Should I get the low suspension GS TE?

[littleade]

Ok chaps, After test riding both bikes earlier this month I've taken SWMBO to sit on the GS and Explorer today to see which she preferred. Based on how things went when she got on the bikes I think the TEX will be just too big and heavy for me to take her on the back, so the GS wins (plus it's the one I liked most on the test ride). Now for the which option bit. I'm 5'7" short and 11 stone so should I go for the ff lowered suspension or the standard height GS. Are any of you the same height as me and if so what did you go for and why.

Thanks in advance...looking to place an order tomorrow to hopefully get in on the free nav5 offer.

Cheers

Ade

 

[MrMcNamara]

Im a bit of a short arse! with the standard bike & seat in its lowest position I can just get one foot flat most of the time, due to the bikes low centre of gravity & big bars, this has not caused me any issues whatsoever. the lowered GS compromises its handling - its a fact! if you can flat foot on one side all be it hanging off a little, I would stick with standard
Mac

 

[xbpod]

Ridden both lowered and standard bikes and couldn't tell any difference handling wise.

 

[vRSG60]

The only way to know for sure it to try both. I sat on a lowered GSA last week and couldn't believe how easy it fro me to get it off the side stand. 5'-6" & 29" inside leg 10 stone wet through.
Should I ever find a place to put it I'll be getting an R1200 GS but will opt for one with lowered chassis. Low seats are interchangeable, the chassis/suspension set up isn't

 

[Flyingdavid]

I'm a similar build by the sound of it, standard bike with bmw low seat works fine for me. Bike will be easier to sell on as a standard when the time comes.

 

[Schtum]

I agree that the both the ride and handling on the low chassis bike aren't as good as the standard one. You'd also anticipate that the low chassis bike will start scraping footrests and other parts in a corner sooner than the standard bike, both because it's lower and because you'll have to lean the low bike over further than the standard one for any given speed in the same corner.

Having said that, at 5' 9" with a 29/30" inside leg, I had a low seat on each of my 4 previous GSes. On the WC, I found that the standard seat was narrow enough at the nose to enable me to get my feet down reasonably well and then I went and bought a low Sargent which is wider at the nose...

It's very much down to your own personal comfort level in extreme circumstances, i.e. on adverse cambers and/or with a pillion.

 

[POL382]

I bought the factory lowered GSA LC, 29-30" inside leg and it's perfect.

 

[Mr Anderson]

If you're riding with the pillion the standard suspension bike would be the better option because even though when you have the ESA on 2up it still could do with another inch in my opinion especially when fully loaded, mine is a low suspension GSA and is good apart from pegs touching down 2up. In solo mode it's a great bike that you can really push and not touch down.

Suspension possibly firmer but handles better being lower.

A fully raised low suspension GSA with seat in high position is on par with a standard height GSA with standard seat in low position.

 

[CPJS]

I have the lowered version and find that having ridden the standard as well find that the handling is pretty much the same. I have done a bike swaps with friends with other GS's and none have noticed any difference in handling or had any ground clearance issues despite some of them being 15 stoners. As for having to lean the lowered version over further for a given speed ?????????????
Fully loaded two up touring ground clearance is not an issue for me.

 

[x5ram]

I have a lowered GS TE. I am 6' and 14.5 stone. I have to have the lowered as I have one arm and only 1/2 a right foot so I can get me feet down when stopped. I have ridden the bike to Corsica and Norway with friends and had no issues with the handling or grounding. I am not a slow rider as my friends with a multistrada and an RT who were with me will agree.
As long as you are comfortable on the bike I think you will find that it will handle whatever you throw at it and if you are grounding the pegs, that is taking it a bit too far on public roads.

 

[batman1]

Littleade,
I had an Explorer for 10,000 miles, a great bike! Then I got standard height GS-LC for a year, a much better bike! Then I changed it for a (and still have) lowered chassis GS-LC. Superb bike!

Get yourself the lowered bike, it handles just as good as the standard bike, and you will still find that it will be more than tall enough for you and SWMBO when you set it for two up + luggage.
You won't ground the pegs unless you are super fast, but if you do just set it to 'one-up + luggage' and you will have the same clearance of a standard bike.

 

[batman1]

Littleade,
I had an Explorer for 10,000 miles, a great bike! Then I got standard height GS-LC for a year, a much better bike! Then I changed it for a (and still have) lowered chassis GS-LC. Superb bike!

Get yourself the lowered bike, it handles just as good as the standard bike, and you will still find that it will be more than tall enough for you and SWMBO when you set it for two up + luggage.
You won't ground the pegs unless you are super fast, but if you do just set it to 'one-up + luggage' and you will have the same clearance of a standard bike.

 

[fredaroony]

I'm 5'8" and have no issue with my standard bike with the seat in the lowest position. I sat on the low suspension bike once and it felt way too low for me.

 

[POL382]

I'm 5'8" and have no issue with my standard bike with the seat in the lowest position. I sat on the low suspension bike once and it felt way too low for me.

Height isn't the factor it's how long or short your legs are.

 

[Millmax]

I've got a lowered 2014 after having a standard, well better buy far, and no it doesn't affect the handling.

 

[littleade]

Littleade,
I had an Explorer for 10,000 miles, a great bike! Then I got standard height GS-LC for a year, a much better bike! Then I changed it for a (and still have) lowered chassis GS-LC. Superb bike!

Get yourself the lowered bike, it handles just as good as the standard bike, and you will still find that it will be more than tall enough for you and SWMBO when you set it for two up + luggage.
You won't ground the pegs unless you are super fast, but if you do just set it to 'one-up + luggage' and you will have the same clearance of a standard bike.

Thanks for so much interest and offers to help with your experiences chaps. I didn't find any problems with the standard GS when I rode it solo on the test ride but not having had SWMBO on the back for 20 years its a whole new ball game in prospect, plus she's added a bit of timber since then so I really felt it when she got on board, but don't tell her.....

I was only in my trainers today so might see if I can try it again in boots tomorrow as I've got the Daytona M stars with high heels!

Batman1 I know what you mean about the TEX vs GS. We stopped at the Trumpet dealer 1st and even the boss said how big and heavy the TEX was. My inner thighs and just about every other muscle in my body agreed with her when she got on! The Salesman showed me a second hand 800 XR which she liked the look of and at £6700 liked the price even more. She was keen on me getting that instead of the TEX to try out for 12 months but having test ridden the XRx already I wasn't taken with it so was thinking how the **** am I going to get round this 1when the GS is going to be over twice that. Anyway we got to the BM dealers and tried both a second hand standard with the seat in the low position and a new low one waiting pick up and she liked.....the Red one LOL. Do I go Red with silver engine or Alpine with black. Standard or low.... At least it's now TE GS or TE GS.... I was going to wait until the bike show to see what the new tex was lije but there seems no point now I know it's too heavy for me. I used to be indecisive now I'm not so sure. Keep the advice coming and make an old fart happy....

 

[redout]

Thanks for so much interest and offers to help with your experiences chaps. I didn't find any problems with the standard GS when I rode it solo on the test ride but not having had SWMBO on the back for 20 years its a whole new ball game in prospect, plus she's added a bit of timber since then so I really felt it when she got on board, but don't tell her.....

I was only in my trainers today so might see if I can try it again in boots tomorrow as I've got the Daytona M stars with high heels!

Batman1 I know what you mean about the TEX vs GS. We stopped at the Trumpet dealer 1st and even the boss said how big and heavy the TEX was. My inner thighs and just about every other muscle in my body agreed with her when she got on! The Salesman showed me a second hand 800 XR which she liked the look of and at £6700 liked the price even more. She was keen on me getting that instead of the TEX to try out for 12 months but having test ridden the XRx already I wasn't taken with it so was thinking how the **** am I going to get round this 1when the GS is going to be over twice that. Anyway we got to the BM dealers and tried both a second hand standard with the seat in the low position and a new low one waiting pick up and she liked.....the Red one LOL. Do I go Red with silver engine or Alpine with black. Standard or low.... At least it's now TE GS or TE GS.... I was going to wait until the bike show to see what the new tex was lije but there seems no point now I know it's too heavy for me. I used to be indecisive now I'm not so sure. Keep the advice coming and make an old fart happy....

Im exact height and weight as yourself, 29' inseam - collecting my R1200GS Triple Black tomorrow with the factory lowered suspension. Sitting on a bike in the dealers you should take into consideration that the fuel tank is more or less empty. Add 20 litres and thats about 15kg (nearly two and a half stone) in weight. I have ridden the standard GS for a couple days when I was getting the F800 serviced and felt far too uncomfortable not being able to flat foot it. Should also bear in mind riding in winter with strong gusts etc. you'll regret it on days like those. Everyone to their own - go with whatever you are comfortable with.

 

[littleade]

Im exact height and weight as yourself, 29' inseam - collecting my R1200GS Triple Black tomorrow with the factory lowered suspension. Sitting on a bike in the dealers you should take into consideration that the fuel tank is more or less empty. Add 20 litres and thats about 15kg (nearly two and a half stone) in weight. I have ridden the standard GS for a couple days when I was getting the F800 serviced and felt far too uncomfortable not being able to flat foot it. Should also bear in mind riding in winter with strong gusts etc. you'll regret it on days like those. Everyone to their own - go with whatever you are comfortable with.

Again just the sort of reply I was after, thanks so much. The demo bike I rode solo had more than 1/2 a tank full but as you say there are many factors to consider including the extra weight the panniers and top box would add as I'd need them with the boss on board as I'm under notice that there's no way she's just going to settle for a cup of tea and a quick turn around if she's coming on the back. Seems we'll "have to do stuff" when we stop. The only thing I wasn't over keen on was the low seat which I felt was not as comfy as the standard one, but I guess I could always change the seat later but obviously I can't do the same with the suspension. I think I know where this is going.....

 

[fredaroony]

Height isn't the factor it's how long or short your legs are.

I'd say it has something to do with it unless you are some kind of mutant

 

[Jallani]

I'm 5'4, 29 inside leg and about 9.5 st. I have the GS TE with dynamic suspension and a Touratech Low seat. I also have the M-Star boots and can get the ball of one foot firmly down. I have ridden solo (no luggage), with touratech zega panniers/camping gear plus with other half on the back and never really had any issues (but always super conscious of where I am stopping / parking). The bike lowers even more with luggage / someone on the back so can easily get a flat foot down. Only time I noticed any inconvenience is at petrol station forecourts with slightly off camber surface. I have had to change dynamic suspension to lowest setting to shift weight off side stand but then return suspension height back to 'carrying luggage' height before moving off.

Some other thoughts:
- I initially bought the BMW low seat and replaced it immediately with the Touratech low seat which is narrower at the front and wider at the back for comfort. I also use an airhawk for touring.
- The dynamic suspension is great when bike is loaded as I found it keeps the bike more stable and planted (trying to keep bike in 'arse-up' angle). It's also more comfortable when 'jacked-up' for longer rides
- I find shifting the handlebars the opposite way (so wheel pointing right when sitting on bike) lowers the bike slightly and helps getting off and on. It also helps lever the weight off the side stand when getting back on.
- I also bought the wunderlick bar risers (up and back) that gives me a bit more leverage

Good luck with whatever decision you make!