Vertically challenged !

[tweedy453]

Hi all , last rear I upgraded my ride from a gs1150 to a 2002 single spark gsa1150 which I absolutely love and intend to keep

My problem is that despite been fitted with a low seat, at 5'9" and a meagre 29" inside leg I can only touch terra ferma with the ball of my feet!!!!! consequently low speed stopping and turning round on uneven ground fully loaded with panniers and camping gear etc last year gave rise to a rather worrying twitch to my sphincter muscle on numerous occasions

I've got £500 put to one side to try and resolve my inadequacies in the height department will this be enough ?

My initial thoughts were to change the springs keeping the original shock unit to lower the ride height, any suggestions from fellow vertically challenged tosses will be greatly recieved

All the best Jono

 

[enabb]

Went down the same road as you....(see wot I did their)..
Just kept the shocks from my GS to put on the GSA, mind they were ohlins....but that inch makes a diffrence.......

I,m same height n leg....so know what yer saying.....had GSA 4 years like that.....did let it have a lay down twice though even with lower shocks...

 

[tweedy453]

Ohlins is for the moment a luxury on the wish list..... Unless of course you want to sell yours cheap lol!
I had thought about doing a straight swop for the standard GS shocks but I was under the impression that the GSA units were a better quality hence keeping the damper unit and changing the springs but I am sure if this is possible due to length of the damper rod?

My other query was if you lower the ride height on the GSA would this compromise the shaft drive as again I think the GSAs is longer to accommodate the higher ride height?

 

[MikeO]

Why did you buy it - did you not consider it was a fair bit taller?

OK - you are where you are. If you fit a standard GS Lite seat and rack unit it will lower the seat height by 1-2" - would that be enough?

 

[tweedy453]

Fitting a standard GS seat would more than be sufficient I would think to solve my problem but the that would detract from the aesthetics and styling cues which attracted me to the GSA in the first place, despite been vertically challenged when ones heart rules the head anything can happen!!! And we're there's a will there's a way to overcome any problem hence this forum ! The beauty of your suggestion is there dose seem to be more second hand aftermarket Corbin and seargent seats for sale which is a bonus!

 

[flatdog]

Fitting a standard GS seat would more than be sufficient I would think to solve my problem but the that would detract from the aesthetics and styling cues which attracted me to the GSA in the first place, despite been vertically challenged when ones heart rules the head anything can happen!!! And we're there's a will there's a way to overcome any problem hence this forum ! The beauty of your suggestion is there dose seem to be more second hand aftermarket Corbin and seargent seats for sale which is a bonus!

Those seats are really comfortable, but for a reason, they are wider than the std ones, forcing your legs further apart - so the benefit of lower seat will be cancelled out.
I'd recommend going the std GS shock route - even cheap / borrowed ones initially to see how it sits.
I went the other way on my std GS to Ohlins GSA shocks raised it by @ 2"

You will need the std GS side stand and main stand and springs. otherwise youll never get the bugger off the stand.

 

[tweedy453]

Good point re the standard GS side stand and centre stand would never have thought if that one! Did you have to change the drive shaft as I thought the standard GS was not as long?

 

[enabb]

No just change the shock,s......do a search on here it,s been done by a few...forgot to say about stands though, I left my side stand as it was but did change to a GS centre stand.....Shaft is,nt a problem as is...

Might have a standered center stand....will have a dig in the shed...

 

[MarkShelley]

Swapping to RT alloys will also lower the bike and make it look cool into the bargain

 

[MikeO]

Swapping to RT alloys will also lower the bike and make it look odd into the bargain

Fixt

 

[flatdog]

Good point re the standard GS side stand and centre stand would never have thought if that one! Did you have to change the drive shaft as I thought the standard GS was not as long?

No, AFAIK the propshaft shouldn't be affected going this route - in fact the angle of the uj's should be improved slightly IMO.
If my memory serves, I bought a GSA mainstand + springs for 28.00 off ebay and sidestand extender puck - instead of the longer GSA sidestand - you will need the std side stand going this way, but it shouldn't cost much.

 

[tweedy453]

Cheers for the pointers especially re the drive shaft been no problem one less problem to worry about !

 

[tweedy453]

Not sure about going down the RT alloys route would certainly ease the problem of keeping the wheels spic n span though !

 

[tweedy453]

No just change the shock,s......do a search on here it,s been done by a few...forgot to say about stands though, I left my side stand as it was but did change to a GS centre stand.....Shaft is,nt a problem as is...

Might have a standered center stand....will have a dig in the shed...

Cheers for that if you find that standard centre stand drop us a line and we can sort something out I live in pickering North Yorkshire so could meet up with you sometime to collect it

Cheers jono

 

[enabb]

Cheers for that if you find that standard centre stand drop us a line and we can sort something out I live in pickering North Yorkshire so could meet up with you sometime to collect it

Cheers jono

Will have a rummage in the morning....I,m just over the hill in Whitby...

 

[tweedy453]

Will have a rummage in the morning....I,m just over the hill in Whitby...

Nice one cheers for that!

 

[Ogmios]

Think you got problems?

<iframe width="853" height="480" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/kRFyw57o_Ic" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>



Spend the money with a good trainer.
~~
Og
p.s; Mrs Og is 4' 10" and 27" inseam ~ believe me, we feel your pain.

 

[tweedy453]

At first I thought nice problem solved then I thought what happens when I come to some traffic lights !!! Lol

 

[ian6760]

Buy some riding boot with thick soles.

I had some boots that I loved from back in my sports bike days that had a very thin sole. I glued a replacement work boot sole on along with a 10mm slice of rubber. Trimmed down the excess and then finished them off on the belt sander. I called them my Gary Glitter boots.

 

[enabb]

I called them my Gary Glitter boots.

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