Lowering a 12GSA, help required.

[Timpo]

Ok folks, my new, well 90 odd mile on the clock, 12GSA has been returned by a BMW dealership with another front brake master cylinder fitted.
A road test has confirmed the repair and the brakes are now serviceable.
Now the next job I need to weigh-up is, being 5'8" with an inside leg of 31', the bike is a little on the tall side.
I have no doubt that some of you have modified your machines using various methods to enable the seat height to be better suited to your personal requirements.
The route I wish to take is to mod the suspension, either just the spring or the whole shock front and rear.
Ideally a reduction of 1 to 1.5 inches would just about do me so if you can please give me any tips or advice, it will be gratefully recieved.
Part numbers, prices and product outlet of any purchases will be a bonus to me.
Thanks.
Timpo.

 

[Davel]

Stilletos?

 

[chasr]

I can't help you on the suspension route, but my vertically challenged next-door-neighbour had some success with having the seat modded. The benefit came from taking some padding out of the sides rather than lowering the height. He's about your height and, with fully soft suspension, was able to place the balls of his feet down both sides.

Having said all that, he was unhappy with the height/size/weight of the GSA and is going back to the standard 1200GS.

 

[Wizard]

Standard height Ohlins from a 1200 GS. Fit straight in and vastly improve the ride

 

[Deadskin]

Standard 1200GS shocks and any low seat
no probs with side or center stands

 

[too loud man]

I am 5` 10" with a 31" inside leg, and with the seat on low setting and suspension on standard settings ie as factory, I can put the balls of my feet down both sides when wearing my HG toureg boots and both feet just about flat if I really stretch for it with my A-star vectors on. I was very unsure when I first collected it from Ocean to the point of querying wether the seat was on the upper notch! as it was definitely higher than my 1150GSA. After a 1000 miles it softened up considerably and the suspension settled a bit. My state of mind is such now that I obviously look out for the dodgy camber when stopping and I find myself continuously planning ahead to avoid stopping so often.
Also a side stand foot from NippyNormans to lessen the lean makes all the difference when heaving it upright
You may just want to give it a few more miles until you shell out for new suspension or canibalise the seat
Good luck with your new steed

Mark

 

[Timpo]

Ohlins...

...to fit a R1200GS, £350 front, £436 rear. Units listed had 2004 model, have they changed since? I'll make a phone call tomorrow.
Both these units have adjustable spring platforms so making a height change feasible.
Would be nice to find a pair of standard BMW R1200GS shocks to try. I'll take a scoop around some bike breakers sites.
Thanks for the tips and any further pointers would be great. Cheers, Timpo.

 

[ScottyKM]

I'm 5'7 ish with a 29 inside leg.

got the low seat on and the only drama i have had was dropping it off road last wed, and that was nowt to do with seat height!!

 

[birdseye]

As I understand it, the main "engineering" difference between ord and adv is the suspension height - the rest is largely cosmetics. If so, why buy the bike thats too tall for you and end up reducing suspension height?

Anyway, there was a new bike with reduced height suspension in Rydale Cardiff I believe so they might know who does the conversions.

 

[MATKAT]

UK Suspension

speak to UK Suspension in Keighley. tel 01535 662100.
They set up bikes using, Ohlins, Technoflex, White Power and Wilbers. Extremely knowledgable with engineering facilities. They sorted my 1200 brilliantly (I have a 28" inside leg) I went the Technoflex option which is more expensive than Ohlins. Regardless,they all use the same springs and cases from the same manufacturers, but the technoflex are hand assembled.
Well worth a call
If you only lower the shocks (for example fit standard 1200) you will find it very difficult to get onto centre stand unladen, let alone loaded. You will also have mega problems with the side stand especially when two up. because you have short legs when you try to put the side stand down you will often have to lean the bike away (unless ground dead flat) to the offside to get the side stand down and this will be difficult with short legs...............same when you get on and try to put side stand up. Just lowering the suspension will give you all these extra problems, if you lower it to much you will need a 1200GS centre stand and either a 1200GS side stand and or cut the existing one !!
Obviously you are planning mega trips to need an Adv. and its extra fuel capacity, but I cant help thinking if it gives you so much trouble standover wise, why didnt you buy a standard 1200 and then fit tank bars, engine bars etc and customize to your own spec'
Other option is do the low seat thing, then go to Timpsons and for £39.95 they will put about 15mm thick soles and heels onto your existing boots, i used to do that with my Pan European

 

[Wizard]

If you only lower the shocks (for example fit standard 1200) you will find it very difficult to get onto centre stand unladen, let alone loaded. snip

Er, as has already been said in this thread, no. The re-engineered stands on the Adv are easier to use with a fully loaded, lowered bike than the standard ones ever were on an 05 GS. There are no issues with having to lean the bike in the other direction unless on very sharp camber, provided that teh suspension is properly setup for a pillion/luggage. He's also perfectly entitled to buy whatever bike he wants, regardless of it's factory seat height.

 

[GSAdvMelbourne]

Sorry if this appears rude, but please could explain the logic behind buying a bike which is too big for you? Why not just buy a standard GS? Seeing a small man on a lowered GS looks ridiculous IMHO.

 

[birdseye]

He's also perfectly entitled to buy whatever bike he wants, regardless of it's factory seat height.

No surrender!

Whoever said he wasnt. He can buy a bike thats too big to ever use if he wants. The question is "why".

 

[Septic]

Let the tyres down

 

[MATKAT]

There are no issues with having to lean the bike in the other direction unless on very sharp camber, provided that teh suspension is properly setup for a pillion/luggage.

Wizard, with all due respect your inside leg is probably about 2-3" longer than mine !!!
Trust me that on a correctly set up bike fully loaded and 2 up, there is an issue getting the side stand out on all but the flatest surface. I believe I have become a past master over the years in finding a suitable place to stop, put side stand down or foot. having learned with a Pan (not clever to have it fall over at zero speeds due to plastic bits) which is much heavier. At least when the GS falls over there is no damage and its easy to pick up, and i'm always having to pick mine off as it has a tendancy to go off road.
You may be right as regards centre stand etc but as I do a lot of two up riding fully loaded I feel qualified to pass my findings. When ridden solo there are no issues whatsoever, indeed the stability is increased dramatically and as long as you can get a tip toe down its easy to hold up. hence i jack up the suspension when i'm solo, and then no problems with side stands or anything else.
Fortunately Sue is the 'perfect' pillion and as such between us we have found ways to overcome all sorts of little issues over zero speed stability particularly when stopped and getting on and off.
And yes, of course everyone has the right to buy what bike they like, but this is UKGSER so we all take ***s~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

5ft 5in with a 29 inside leg on a GSA with a GS1200 low seat fitted = balls of both feet flat on the ground

Did I mention that I'm a fat bastard

 

[Captain Pugwash]

Just don't unstrap it from the crate when new ?


Looks pretty low :

 

[Dabba]

5' 8" and 31" leg (but then I usually need a turn up). After much deliberation and deciding to have some padding taken out of the oe seat, I then decided to try it untouched for a while. After 200 miles I think I'm now happy with it as it is, so I don't need to mess. I had tried it with the standard GS seat (not a low one) on its low setting and that made it the same as my old 1150 (860mm) but hesitated at the prospect of spending more money. I now like being higher up (having spent so much time as a shortarse), so long as you can get a tiptoe down to start with you can slide over the rest of the way after.

 

[Wizard]

Wizard, with all due respect your inside leg is probably about 2-3" longer than mine !!!

One and a bit

Trust me that on a correctly set up bike fully loaded and 2 up, there is an issue getting the side stand out on all but the flatest surface. I believe I have become a past master over the years in finding a suitable place to stop, put side stand down or foot. having learned with a Pan (not clever to have it fall over at zero speeds due to plastic bits) which is much heavier. At least when the GS falls over there is no damage and its easy to pick up, and i'm always having to pick mine off as it has a tendancy to go off road.

Fully loaded, somewhat..... er...... large *ahem* pillion, no issues. As mentioned previously, I have Ohlins shocks.

You may be right as regards centre stand etc but as I do a lot of two up riding fully loaded I feel qualified to pass my findings. When ridden solo there are no issues whatsoever, indeed the stability is increased dramatically and as long as you can get a tip toe down its easy to hold up. hence i jack up the suspension when i'm solo, and then no problems with side stands or anything else.
Fortunately Sue is the 'perfect' pillion and as such between us we have found ways to overcome all sorts of little issues over zero speed stability particularly when stopped and getting on and off.

Nothing improves your bike positioning than having to lift 230Kg of the bugger if you get it wrong

And yes, of course everyone has the right to buy what bike they like, but this is UKGSER so we all take ***s~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Now that's just not the additude......and when have you ever known me to take the pee?

 

[Deadskin]

If you only lower the shocks (for example fit standard 1200) you will find it very difficult to get onto centre stand unladen, let alone loaded. You will also have mega problems with the side stand especially when two up. because you have short legs when you try to put the side stand down you will often have to lean the bike away (unless ground dead flat) to the offside to get the side stand down and this will be difficult with short legs...............same when you get on and try to put side stand up. Just lowering the suspension will give you all these extra problems, if you lower it to much you will need a 1200GS centre stand and either a 1200GS side stand and or cut the existing one !!

Sorry Dood
There is under 20mm difference between the basic and adv shocks
hardly noticeable in the stand department