lowering options?
- Thread starter pip001
- Start date
depends on your size, I am short with a 29 inch inside leg, and have tried a shorter rear wilbers shock, but reverted back to normal length, as I now have alloys fitted,
so either get a pair of Daytona M star boots
change to alloys
or
lower shocks
I may sell my rear wilbers that is 30mm lower than standard
so either get a pair of Daytona M star boots
change to alloys
or
lower shocks
I may sell my rear wilbers that is 30mm lower than standard
motobiker
Registered user
Lowest cost options would be a lowered seat.. I believe BMW supplied one.
other than that.. the Sargent seat ( a favourite) is 1" lower than standard.. also Touratech supply various seats that are lower... Or you could take your original seat and send it off to one of the many seat refinishers.. Like Tony Archer in Huddersfield to have it remade to suit you.
couple that with bar risers.. a set that will move the bars closer to you.. less stretch.. so a more upright riding position - this can help.
after that it starts to get expensive.. replacing shock absorbers/wheels and lowering the whole bike. (rather than yourself ~ if that makes sense.)
other than that.. the Sargent seat ( a favourite) is 1" lower than standard.. also Touratech supply various seats that are lower... Or you could take your original seat and send it off to one of the many seat refinishers.. Like Tony Archer in Huddersfield to have it remade to suit you.
couple that with bar risers.. a set that will move the bars closer to you.. less stretch.. so a more upright riding position - this can help.
after that it starts to get expensive.. replacing shock absorbers/wheels and lowering the whole bike. (rather than yourself ~ if that makes sense.)
sockpuppet
Registered user
Just get some platform shoes.
Ohlins.
Ohlins also do their shock absorbers in a shorter length for the standard 1150. I know there not cheap but many GS'ers end up replacing the suspension anyway and if your bike has good units on then you can always sell them to offset the cost.
If your getting Ohlins go through the official suppliers (Harris) and they will supply the rear unit with spring and damping set-up to suit your purpose - ie 2-up with luggage based on riders weights etc - at no extra cost.
Cheers.....................Grizzly
Ohlins also do their shock absorbers in a shorter length for the standard 1150. I know there not cheap but many GS'ers end up replacing the suspension anyway and if your bike has good units on then you can always sell them to offset the cost.
If your getting Ohlins go through the official suppliers (Harris) and they will supply the rear unit with spring and damping set-up to suit your purpose - ie 2-up with luggage based on riders weights etc - at no extra cost.
Cheers.....................Grizzly
I have 30" inside leg but also damaged knees so low seats don't suit me because they make my knees bend more - I have the seat in the high position for this reason and to be honest the low position feels silly anyway, putting you 'in' the bike rather than on it.
I can get by with the standard suspension height but I ride two-up every day into London so for ease of getting the bike through traffic I have 40mm lower Wilbers front and back. I don't really think they lower the bike the full 40mm they claim but it's low enough and both comfort and handling are improved greatly. Highly recommended.
I can get by with the standard suspension height but I ride two-up every day into London so for ease of getting the bike through traffic I have 40mm lower Wilbers front and back. I don't really think they lower the bike the full 40mm they claim but it's low enough and both comfort and handling are improved greatly. Highly recommended.
hank
Registered user
You could try fitting the longer torque arm from an R1150R to lower the rear, at about £25 for a used one it 's worth a try. Talk to the guys at Motorworks about this.
Hank.
Hank.
With Wilbers the lowest you can go is 40mm reduction in height. But they may be able to custom-build even shorter shocks I think you'd run into issues with ground clearance, possibly shaft angle etc and of course you'd have to have significantly reduced wheel travel. If you want to go lower than 40mm dare I suggest an R1150R instead of a GS?
Darknightstar
Guest
Newbie tosser (still practising
) - finding the collective knowledge here really helpful. Bought an 05 1150Adv, love it but find the lowered seat really hard after about an hour! Sourced an excellent 'home-adapted' comfort 'king/queen' style seat off ebay, is really comfy but puts me too high to relax when pulling up to junctions 
so now considering lower suspension. Wilburs sound a likely option (any cheaper than the astronomical Ohlins?). Forgive me for being technically incompetent, but does this cause any issue with the front forks? Will they compress further if lower shock used, or need reduced oil or anything more serious?All sensible advice welcome - inc where to get these shocks at a reasonable price - Ta!
The forks will need no attention as a result of fitting lower shocks - the oil in them is purely for lubrication, not for damping.
I will be selling my 40mm lowered Wilbers soon, having been forced to accept on a recent long trip that a GS is incompatible with my back problems. If you're interested send me a PM and I'll get back to you once I've decided for sure. But remember they're 40mm lower than a standard bike which makes them what, 60mm lower than an Adventure? Quite a significant drop. So you'd need side and centre stands from a standard GS.
If you want new Wilbers to your spec then go to Every Accessory (http://www.everyaccessory.co.uk/) and quote this site - they'll give you a 10% discount.
I will be selling my 40mm lowered Wilbers soon, having been forced to accept on a recent long trip that a GS is incompatible with my back problems. If you're interested send me a PM and I'll get back to you once I've decided for sure. But remember they're 40mm lower than a standard bike which makes them what, 60mm lower than an Adventure? Quite a significant drop. So you'd need side and centre stands from a standard GS.
If you want new Wilbers to your spec then go to Every Accessory (http://www.everyaccessory.co.uk/) and quote this site - they'll give you a 10% discount.
motobiker
Registered user
Newbie tosser (still practising
All sensible advice welcome - inc where to get these shocks at a reasonable price - Ta!
If the lowered seat you had was fine.. apart from getting painfull after a few hours. then its much simpler to keep with a lowered seat.. only have it remade - lower shouldn't mean less comfy. Not with the higher quality foams the seat specialists use. To my mind thats a far cheaper and more sensible approach than lowering an ADV... by the time you've lowered it, you might as well have bought an ordinary 1150.
In fact I would suggest that lowering the suspension should be the absolute last resort.
ahebron
Registered user
Surely the simplest answer is to get a pillion with long legs and train them to put their feet down
Should make traffic light drag racing a whole lot of fun.
Adrian
Should make traffic light drag racing a whole lot of fun.
Adrian
Darknightstar
Guest
Cheers Sproggy, yeah 60mm would be a long way, probably too far. I reckon I need to gain about 20-25mm to feel confident. I'll have a look at Every Accessory as one option and investigate motobiker's suggestion of remaking the seat too - that would certainly be cheaper!
I had considered switching to a standard GS but can't bring myself to part with the Adv as its in brilliant condition - love the black engine & anodized rims too.
I had considered switching to a standard GS but can't bring myself to part with the Adv as its in brilliant condition - love the black engine & anodized rims too.
The Sea Dog
Registered user
Cheers Sproggy, yeah 60mm would be a long way, probably too far. I reckon I need to gain about 20-25mm to feel confident. I'll have a look at Every Accessory as one option and investigate motobiker's suggestion of remaking the seat too - that would certainly be cheaper!
I had considered switching to a standard GS but can't bring myself to part with the Adv as its in brilliant condition - love the black engine & anodized rims too.
You've been suggested an easy solution already, the Daytona boots that have a rise inside them without looking like it outside, from memory it's around 25mm at the heel/instep falling to just under 10mm at the toe. My friend has the ladies version and it's made a big difference to her confidence handling her bike at standstill and slow speed.
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