Lowering a GSA1150

[Captain Black]

If I go for new front /rear shocks will it be possible to lower the bike on them at the time of fitting, I'm deffo going to replace the OE stuff in the spring time with either nitron, hyper pro or Wilbers not sure which yet

I'd like to bring the bike down a bit but without ruining the ride. Is it possible and what's reasonable to expect if so ?

 

[oblertone]

Perfectly possible ...

... however you might loose the use of the centre stand, and require a GS sidestand. Speggo go of this parish has run such a bike for years; in fact I think his is actually lower than a standard GS

 

[Captain Black]

... however you might loose the use of the centre stand, and require a GS sidestand. Speggo go of this parish has run such a bike for years; in fact I think his is actually lower than a standard GS

Oh ok thanks.

I'm not talking about making huge changes, I was just wondering what's possible within the existing range of adjustment. Ie without chopping stands etc.

 

[Uncle Rob]

done mine years ago,fitted ohlins from a standard 1150 which lower the bike by app 1 inch,you can keep the main stand but its difficult to haul up on to it when loaded up and the side stands too long when the camber is against you.

 

[Fanum]

... however you might loose the use of the centre stand, and require a GS sidestand. Speggo go of this parish has run such a bike for years; in fact I think his is actually lower than a standard GS

Which he got wiped out on in Morocco. several times, because he'd fucked around with the suspension height too much. (And yes, pics to prove)

Lower the saddle height, tweak its comfort with gel inserts or by wearing chamois knickers.......or go as far down as vanilla GS height if you're not man enough to handle the full strength bike

It will look silly though, trust me

If you have to go lower than that, you're on the wrong bike, period....swallow your pride and get one of those rather nice 800 GSA thingies, or honda Melody


Or just cowboy up

 

[stainy]

Well for what it's worth, I did exactly that, as in I removed the oe shocks and with the help of Micky ordered a set of Wilber's , but I ordered the 1150 length as opposed to the adventure length lowering the bike by 25 mm at the shock pivot point, the bikes sits and handles beautifully, the only changes I had to do was as above and that was replace the centre stand with the 1150 one, do it you won't regret it and if you fancy a run out you can have a ride on mine to try before you buy.

 

[alanbmwgs]

Lower

Just dig out your old seventies platform boots Captain !!!!

 

[Sunny Jim]

Put online from my 1150 on the GSA in 2005, also put the centre and side stand from an 1150 on for aforementioned reasons 45,000 miles without any problem whatsoever.

 

[Fanum]

Just dig out your old seventies platform boots Captain !!!!

Quite seriously, hard soled boots are a great idea......they allow a projection of rigid force through the toes which would otherwise bend.


I reckon decent hard soled MX type boots are worth an inch and a half of height

 

[Captain Black]

Quite seriously, hard soled boots are a great idea......they allow a projection of rigid force through the toes which would otherwise bend.


I reckon decent hard soled MX type boots are worth an inch and a half of height

Im not a fecking midget you know...

I can flat foot one side when I'm loaded. I just want to know what's possible in terms of the possible adjustment down on say Wilburs, or Nitron or Hyper Pro ? Or is it not possible on a standard GSA set up ?

I don't want to put standard 1150 shocks on or mess with the stands really.

 

[alanbmwgs]

Im not a fecking midget you know...

.

Ok Grumpy......

 

[Fanum]

I don't want to put standard 1150 shocks on or mess with the stands really.

Well unless you want to ride with a soggy bottom (and I'm fairly confident in saying that you don't) Then you don't have much shuffle room.

The standard GSA sidestand is often considered to be short by those who can't plan their stops properly, hence the large market in thick sidestand pads, so you do have an inch or so that you can lose by speccing up a shorter shock......the centre stand though, particularly when laden, you don't really have much room for lowering using the standard one, unless again, you want to bolt on a cm or so of suitable material.

Short answer then (sorry, no pun intended) is that yes, you can lower the standard height of a GSA with a well chosen Wilburs etc, but you will inevitably suffer for it on occasion when deploying either of the stands, if un-modified accordingly.

 

[Captain Black]

Well unless you want to ride with a soggy bottom (and I'm fairly confident in saying that you don't) Then you don't have much shuffle room.

The standard GSA sidestand is often considered to be short by those who can't plan their stops properly, hence the large market in thick sidestand pads, so you do have an inch or so that you can lose by speccing up a shorter shock......the centre stand though, particularly when laden, you don't really have much room for lowering using the standard one, unless again, you want to bolt on a cm or so of suitable material.

Short answer then (sorry, no pun intended) is that yes, you can lower the standard height of a GSA with a well chosen Wilburs etc, but you will inevitably suffer for it on occasion when deploying either of the stands, if un-modified accordingly.

Ok thanks Fanum. I might go Wilbers cos they offer a 5 year warranty.

 

[MattW]

Hyperpro do adjustable ride height as option when you spec up a shock. Should let you play around without having to fix your choice at a certain height... No idea what the range of adjustment is but an email to Hyperpro will tell you.

 

[nud1e]

From Motorworks get
"Hyperpro combi lowering spring kit | HYA00037
Fits R1150GS Adventure
Lowers bike by 30mm
Replacing the springs on your original BMW shocks with these progressive springs will greatly improve the suspension."

Lowering the bike by 30mm may not seem much but it does make a significant change. Let's me plant both feet on mu GS.

 

[Steptoe]

The ADV sidestand is only half an inch longer than the standard GS sidestand, and seeing as the standard sidestand is too short don't bother changing it..

 

[Captain Black]

From Motorworks get
"Hyperpro combi lowering spring kit | HYA00037
Fits R1150GS Adventure
Lowers bike by 30mm
Replacing the springs on your original BMW shocks with these progressive springs will greatly improve the suspension."

Lowering the bike by 30mm may not seem much but it does make a significant change. Let's me plant both feet on mu GS.

Thanks, I might go down this road for my all year round GSA, as long as it doesn't render the stands useless.

 

[Captain Black]

The ADV sidestand is only half an inch longer than the standard GS sidestand, and seeing as the standard sidestand is too short don't bother changing it..

I'm going o get one of those club foot things for the side stand so it makes it easier to climb aboard. Always thought they all lean over too much on the side stands.