Seat height comparison

[Bryn]

Seat height questions

I've got an 03 ADV with low seat option....

With 29" inside leg can get both balls of feet on the ground....

Is the Standard 1200 with seat on low any lower than my bike described above?

1200 ADV .. is that lower than the 1150 Adventure as standard?

thanks awfully

 

[Wapping]

According to BuMW's website:

1200 GS (08 model)

Seat height, unladen weight 850 / 870 mm

Inner leg curve, unladen weight 1,890 / 1,940 mm

1200 GSA (08 model)

Seat height, unladen weight 890 / 910 mm

Inner leg curve, unladen weight 1,960 / 2,000 mm


So:

(a) The lower seat hight on the vanilla bike is 40mm lower than the proper man's bike.

(b) The upper seat hight is 40 mm difference.

(c) The inner leg curve, is 70 mm and 60 mm difference.


I think the inner leg curve cannot be ignored, as that's what's pushing your legs apart and away from terra firma. Indeed the vanilla seat could be much lower but a lot wider and you balls might never touch the ground.


From a Google, the 1150 Adventure seat hight is 840 mm.

 

[sockpuppet]

1200 ADV .. is that lower than the 1150 Adventure as standard?

Yes. I can get both feet flat on the floor with a 1200gsa but not with my 1150gsa.

 

[flash of the gap]

shortarse

 

[brianmaslen]

As a matter of interest what differnce does it make if you put a 1200 GS seat on a GSA, or indeed the GS low seat on a GSA? To me the GS seats look lower, I presume they can be swopped?

 

[Bub]

Brian

yes, the seats can be swopped... Gs to GSA.. ( any years)

I'd say..take a GSA 1200 out for a test ride... and ask for a lower seat from the dealers.... they shoukld have one in stock.
See what it feels like. I rode my 08 GSA with stock seat and it was fine...but I knew it would be better for me (32inch inside leg...ish) with a lower seat.
Bike bought, lower seat fitted..... n its ACE ( I chose a kahedo sports seat coz I liked them)... but low GS seat will fit....in fact...ALL seats for GS/GSA will fit all models of whatever year.

Ride the bike... if ya like it..buy it.

Ride safe

Bub

 

[Bryn]

Thanks for all the answers

 

[Alex B]

I'd endorse that too. With my 1150GSA I could struggle to get feet on the ground and ended up having a serious "Melvyn Hunter" resculpt. But with the GSA1200 I can get the feet on the ground with the original seat. I think that the GSA1200 seat is slightly "foamier" and softer, so it gives a little more allowing the thighs to settle in a bit more than the 1150GSA and it's that "flex" that allows your feet to go down easier.

One small problem with seat shortening is that the angle between your hip > knee > ankle becomes more acute because it's all folding in a tad more. OK for short-to-medium distances but over longer, it can start an ache in the hip and knee. So, then you have to fix it by getting lower footpegs and adjusting the gearstick. Ergonomics .... it's all ergonomics.

Anyone here also noticed that with the GSA1200 handlebar height you tend to initially feel that you're being pitched slightly forward to the bars ? I tend to try to sit a bit more upright and stretch my arms more to compensate. I am not sure bar raisers would work because the problem then is that you might be too far off the bars (and it's windier !). Long bodies and shorter legs are great for Italian bikes but not so good for the Teutonic BMs.