One for the tech guru's - GS with low frame / short frame??

Santa-2512

Santa-2512

Omnipotent one
UKGSer Subscriber
Joined
Aug 3, 2016
Messages
13,570
Reaction score
3,174
Location
North Pole
I popped into my local(ish) dealer today Bahnstormers to see what they had in, in the way of SH machines..


We had a chat about what options were available as i'm a hobbit.

I tried a standard r1200 no real problem toes down,

We than swapped the seat on a GS for a low version / standard bike

I could get one foot flat, happily, and balls of the feet if i needed to get both down.

The sales guy said standard frame / lowerd seat would work as one option

But the best thing would be a lowered frame / suspension and lowered seat.

From what i understood, its a standard frame, but the suspension is set up lower (spring length?)

Question is what is the reduction?? if its just a spring change and seat,

I can get a set of hyperpro lowering springs, and do it myself.

Any of the more thech people out there know how much the reduction is?

I know Hyperpro do 30mm reduction springs (and 25mm but there for the RT??)

Would that be enough?

Mart
 
I have a GSA that I can get one foot flat with the other on the footrest the balls of both feet. TBH the one foot method works for me. Two wheels one leg = tripod. It's a heavy bike so while having both feet down flat feels safer, the reality is that any lean approaching the side stand angle means it's going down anyway. Trying to save it will just hurt for a lot longer than the wallet damage of a scratched rocker cover.

I tried a Low Low Kahedo/Touratech seat. It was comfortable but the handlebars felt like ape hangers. I got about a mile down the road down and went back home for the standard height GS seat (later replaced with a Kahedo standard height).

AFAIK the frames are all the same but GS has shorter shocks than GSA and even shorter are available to order. Low seats are also available but with the issues I encountered. I found the standard OEM GS seat had a bump at the back that dug into my coccyx - hence the swap to Kahedo. The OEM low seat (minimal padding) would be torture after a few miles.
 
Bendy toy said:
I have a GSA that I can get one foot flat with the other on the footrest the balls of both feet. TBH the one foot method works for me. Two wheels one leg = tripod. It's a heavy bike so while having both feet down flat feels safer, the reality is that any lean approaching the side stand angle means it's going down anyway. Trying to save it will just hurt for a lot longer than the wallet damage of a scratched rocker cover.

AFAIK the frames are all the same but GS has shorter shocks than GSA and even shorter are available to order.
Click to expand...

Indeed, but having all the weight on the one tripod leg (ie mine) isn't ideal.

Both feet flat allows for some additional stability, and reduces the camber issue!

I know its a lower shock, but its how much lower ??

mart
 
Hi Mart, have you thought of thicker soled riding boots ? I'm like you I wanted both feet on the ground, and sorted out a pair of thick soled ones, along with the OEM low seat. Also Cymarc do some shims to lower the seat a bit, about £20 iirc. A combination of the 3 things did it for me. Best of luck. Someone will be along soon that can answer your questions about the low frame bikes....
 
The only time I have problems is when its parked on the left hand camber. I struggle haul it of the side stand and then it can get too far the other way. That's the only time I would want better foot contact on both sides.

Both feet on the floor compared on one down and one on a footrest does not feel more secure to me. The one foot down feels better because the leg NOT carrying less weight isn't potentially flapping about. The Bike will be leaning just a little towards the foot down and it works. In UK, I almost always stop right foot down

I was planning on getting thicker boot soles fitted but the boots were too old to justify the costs so never got it done. Three years later I still have the same boots and never got around to having them done.

Saying all that, the shocks are now well past their best especially at the back. I have a pair of non ESA shocks to fit when the originals are sent away for repair or replacement. So watch this space.
 
A factory lowered bike will have shorter shocks (Ohlins/Wilbers/Hyperpro et al all do lowered height shocks & springs) and will also have a reduced height centre stand. The standard sidestand should be fine on a lowered bike.
Probably an easier purchase (and more sellable later) if you get a standard bike and fit lowered seat / centre stand / shocks in the combination you desire.
 
if you fit lower shocks you will need to adapt sidestand and centre stand

if you can afford it get a proper lowered model it will save you money and grief in the end
 
Factory Lowered GS

I ride a 2012 factory lowered GS and if I remember correctly it is somewhere close to 40mm difference to the standard GS.
I am 5`8"" tall and being able to flat foot both feet gives me much more confidence in riding the bike.
I recently changed the shocks for Wilburs and John at Revs suspension knew exactly what type to supply for the bike
At the end of the day it all about personal taste and where you want to spend your hard earned cash.
Paul
 
I'm hoping for a set of Wilbers for my next birthday. But who knows which next birthday that will be. They really are very good.
 
Bendy toy said:
The only time I have problems is when its parked on the left hand camber. I struggle haul it of the side stand and then it can get too far the other way. That's the only time I would want better foot contact on both sides.

Both feet on the floor compared on one down and one on a footrest does not feel more secure to me. The one foot down feels better because the leg NOT carrying less weight isn't potentially flapping about. The Bike will be leaning just a little towards the foot down and it works. In UK, I almost always stop right foot down

I was planning on getting thicker boot soles fitted but the boots were too old to justify the costs so never got it done. Three years later I still have the same boots and never got around to having them done.

Saying all that, the shocks are now well past their best especially at the back. I have a pair of non ESA shocks to fit when the originals are sent away for repair or replacement. So watch this space.
Click to expand...

I know where your comming from :) i tried another bike today, its a bit of fun geting it off the centre stand lol. but i can get my leg over with a bit of thought and leverage to get the bike up :)

Funny enough with my lh foot down, the bike seems to feel not upright / centered,, but with my Rh foot down the bike felt centered and level.

As you say its a taste thing, the only reason of having both feet down, it that it removes the flapping if i have to swap or check gear etc

Thicker boots as you say ;) i will put a lower seat on, that will help too

Mart
 
DrFarkoff said:
if you fit lower shocks you will need to adapt sidestand and centre stand
Click to expand...

Not necessarily. I have a shorter Ohlins on the front (30mm drop) and a Hyperpro lowering spring on the standard shock on the back (also 30mm drop) and the standard centre stand is still perfectly usable. Takes a little more effort, but nothing too extreme. The sidestand was too short anyway ('07 model) so actually works better with the lowered suspension as the bike doesn't lean at a crazy angle.

BTW I know that's a strange combo but (a) it works and (b) I'm waiting for a used lowered rear Ohlins/Wilbers/Nitron or similar shock to come up for sale at a sensible price. The Hyperpro spring is a perfectly acceptable stop-gap.
 
my mate Jimmy got a factory lowered 60plate 35 anniversary 1200 for sale, non abs, wire wheels around 15k up it i think,

Its got the low seat aswell, like sitting on the floor for me:eek:
 
BMW R1200GS Genuine Factory Low 2012. See the Bikes for Sale Section.

Hi everyone,
I've listed my BMW R1200GS genuine factory low for sale in the bike section.
The seat height is 790mm.
Kind Regards,
Jan
 
If you're interested in the M star's Add them to your basket but don't complete, you'll then get an email offering you aa 10% discount:beerjug:
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

ArwenX7
What newish low/light GS for the vertically challenged?
2
Replies
25
Views
6,799
Ash
Ash


Back
Top Bottom