Sertao height issue.

EsPeGe

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Hi all, my name is Scott. I'm in Australia and new to the GS world. I have recently picked up a shiney new Sertao. I love it, BUT..... I am a shorty, at 5'8 with riding boots on. I have had the seat foam scooped to lower it a bit but would like a little more height off. I can't take any more foam off otherwise I will be sitting on plastic. SO does anyone have any ideas? Would I be able to get a custom seat pan made for instance? Obviously lowering the bike itself would be counter productive so any ideas will be much appreciated. Also sorry if this is covering old ground somewhere on the forum.

Cheers Scott.
 
Welcome to the nuthouse Scott .... but quoting the obvious, why didn't you buy the standard G650GS :augie

:beerjug:
 
Micky said:
Welcome to the nuthouse Scott .... but quoting the obvious, why didn't you buy the standard G650GS :augie

:beerjug:
Click to expand...
Hi Micky thanks for the welcome. I went for the Sertao because I wanted something a little more dirt oriented. I figured (perhaps incorrectly) that the standard GS was a little less capable in this regard. I want to put knobbies on it as there are a number of 5 and 7 day trips that I want to do that are almost entirely on dirt with some really rugged k's. I knew the seat height would be an issue as far as getting both feet down solidly instead of just tippy toes. I can deal with it but if there is someway to drop the seat a bit more then why not? If not I'll have a cup of concrete and harden up as they say.

Cheers, Scott.
 
Reducing the travel of the suspension and the height of the bike is fine for road use but defeats the purpose of the bike if you're intending to use it off road.

Adjust your riding style. Rather than trying to get 2 feet down slide your arse off the side and flat one foot. Plan ahead and try not to stop. Doesn't look pretty but works. Mav of this forum is vertically challenged and handles a full height HP2E without a problem.

Or sell it and buy a standard 650. It'll still get to 99% of the same places as a Sertao/Dakar will. :thumb2
 
2" Koubalinks would lower the rear suspension by two inches and you could lift the front fork stanchions up through the yokes an inch aswell.

www.Koubalink.com

I've got a spare pair in the shed you could have for £60 but you'd need to pay the postage:thumb

FP.:thumb
 
Dansin said:
Reducing the travel of the suspension and the height of the bike is fine for road use but defeats the purpose of the bike if you're intending to use it off road.

Adjust your riding style. Rather than trying to get 2 feet down slide your arse off the side and flat one foot. Plan ahead and try not to stop. Doesn't look pretty but works. Mav of this forum is vertically challenged and handles a full height HP2E without a problem.
Click to expand...
yeah I'm not sure I want to go messing with the geometry just yet which is why I'm initially looking at seat options. After a bit more time on the bike I might look at something like the Kouba's if it's still a hassle. On the tar I'm fine, I can get one foot flat with the cheek over to the side. Like you said plan ahead. It's more for the off road stuff because it's unpredictable and uneven it would be nice to get both feet down a little more solidly.

Cheers, Scott
 
Great 'low' saddle

Scott... Keep an eye out for a single seat; the one with the integral compartment where the pillion seat would be. :thumb

IMG_0168a.jpg


IMG_0164a.jpg


-Andy
 
EsPeGe said:
Hi Micky thanks for the welcome. I went for the Sertao because I wanted something a little more dirt oriented. I figured (perhaps incorrectly) that the standard GS was a little less capable in this regard. I want to put knobbies on it as there are a number of 5 and 7 day trips that I want to do that are almost entirely on dirt with some really rugged k's. I knew the seat height would be an issue as far as getting both feet down solidly instead of just tippy toes. I can deal with it but if there is someway to drop the seat a bit more then why not? If not I'll have a cup of concrete and harden up as they say.

Cheers, Scott.
Click to expand...

I like the way you think sir :thumb2

What are your MX boots like, sole wise?

If they aren't stiff soled, try some with as little flex as possible.....it won't change your height, but it will enable you to put more force down through your tip toes IYSWIM :thumb2

PS Hubert Auriol was only about three foot 7 and he managed pretty well :thumb2

hubert_auriol_p90063673-c.jpg
 
Or boots with more flex, I can reach better with some nice Altbergs than anything else I've tried :)

A long way from MX boots though!
 
Fanum said:
I like the way you think sir :thumb2

What are your MX boots like, sole wise?

If they aren't stiff soled, try some with as little flex as possible.....it won't change your height, but it will enable you to put more force down through your tip toes IYSWIM :thumb2

PS Hubert Auriol was only about three foot 7 and he managed pretty well :thumb2

hubert_auriol_p90063673-c.jpg
Click to expand...
Yep I'm with you. I am running a pair of Forma boots with pretty solid soles. I am pretty much used to the height of the bike now anyway. Am sure I will put it down in the dirt at some stage but at least if I am putting the foot down I am not going very fast. It is a dirt bike after all.
:thumb2
 
Farmer Palmer said:
2" Koubalinks would lower the rear suspension by two inches and you could lift the front fork stanchions up through the yokes an inch aswell.

www.Koubalink.com

I've got a spare pair in the shed you could have for £60 but you'd need to pay the postage:thumb

FP.:thumb
Click to expand...

HI Do you still have the lowering links ?if so are they still for sale ?,will they fit a sertao ? ,

Sorry for all the questions but did you use them and how did you find them
I am 5,7" and ride a gs 12 with a low seat no problem but would like the 650 to be a bit lower
Many Thanks
George
Ps I am located in Sheffield
 
Hi George,

Sorry but i sold the 2" Koubalinks a wee while ago on www.F650.co.uk where there's lots of information about lowering the F/G650GS single cylinder bikes but 2" links sometimes come up for sale from time to time!

They'd fit on a Sertao no problem and would take less than half an hour to fit!

www.Koubalinks.com will lower the rear of the bike 2" or you can lower the front up to an inch by raising the forks up through the yokes, another option is fitting a low seat instead of the higher Dakar/Sertao seat

Hope this helps a wee bit.......i've been through it all before with Mrs P who is only 5ft tall and found her new G650GS/FL(factory lowered) taller than her old F650GS/FL

FP.:thumb2

chris
 
I fall off lots always at slow speed usually with a stall on uneven ground and can't get a foot down. Changing to a front 14 t renthal sprocket helps the stalling somewhat, so you don't need to get your foot down so often. I also took all the foam off my seat and layered that 10mm ish blue camping mat foam on (low profile and shaped to me, firm but comfy and definitely lower).
 
Hyperpro do a lowering Spring kit, -25mm if I remember correctly

I used to think that it was all about being confident about handling the bike, but now I'm a few years older and low is better
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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