Seat height

[trogxx]

Hi all,

Have ordered new 08 Gs - pick up at end of month.

Problem is -- I can't make up mind about seat height (i.e low or regular).
Am 5'8" short and road tested on regular height saddle. Okay on the move but felt uncertain on stops and slow control -- of course could be my riding!
Dealer recommends regular as lower height saddle would be less comfortable.

Am ancient, presently ride t100 (775cms) and have arthritic knees so keen on the regular height of GS saddle. If got regular and all went belly up, suppose could buy lower atermarket saddle. Sargent? Touratech? Shoe lifts? Other ideas?

Appreciate any help.

Cheers,
trogxx

 

[Beemer]

Hello Trogxx,
I've just bought myself a 1200 GSA (2006) and I'm ok on my own with tiptoes to the ground but wont be happy with a pillion getting on and off as you really need two firmly placed feet to steady the bike.
I've just been looking at this http://www.bmwbikebits.co.uk/shop/item.asp?itemid=3115&catid=

I wondered if anybody else has bought a Wunderlich or can recommend a lower seat?

Cheers
Steve

 

[trogxx]

seat height

Hi Steve,
Thanks for reply.
Cheers,
Henry

 

[MattSwain]

I'd be interested too

I wondered if anybody else has bought a Wunderlich or can recommend a lower seat?

I'd be interested to hear views on low seats too.

I'm a smidge under 6 foot tall, so no midget and I've got the standard seat in it's lowest position on my 08GS and still wonder if I've picked the wrong seat even after 3 months.

It's fine on the move, and on level ground it's ok, but I'm not entirely happy on slopes and hill starts on a cambered road almost give me nightmares. I find that I can just about get the flats of my feet down but not firm enough that there's any weight on my heels which also makes paddling the bike about hard work.

 

[trogxx]

I'd be interested to hear views on low seats too.

I'm a smidge under 6 foot tall, so no midget and I've got the standard seat in it's lowest position on my 08GS and still wonder if I've picked the wrong seat even after 3 months.

It's fine on the move, and on level ground it's ok, but I'm not entirely happy on slopes and hill starts on a cambered road almost give me nightmares. I find that I can just about get the flats of my feet down but not firm enough that there's any weight on my heels which also makes paddling the bike about hard work.

Hi MattSwain,

If your a smidge under 6', I assume your talking about an Adventurer. If not, then I've no hope! Please tell me your not talking about the standard GS.
Cheers,
Henry

 

[trogxx]

Hello Trogxx,
I've just bought myself a 1200 GSA (2006) and I'm ok on my own with tiptoes to the ground but wont be happy with a pillion getting on and off as you really need two firmly placed feet to steady the bike.
I've just been looking at this http://www.bmwbikebits.co.uk/shop/item.asp?itemid=3115&catid=

I wondered if anybody else has bought a Wunderlich or can recommend a lower seat?

Cheers
Steve

Hi Steve,
How tall are you?
Hope your not 6' like MattSwain.
If you search back through technical threads there is a lot on different seats. Wunderlich gets good press but consensus seem to be Sargent.
Cheers,
Henry

 

[kbada]

Hi trogxx

It rather depends on how far your *rse is from the ground rather than
total height

Put the back of your seat on low setting and the front on the high setting.

This stops you from sliding forwards until your tackle says 'stop'

This setup is frowned upon in the instruction book but who knows why

I'm 5' 10" short by the way - my missus is your height and she is quite happy with the standard seat set up as above but then she's got legs that go all the way up to the bottom

Good luck

 

[Beemer]

Hi Steve,
How tall are you?
Hope your not 6' like MattSwain.
If you search back through technical threads there is a lot on different seats. Wunderlich gets good press but consensus seem to be Sargent.
Cheers,
Henry

Henry
I think kbada is probably right, think it's all about inside leg, mines around 29.5"
Have been offered a standard seat which I'm told is lower than the Adventure one, just waiting to finalise the deal.
I'll let you know how I get on.
Steve

 

[Pathologic]

I'm a short arse

Only 5'7" and on the 07 GS with a standard seat. I have had some close calls, and had steep cambers but I have managed with a pillion and in most situations. I considered a lower seat, but the 1200 standard seat is uncomfortable enough without losing more padding.

Can you arrange a back to back road test before you pick up your new bike?

Regars,

path.

 

[trogxx]

Henry
I think kbada is probably right, think it's all about inside leg, mines around 29.5"
Have been offered a standard seat which I'm told is lower than the Adventure one, just waiting to finalise the deal.
I'll let you know how I get on.
Steve

Hi Steve,
Will be interested in seeing how you get on.
As an 'off the wall' solution, I'm going to try 'heel lifts'. These should give me 3-5 extra centimetres in the bum to floor measurement??
Cheers,
Henry

 

[trogxx]

Hi trogxx

It rather depends on how far your *rse is from the ground rather than
total height

Put the back of your seat on low setting and the front on the high setting.

This stops you from sliding forwards until your tackle says 'stop'

This setup is frowned upon in the instruction book but who knows why

I'm 5' 10" short by the way - my missus is your height and she is quite happy with the standard seat set up as above but then she's got legs that go all the way up to the bottom

Good luck

Hi Kbada,
Thanks for info.
As an 'off the wall' solution, I'm going to try 'heel lifts'. These should give me 3-5 extra centimetres in the bum to floor measurement??
Cheers,
Henry

 

[trogxx]

Only 5'7" and on the 07 GS with a standard seat. I have had some close calls, and had steep cambers but I have managed with a pillion and in most situations. I considered a lower seat, but the 1200 standard seat is uncomfortable enough without losing more padding.

Can you arrange a back to back road test before you pick up your new bike?

Regars,

path.

Hi Path,
Appreciate response.
Sat on both at shop but test rode only regular. It was clear the salesman was not an advocat of the quality of the lower seat. Same opinion as yours, I guess.
As an 'off the wall' solution, I'm going to try 'heel lifts'. These should give me 3-5 extra centimetres in the bum to floor measurement??
Cheers,
Henry

 

[Trinity]

Hi, all, Ive just picked up a wunderlich that has 4 settings, I thought I would be ok with this as I'm a tall girl but even on the low setting I'm not completely flat footed which is what I'm use to... I'm a newie to the GS... its the only thing thats a negative along with the side stand... had a scary mo... the other day when I couldnt lift the bike off the stand due to a slight slope.... totally gutted... any recommendations with stand extensions??? also whats heel lifts??

 

[swissrob]

heel lifts are the mens version of high heels

 

[mikepg]

Hi, all, Ive just picked up a wunderlich that has 4 settings, I thought I would be ok with this as I'm a tall girl but even on the low setting I'm not completely flat footed which is what I'm use to... I'm a newie to the GS... its the only thing thats a negative along with the side stand... had a scary mo... the other day when I couldnt lift the bike off the stand due to a slight slope.... totally gutted... any recommendations with stand extensions??? also whats heel lifts??

Trinty,

It's just takes effort and a bit of confidence when the bike is on the side stand and parked on a camber. You might want to think where you stop to park up in advance too to avoid that circumstance?

You shouldn't really need to get both feet flat on the ground, one foot flat on the higher part of the carriageway should be all that is required, but if you are used to lower bikes, I can understand. Heel lifts or boots with a thicker sole or higher heel will help though.

The best way of doing it though is to practice - and go out with someone who can stand on the other side of the bike ready to steady it if you can't take the load. Sometimes when I have parked on a really steep camber, I start the engine, hold on to the grips, knock the side stand up, and put the bike into gear and 'walk' the bike onto the level. That takes a bit of practice, timing and strength enough not to let the bike topple towards you.

The other way to do it is to kind of 'leap' onto the bike and the momentum of your body plus a bit of a tug with your shoulders will get the bike over onto your right foot ready to engage the clutch and gear and pull away. That takes practice too and this is the one where I would get someone to help you. You can also do the same by holding onto both grips and use your hips to push the bike upright, hold and then saddle up.

But in the first instance, try not to park on a steeply cambered road and if you can, try and find someone else with a GS to demonstrate and mentor you into the ways of doing it safely without hurting yourself and less importantly, dropping the bike.
Hope that helps

 

[karlp]

Hi all,

Have ordered new 08 Gs - pick up at end of month.

Problem is -- I can't make up mind about seat height (i.e low or regular).
Am 5'8" short and road tested on regular height saddle. Okay on the move but felt uncertain on stops and slow control -- of course could be my riding!
Dealer recommends regular as lower height saddle would be less comfortable.

Am ancient, presently ride t100 (775cms) and have arthritic knees so keen on the regular height of GS saddle. If got regular and all went belly up, suppose could buy lower atermarket saddle. Sargent? Touratech? Shoe lifts? Other ideas?

Appreciate any help.



Cheers,
trogxx

If you are buying the GS and not the GSA - then why not go for the lowered bike option - I think it costs about £80

 

[trogxx]

Hi, all, Ive just picked up a wunderlich that has 4 settings, I thought I would be ok with this as I'm a tall girl but even on the low setting I'm not completely flat footed which is what I'm use to... I'm a newie to the GS... its the only thing thats a negative along with the side stand... had a scary mo... the other day when I couldnt lift the bike off the stand due to a slight slope.... totally gutted... any recommendations with stand extensions??? also whats heel lifts??

Hi Trinity,

Heel lifts are inserts that fit in your own boots and shoes. They're normally used by people who want to appear 'taller'. I'm going to try some and see if they'll solve the gs height problem -- don't see why not? You can get pairs, adjustable 15 - 50 mm for £5 to £10 on ebay.

Cheers,
Henry

 

[MattSwain]

For me, it's about confidence (or lack of)

It was me who earlier said that I was a smidge under 6 foot and not entirely happy on the standard seat - and I have a regular 08 GS, not an adventure. For reference I buy trousers with a 31 or 32 inch leg which I think is fairly normal for my height.

I think the issue is that I've come from a bike where I could get the flats of my feet solidly down without any wobbles, so every time I come to a halt on my GS and the ground is a little bit further away than I'm used to, then that registers in my brain as a wobble and it doesn't help with confidence. The stupid thing is that for each of these 'wobbles', I've not yet dropped or nearly dropped the bike and they should be building confidence instead of eroding it.

Maybe it's just that my GS is just something that I've wanted for so long and never thought I'd be able to afford and so now I'm just a little paranoid about it all.

 

[mikepg]

It was me who earlier said that I was a smidge under 6 foot and not entirely happy on the standard seat - and I have a regular 08 GS, not an adventure. For reference I buy trousers with a 31 or 32 inch leg which I think is fairly normal for my height.

I think the issue is that I've come from a bike where I could get the flats of my feet solidly down without any wobbles, so every time I come to a halt on my GS and the ground is a little bit further away than I'm used to, then that registers in my brain as a wobble and it doesn't help with confidence. The stupid thing is that for each of these 'wobbles', I've not yet dropped or nearly dropped the bike and they should be building confidence instead of eroding it.

Maybe it's just that my GS is just something that I've wanted for so long and never thought I'd be able to afford and so now I'm just a little paranoid about it all.

Matt - just take the bike out, somewhere quiet, and practice stopping at slow speed. Do it a hundred times if you need to, and your brain will soon get used to it and your leg will get used to extending so that you feel comfortable. I don't know what bike you had before, but you just need to practice, and that is all there is to it.



ps - I'm 5'8" (and no lardy) and have no problems whatsoever.

 

[Trinity]

Thanks for the advice, I'm with Matt - Im the same, I've always had the sport bikes before, so its a strange experience not being able to get flat footed.. yeah and the parking thing, Ive learnt my lesson there.. funny the chap who came to my rescue when the bike slipped of its side stand and onto me, didnt have a clue how to lift the bike and I'm there sweating holding the bugger up!!