after having the gs for a few weeks now ive come to the conclusion its still a bit tall for me.i struggle a bit on off camber junctions when i have a pillion and panniers on.it nearly caught me out a few times this weekend.i have the low seat of torture fitted.i,m thinking of having the seat remodelled,slimmed, and maybe a gel insert fitted.how much lower do you think i can get.are there any other options.it all seemed ok on the demo bike but now...
struggling...
- Thread starter pip001
- Start date
talking to Every Accessory today you can get a Wilbers shock shortened by up to some considerable amount (ISTR up to 40mm) which would lower the bike hugely...worth a thought as you get a "better" shock at the same time....
Rollin Bone
Registered user
It will get Lower
Give a few months, the suspension will soften slightly giving you a bit more boot on the ground, and you will get use to it, we all did, well us short ar*e tossers did.
Regards RB
Give a few months, the suspension will soften slightly giving you a bit more boot on the ground, and you will get use to it, we all did, well us short ar*e tossers did.
Regards RB
EggChaser
Registered user
A few comments;
- If you have ESA then changing the shocks for 3rd party ones will not have the ESA function .
- Changing shocks for lower ones will affect using the center and side stands.
- BMW do lowered (non-ESA) shocks as a £99 option for the standard 2008 1200GS, which includes shorter centre and side stands - not sure how much the bits would cost to buy and retrofit.
- Something like Daytona M-Star GTX boots with inbuilt 2.5cm heel lifts might help
- If you have ESA then changing the shocks for 3rd party ones will not have the ESA function .
- Changing shocks for lower ones will affect using the center and side stands.
- BMW do lowered (non-ESA) shocks as a £99 option for the standard 2008 1200GS, which includes shorter centre and side stands - not sure how much the bits would cost to buy and retrofit.
- Something like Daytona M-Star GTX boots with inbuilt 2.5cm heel lifts might help
Thunder
Registered user
Pip. It strikes me that you find the problems with a pillion and passenger on board, from experience these occasions actually lower the bike.
What year and spec of bike do you have?
Whats your inside leg measurement?
How many miles has the bike covered?
Are you refering to the BM low seat?
Before you try any expensive mods two suggestions above are worth a go : the saddle can be sculpted out and lowered AND narowed; however a good solid pair of boots with thick soles will make a difference also.
thanks for the replies.ive got the thick boots ,just need to gain about an inch.
i find i,m ok on my own but the lean combined with the extra wieght of the pillion and panniers is what does me.
brian. is a late 2004 model.abs etc.its done 7000 miles and is the bm low seat.just need to feel as confident as possible with the wife being on the back.i really dont want to spend a fortune to get it right.
i find i,m ok on my own but the lean combined with the extra wieght of the pillion and panniers is what does me.
brian. is a late 2004 model.abs etc.its done 7000 miles and is the bm low seat.just need to feel as confident as possible with the wife being on the back.i really dont want to spend a fortune to get it right.
Wives on the back!
It should not make any difference to your problem BUT when I fitted a topbox + backrest on the bike my wife seemed much more at ease and didn't bdge around.
However experienced you are it is important to establish certain rules with your pillion rider - even the tallest and most experienced of us can be upset by a pillion rider who does not know when to sit still and how to get on and off. I think it was the wife of Kevin Saunders(?) (who rode around the world) who wrote an article about thKs in MCS & L.
It should not make any difference to your problem BUT when I fitted a topbox + backrest on the bike my wife seemed much more at ease and didn't bdge around.
However experienced you are it is important to establish certain rules with your pillion rider - even the tallest and most experienced of us can be upset by a pillion rider who does not know when to sit still and how to get on and off. I think it was the wife of Kevin Saunders(?) (who rode around the world) who wrote an article about thKs in MCS & L.
alimey4u2
Registered user
Wives on the back
My Dear Wife had a habit of dismounting & mounting in the "Second Arabesque" position...
Yes... On my bike..
My Dear Wife had a habit of dismounting & mounting in the "Second Arabesque" position...
Yes... On my bike..
I have exactly the same problem and find that I just have to be careful where I park up the bike.
It's the only negative thing that I have with the GS - I couldn't even climb on to the GSA!
It's the only negative thing that I have with the GS - I couldn't even climb on to the GSA!
Jackie is struggling with th seat height on her F800GS, so I looked around at options, and found that Hyperpro are marketing a range of replacement progressive springs for her bike, and the 1200GS/GSA. These springs can be ordered to lower the 12000 GS/GSA bikes by 30mm, for only £140 ish here - a much cheaper option than replacing the whole units for Ohlins or Wilbers. There was a thread somewhere on here alluding to a 10% discount on that price for Tossers, try searching for Hyperpro.
I am tempted to do this to my 08 GSA, the seat and riding position is far more comfortable with the seat in the higher position, but that is just a bit too far off the ground for my chubby stumps..
I am tempted to do this to my 08 GSA, the seat and riding position is far more comfortable with the seat in the higher position, but that is just a bit too far off the ground for my chubby stumps..
Good question. After posting I decided to take this further and emailed Calsport with that very question, and how long it takes to turn around font and rear units. I am waiting for a reply ...
I am off work today with a terrible cold/fever/cough ( Man Flu), so don't really feel like talking ( hacking and spluttering and sneezing) down the phone - someone else has to use it too.
look forward to the results of that.there is a suspension place local to me, dps racing.i,ll call in there later this week and see what they would charge.
seems theres hope afterall. at 30mm would you need to alter the stands.
i read on one forum that you can buy the stands off the new lower gs seperately.just need to check there a straight swop.
seems theres hope afterall. at 30mm would you need to alter the stands.
i read on one forum that you can buy the stands off the new lower gs seperately.just need to check there a straight swop.
No idea about the stands yet.
Why not find a peice of wood or similar that is about 30 mm thick and place that under the sidestand to simulate the rest of the bike dropping 30 mm? If it big enough try it under the centre stand too...
Why not find a peice of wood or similar that is about 30 mm thick and place that under the sidestand to simulate the rest of the bike dropping 30 mm? If it big enough try it under the centre stand too...
bit of an update on this.the hyperpro lowering spring kit fitted including professional setup at my local suspension specialist is £225.00.a bargain i think.i,m going to price up the shorter stands when i get time just out of curiosity.is a two week delivery on the springs tho.fitting times a couple of hours.
Certainly a lot cheaper than Ohlins or Wilbers replacements... Let us kow how it goes
Nippy Norman has the Hyperpro progressive lowering springs on his site at £155 for the pair, plus you can get the spring compressor tool from him to do the job yourself.
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