they don't provide it and they don't even offer it - something I feel is an oversight on their part.

Sounds like scenic hill caught you out as well? I was there in 2011, had a couple of brilliant days riding, then half an hour before the end, did a superman on scenic hill and went head first into the rocks, snapping my wrist back on itself.

 

[batman1]

Sounds like scenic hill caught you out as well? I was there in 2011, had a couple of brilliant days riding, then half an hour before the end, did a superman on scenic hill and went head first into the rocks, snapping my wrist back on itself.

OUCH That hurts!

Your really selling it to me! LOL!

Question. Main Event Panniers lining bags! Any good??

 

[Appman]

Sounds like scenic hill caught you out as well? I was there in 2011, had a couple of brilliant days riding, then half an hour before the end, did a superman on scenic hill and went head first into the rocks, snapping my wrist back on itself.

I feel your pain! Still I can laugh about it now, come to think of it I did a lot of laughing on the Morphine at the time

 

[dave hendy]

OUCH That hurts!

Your really selling it to me! LOL!

Question. Main Event Panniers lining bags! Any good??

I still have my inner bags from my old 1200gs and they should fit just fine as they are basically the same but on the other side. Anyway they are fantastic, so if they haven't altered them get them, a bit expensive but well made and great to use!!

Going back to the seat height I found that we could use the bike in one setting down, ie in 1person and luggage for 2 people or possibly just 1person when 2up. This is because we are both quite small and don't weigh too much. This works fine on my K1300 and seemed fine on our test ride on the new GS.

Dave

 

[dave hendy]

Hi Dave,

The bike height one-up is never an issue, it's only when you are 2-up with full luggage on dodgy terrain as I found out in the Dolomites the week before we reached Austria, I was a bit new to the mountain passes, it was my first one, and we had to stop on a steep incline behind some stationary traffic at some road works on a mountain pass.
I'm still not sure just what happened but when I put my foot down there was nothing beneath it and the fully loaded Explorer started rolling backwards, I thought we were a gonna but I just managed to gather it up at the last minute saving a catastrophe.

I took extra care at any other stops to make sure that it never happened again...a scarey moment.

I intend to take the beema off-road school training in Wales to get the boss of the LC asap, and I already have a bikesafe police run track day at Cadwell on July 9th. Should just get it run in before then...I hope!

Anyone done the Wales off-road school?

Well on reflection and after reading all the posts it looks like I might be going back to a GS after 5 years on K1300R's and after talking to dealer will try a low seat as I also use an airhawk cushion adding to the height. Dealer will swop it for a standard at 1st service if I don't like it

Dave

 

[alp]

Well on reflection and after reading all the posts it looks like I might be going back to a GS after 5 years on K1300R's and after talking to dealer will try a low seat as I also use an airhawk cushion adding to the height. Dealer will swop it for a standard at 1st service if I don't like it

Dave

Wish I'd gone for the low seat and air hawk now. Loaded up you need good foot contact with the ground.

 

[dave hendy]

Ye I didn't have the airhawk when I had my GS's, forgot it would add to the height

 

[Nutty]

Well on reflection and after reading all the posts it looks like I might be going back to a GS after 5 years on K1300R's and after talking to dealer will try a low seat as I also use an airhawk cushion adding to the height. Dealer will swop it for a standard at 1st service if I don't like it

Dave

You know it makes sense