Seat Height, Foot Down Stabililty and ESA Settings

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developer

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2018 GSA with Dynamic ESA.

I've seen this subject scooped up in other threads, but thought I'd add my view, for clarity.

My standard height (with seat set low) GSA was a bit tricky to work with, come foot down/stopping time, as it's a bit tall for my 5' 11 1/2" frame, taking the enjoyment away from my rides.

I've set the dynamic ESA to Minimum (from Auto) and now all is well - it's a big enough difference to make the bike feel like the lowered version - and I feel much happier as potential stops approach.

I'd read about the handling being affected, but it's marginal, and a much lesser evil than feeling like you're going to drop the bike.

I note the comment in the manual "Min - Minimum spring preload (recommended for better ground accessibility)" - says it all really :thumb.

Hope this helps.
 
developer said:
2018 GSA with Dynamic ESA.

I've seen this subject scooped up in other threads, but thought I'd add my view, for clarity.

My standard height (with seat set low) GSA was a bit tricky to work with, come foot down/stopping time, as it's a bit tall for my 5' 11 1/2" frame, taking the enjoyment away from my rides.

I've set the dynamic ESA to Minimum (from Auto) and now all is well - it's a big enough difference to make the bike feel like the lowered version - and I feel much happier as potential stops approach.

I'd read about the handling being affected, but it's marginal, and a much lesser evil than feeling like you're going to drop the bike.

I note the comment in the manual "Min - Minimum spring preload (recommended for better ground accessibility)" - says it all really :thumb.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...

Basically lowered bikes are just shorter preload springs, you have as you say, given yourself a lowered bike, but with the option to change as you wish, lowered bikes do not have as much travel, however be a tad careful bottoming out.
 
Arghhhhhh

unfortunatly

Its got sod all to do with height!

It's your inside leg,

I'm 5' 5" with a 28" inside leg and can get the balls of my feet on the floor

27"-29" inside leg and you'll be tiptoes to balls of foot with standard seat and standard non esa suspension

fit a low seat, and drop preload to low, and you'll be on the balls of your feet, or one foot flat with a little lean

To get both feet flat you need to either buy the low chassis version which comes with ESA, & low seat

To get the same on a non esa bike, you need to fit lower springs.

According to BMW's height calculator i'm too short for a GS, and need to contact my dealer (yeah right)


H 165cm 92cm waist 74cm inside leg Inner leg curve 1633mm models available --- NOWT!!!!

A 30" inside leg gives me 6 models 3 R & 3 K series

Only when i go to 31" inside leg do i get the GS options

All that changed is inside leg not height!

I ride a 1200GS btw ;)

My friend has a non ESA GSA with a seargent seat-

i'm 3 inches clear of the floor when on the bike :eek:, he's smaller than me, yet can get the balls of his feet on the floor ??

He's got an 30" inside leg !
 
The low chassis version doesn’t come with a low seat. I know because I have one.


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I bought a suit,bloody huge thing it is.I've packed it out with straw and turned the troos up nine inches and now is ace!..why buy a bike that isn't suited size wise?
 
vRSG60 said:
Really, I’d always understood that they did. I have one too.


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Click to expand...

It was an optional extra. The whole point of the low chassis model is that the seat to foot peg distance remains the same, but the bike is lower. Whereas the lower seat reduces the seat to foot peg distance.


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The GSA may be different but the low chassis GS definitely comes with the lowered seat as standard, though the dealer is usually willing to swap it for a standard height seat.
 
fred_jb said:
The GSA may be different but the low chassis GS definitely comes with the lowered seat as standard, though the dealer is usually willing to swap it for a standard height seat.
Click to expand...

Ah, I have a GSA and it has the same seat to peg distance as the ‘normal’ model.

The lowered seat was definitely an optional extra.

Seeing as the GS is lower than the GSA, with a low frame and seat you might as well sit on the floor next to it.


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I use a standard height seat (the extra comfy Exclusive model) on my low chassis GS, which means the seat to peg distance is the same as any other GS, and probably GSA too. Don't see the point of unnecessarily jacked up suspension on a purely road bike (which mine is). I get more secure footing, especially useful when loaded with pillion and luggage, and a slightly lower centre of gravity. Still plenty of ground clearance for any normal use, and minimum clearance with the shorter suspension fully compressed will be no different to the standard bike.
 
Karlos said:
The low chassis version doesn’t come with a low seat. I know because I have one.


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Click to expand...

Yes it does, cos I’ve just picked up mine. Go to configure your bike and once you specify lowered the low seat is an automatic add on.
Pp
 
iandavid said:
Yes it does, cos I’ve just picked up mine. Go to configure your bike and once you specify lowered the low seat is an automatic add on.
Pp
Click to expand...

Well mine came with a standard seat. So maybe things have changed.


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I'm 5'10.5" and have no trouble with the suspension set to auto on my GS - max is good when carrying a pillion and luggage, clearly.
 
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