R1200gs in a Vito - height question

[fraserwaters]

I'm off to collect my first big GS on Friday a 2012 1200 .
I was wondering if anyone could measure the height of a GS minus screen and mirrors, to see if it will fit in my van - it's a posh one with a headlining - as I've only got 47" of clearance.
If not it's going in the trailer.
Cheers.

And yes I'm obsessing already

 

[norbsa99]

I'm off to collect my first big GS on Friday a 2012 1200 .
I was wondering if anyone could measure the height of a GS minus screen and mirrors, to see if it will fit in my van - it's a posh one with a headlining - as I've only got 47" of clearance.
If not it's going in the trailer.
Cheers.

And yes I'm obsessing already

Hi fraserwaters,

I have just measured the height from the ground to the next highest point on my 2012 R1200 GS (ignoring the mirrors and screen) which is the top of instrument pod and its 49" with the bike in a vertical position and front wheel on the ground. Obviously any compression of the front forks would help reducing this dimension including leaning the bike over with assistance during loading to get it in your van and securing it for transportation on the side stand.

My bike is a standard GS and not the adventure GSA.

Its probably a good idea to receive further measurements from the actual bike you are going to transport if possible.

The R1200 GS twin cam is a great bike to ride and own.

Norbsa99

 

[Guru Gora]

Taking the screen and mirrors off is a 10 min job.

That’ll save you some

 

[fraserwaters]

Hi fraserwaters,

I have just measured the height from the ground to the next highest point on my 2012 R1200 GS (ignoring the mirrors and screen) which is the top of instrument pod and its 49" with the bike in a vertical position and front wheel on the ground. Obviously any compression of the front forks would help reducing this dimension including leaning the bike over with assistance during loading to get it in your van and securing it for transportation on the side stand.

My bike is a standard GS and not the adventure GSA.

Its probably a good idea to receive further measurements from the actual bike you are going to transport if possible.

The R1200 GS twin cam is a great bike to ride and own.

Norbsa99

Thank you that's really useful.

I suppose airing down the front tyre would help too.

The bike has ESA so I can put it in comfort as well.

Looking forward to getting the bike and putting some miles on it.

 

[Lor Enzo]

Good luck and let us know how you got on with the bike on the van.
What are you using to tie it down etc?

 

[er-minio]

You can get away with strapping down just the front.
I've taken the GSA in a Transit van a few times. Normally against the wall and then strap it to the front corner hook, compress the front suspension a tiny bit. Don't squish it.

The back strap is to avoid it moving around too much, but in a pinch you can without.

For height-reference: 2007 GSA in a LWB Transit van with the high roof. Plenty of space.

 

[fraserwaters]

Good luck and let us know how you got on with the bike on the van.
What are you using to tie it down etc?

Thanks.
I've decided to take the trailer, the Vito headliner is too low in my version. Plus my trailer is a twin axle with its own brakes.

To tie it in I'll use 2 straps front and rear attached at the bars and the footpeg mounts with the front wheel hard up against the trailer bulkhead.

Thats the plan anyway

 

[er-minio]

Enjoy the new bike!

 

[Lor Enzo]

Great stuff! I also have a 2012 1200,.it's a great.bike!
Enjoy the new bike and new bike day!

 

[Slipperyeel]

Thank you that's really useful.

I suppose airing down the front tyre would help too.

The bike has ESA so I can put it in comfort as well.

Looking forward to getting the bike and putting some miles on it.

'comfort' setting will do nothing ref the height . The only thing ASA can offer is to put it onto x1 helmet (as opposed to x1 helmet+ suitcase or X2 helmets...).

Comfort/normal/sport are only damping settings (if the shocks don't need a rebuild, which I suspect the might, then you'll notice quite a difference with each of these damping settings

Enjoy! They are a great version of this model

ps. Get the shocks serviced. It'll transform the bike!

 

[Lor Enzo]

I disagree as my 2012 with ESA moves up and down, noticeably lower at the front when in comfort mode...

 

[botus]

thats more preload modes, rather than suspension comfort / sport - which is just damping

a GSA of that vintage with optional ESA should get lots - I forget

std / plus suit case / with passenger / passenger plus suit case / and then hills and mountains

fiddle enough and its 2" different - but you have to get the bike up and in and not wreck it - so I'd go trailer

 

[Lor Enzo]

Maybe I'm getting confused, but it feels like it changes preload and damping. I will have a look next time and report back if I remember.

 

[botus]

well if the preload mode is drastically different to another it might well tweak its damping to something usable
but thats not the same as the change re sport comfort etc.

 

[Slipperyeel]

I disagree as my 2012 with ESA moves up and down, noticeably lower at the front when in comfort mode...

What? There's something not right then.
Unless maybe you're err, proper proper tosser sized .

 

[Lor Enzo]

Not a proper tosser 78kg. I checked quicky yesterday and I would need to measure the handlebars height as I'm not entirely sure but I can feel a bit of movement...meaning change in height... Or maybe it's just suggestion...or my ESA not working correctly.,

 

[botus]

I dropped mine on the floor doing U turn.... 9 months down the line I'm still wondering how it happened - after all I was still stood there and it was just magically on the floor - after a month contemplating - these things I believe caused it

1) nasty cold condition twin cam cough and splutter just off idle - killing the power just as I wanted it to hold its weight (likely)
2) it was in comfort (which is highly un-normal for me) - magically the front end just dived 3" snatching the handlebar out of my hand as the cough played out at exactly the same time (it wasn't even weight transfer as I was facing uphill)

 

[Lor Enzo]

Did you get hurt?
What about the bike?
Yes I found mine to also cough a bit when cold...

 

[botus]

it was supposed to be a simple right U turn to go back down the hill - I thought I was 100% fine as I was just standing there with a bike between my legs.... but a split second later as the right rear corner of the topbox hit the ground ! the left cyl pulled my leg off the ground and I fell backwards (down the hill) smashing a few ribs below my right shoulder with my head falling around 8 ft with the effect of the hill - when a millisecond earlier I had no idea it was going to happen

 

[er-minio]

Not a proper tosser 78kg

Can someone please ban Lorenzo from this forum?