Shorty needs a leg up

[acryse01]

Been looking to purchase an r1200gs adventure over the past few months

however unless I mod it I cannot get both feet down so spoke to a dealer and started to look at the Gs

Toes down fine and a nice bike, however whilst in a showroom last week felt that I was being pointed towards a certain bike they had rather than anything else although it was a great bike (brand new ) and a good deal but the minute I looked at any used stock I was pretty much pointed back to the bike in the showroom.

The question is I have been in another dealership who had a suspension lowered GS (used) at a great price which did look and feel superb but I am worried that the lowered suspension (BMW fitted ) will in the long term lose some of the original feel of the standard bike

does anyone have any comments re the bmw lowered suspension on a GS

Cheers

 

[mrjim130]

If your legs are too short, you don't have too many options. Lowered bike will be harder to get onto main stand. Best to arrange a decent road test to help you make up your mind.
Good luck.

 

[drinkingparrot]

I'm a shortarse and I've been riding a standard GS since 2004, I just recently looked at buying a new GS with the factory lowerd chassis and managed toget a ride out on a demonstrator from Jefferies. I can say that it made absolutley no difference at all, the only thing I had to complain about when I got back was my toe grounding out, which although not a new experience came as a bit of a shock, as I wasn't expecting it. I can say I didn't bother with the lowered chassis in the end and ordered a standard bike.
Search for Low Chassis and you can read through the thread

 

[Mutley]

You'll lose an awful lot of the feel of the bike if you are lying on your side

You don't have to be able to get both feet down to ride a bike, you just have to be careful and confident. If you are buying a lowered GS just make sure you get all the original bits as well so you can sell it easily

 

[wideparting]

Look around for a gel filled low seat,drops the level by about 2-3 inches,and is far kinder on your arse than the concrete one that bmw provide.best money I ever spent on the bike. 59 reg gsa

 

[Buz]

I'm a short arse, about 29' leg and have an 06 12GS, low seat and have wound the suspension down a few notches, i find it ok, can get enough feet on the ground, just keep an eye on the camber, potholes, diteches etc.
As for handling with suspension wound down, seems ok to me, ok I'm not a riding god by any means but can keep up with the average tosser,

Must admit though the lowered seat does seem to crush yer nuts some what, seems to sink you forward towards the tank so may go the route of wide parting and get the seat modified

 

[Mark Hooton]

revs racing

revs racing in Brummy lowered mine and did a terrific job - just don`t go too low............

It really transformed the bike for me as I was actually scared of riding the damn thing beforehand!

 

[N1Rat]

Re Lowered Chassis

I have a Factory lowered bike and a Sargent Seat. The bike came with a normal seat (swopped by the dealer when I got it) the standard seat is not very comfortable so that got changed. As for grinding bits, if you are carrying luggage, wind up the suspension, then put it back to normal when you are solo. As one of the other replies said No point having a bike and not enjoying it and there is nothing worse than struggling everytime you stop.

 

[Blackdragon]

I recently bought a used 2010 R1200GS with lowered suspension and a standard seat from my local dealer (tried it with both the lowered and standard seat ...standard seat was better for me with my 29" inside leg). I have found the bike to be absolutely perfect!!! I can almost get both feet flat on the floor, and no problems with the centrestand The handling as far as I'm concerned is superb.

Unfortunately I can't compare the ride you get with "standard" height suspension as this is my first GS (first BMW actually!!), but IMHO I don't think you'd be disappointed if you went for the lowered option. The bike is absolutely fine...and you get the added bonus of better stability when you stop.

If you can, get a test ride on one. ask the dealer if they'll let you try it with both lowered and standard seats (my local dealer offered me the chance without my asking!!). Only problem if you do get a test ride is to be prepared for a permanent grin and a severe lightening of the wallet!! Best of luck!!

 

[sidestand]

I'm only 5'7" but ride a GSA
Only adaption is a Kahedo low seat
As long as I can get one foot down I can manage

Only trouble now is I'm 54, so the old bones are starting to shrink
Give it a few more years & I think I'll have to go back to a GS

 

[KevinW]

revs racing in Brummy lowered mine and did a terrific job - just don`t go too low............<snip>

Why, what happens? (asks someone with a 29" inside leg who dropped their bike in to MCT yesterday to have lowered Wilbers shocks put in)

Did you alter the height of the stands afterwards?

Kevin

 

[The Hobbit]

I have a lowered one for around 1 year 6k. So far all seems ok, I have ridden a couple of normal height ones and once moving I cant tell the difference.
What I can tell is my wife is much happier getting on the back and one those occasions where you stop and ground isnt where you expected it to be, or its wet and oily, I am very happy to have the shortie?

 

[morty]

see if you can get hold of a low sargent seat it will make it even lower than stock,you'l be surprised at how much.better that than faffing with suspension & low frames.

 

[tosh23]

From a standstill, push the bike over to the left and let it hit the deck, do the same for the right, just let it fall over..Leave the scratches and marks on the bike then just ride, Once its been dropped you wont worry about scratching it and you can just enjoy the bike....
OR, go on a ROSPA-IAM.s, they teach you to use one foot only ....

 

[Dave78]

How short is short?

I'm only 5ft7 (on a good day) and have short legs. I ride a GSA, and am currently on the BMW low seat. Yes the seat is a pain in the bum, but am looking to replace it at some point with either a stargent low seat, or have a go with a standard GS seat - when I get the confidence on the bike..

I can get the balls of both feet down, and one foot flat when the other is on the peg (bit of sliding of the arse required), but so far never had a problem. Just makes to more cautious where you stop..

 

[Myke Rocks]

Ever think of:

Wearing High Heels?

Myke

 

[Fanum]

Wearing High Heels?

Myke

Made in jest Myke, but accurate(ish) regardless......

A decent pair of MX boots with thicker, more rigid soles will effectively add a couple of inches to your ability......softer, bendy soled boots don't transfer the force of the foot and the weight behind it down properly, but good MX style boots will

 

[john1215]

From a standstill, push the bike over to the left and let it hit the deck, do the same for the right, just let it fall over..Leave the scratches and marks on the bike then just ride, Once its been dropped you wont worry about scratching it and you can just enjoy the bike....
OR, go on a ROSPA-IAM.s, they teach you to use one foot only ....

The one foot thing that the IAM do is common sense really and avoids the need to change feet when you stop in traffic for more than a few seconds.
On the DSA training/test they like you to come to a stop and put your left leg down bike is still in gear.(right foot on brake) if you stop for any length of time then you have to do a shuffle to get the bike into neutral to help prevent wear and tear on the mechanism. Right foot to floor, left foot to peg, gear to neutral, left foot to floor, right foot onto brake. Then do it again to put the bike into gear etc.
If you stop on the footbrake and as you stop put your right foot down, hold the bike on the front brake, change gear into neutral and release clutch(if needed) then leave your feet in those positions. When you need to move off select 1st gear, feather the front brake/revs and release clutch and move off

john1215

 

[acryse01]

Okay

Drove a 2000 1150 gs today

Not lowered just a Standard 1150 gs and it was so good and easy to drive
Feet down absolutely no trouble
So question is without trying a GSA can I just get one
I so like the adventure over the gs
Work with me here

 

[Timebomb]

Okay

Drove a 2000 1150 gs today

Not lowered just a Standard 1150 gs and it was so good and easy to drive
Feet down absolutely no trouble
So question is without trying a GSA can I just get one
I so like the adventure over the gs
Work with me here

I'm 5'9" with 30-inch inseam...
I had a 2001 GS before my current 2008GSA.

The '01 GS, I could just about flat-foot no problem. That might have also been aided by the fact that the stock suspension was all used up.

On the '08 GSA, I'm on tip toes in the one helmet setting..naturally, the two and luggage settings are higher, but should have ballast at those times to be same positions.

Off-road preload positions are seriously high...and really hard for me to get off the side stand due to the lack of "leggage" (and excessive lean, but that's a different story).

I'm about to take delivery of 2cm lowered Wilbers WESA. I'm thinking it's not really low enough (I contemplated 5cm), but when funds allow, I'll get a slightly lowered seat (Sergeant?) to get me lower, and lowered pegs (pivot pegs?) to keep my knee geometry comfortable. I'm also wearing light adventure boots with slightly higher tread...