Which is best for a shortie !!

[vertically challenged]

Looking for a GS... like both the 1150Adv and GS1200, question is which is the best for a shortie like me at 5'6. I currently ride an Africa Twin so tall bikes arn't too much of an issue, but with the extra weight of bike + panniers etc it'll be easier to over balance....
What's the 1150Adv like with a lower seat on? had a sit on one with the standard seat and I was on tip toes!!.


Any advice would be good

 

[drifter]

Somewhat vertically challenged myself at 5'7" and 29" inside leg and like you had Africa Twin and although I loved the bike very tall and heavy, had to be continuously aware of where I wanted to put my feet down as cambers in the road etc provided me with many almost embarrassing moments. Also found that the Twin was always looking for that final gear that would propell it that wee bit over 80mph without the screaming. I have since taken possession of 2005 1200GS and love it. I had looked towards the 1150 but the 1200 proving lighter made the decision for me. Hope this helps, but get yourself up to your nearest dealer and try them both for yourself, cheers

 

[Bryn]

Think the height issue is more down to inside leg length than to height...I've got 29 and a bit inches and have a low seat on an 1150 ADV and manage quite well

 

[timeandtide]

Looking for a GS... like both the 1150Adv and GS1200, question is which is the best for a shortie like me at 5'6. I currently ride an Africa Twin so tall bikes arn't too much of an issue, but with the extra weight of bike + panniers etc it'll be easier to over balance....
What's the 1150Adv like with a lower seat on? had a sit on one with the standard seat and I was on tip toes!!.


Any advice would be good

5' 8" and 30" i/s leg.
I've had both and they're both cracking bikes
My only issue with the 1150 was getting it upright fully loaded with panniers and topbox from severely cambered road felt a bit insecure.
12 is definitely more manageable from that point of view.
I 've got an 05 which has now done 30K only issue was gearbox seal weeping slightly fixed under warranty and new clutch into bargain! thumb2

(God I hope I'm not tempting fate here!)

 

[SMcGirr]

Like you, I am about 5'7" and have a 1200 GS with the low seat. Its fine except on long runs where there isa lot of braking you end up crushing your giblets

SP

 

[EggChaser]

I went for the optional height reduced 2008 1200GS - which includes lowered supension. lowered stands and the low seat - but I am a bit of a wimp when it comes to managing tall heavy bikes - if you ride an Africa Twin I would suspect that you might not need this really low option.

 

[PIGGLET]

You can put a lower seat on the GSA as already mentioned but you can also put the standard shocks on, they are a straight swap (both can be done in an hour easy) and will take the bike down to standard 1150 height.

 

[timeandtide]

Like you, I am about 5'7" and have a 1200 GS with the low seat. Its fine except on long runs where there isa lot of braking you end up crushing your giblets

SP

I found the low seat made my knees ache . . . standard one much better.

 

[Janie]

bein 5.4 and a girlie, i don't have any issue with the weight of the 1200, since i had the lower shocks put on and a low seat....i have tried usin my hubbies 1200adv with my low seat on.... but unless it has only half a tank of fuel or less i really struggle to get the thing off the side stand, cos it weighs a ton.......
you should have no hassle with the 1200gs and a low seat......

 

[everywherevirtually]

I'm 5'7" with a 29" inside leg. I ride the F800GS with the lowered seat and for long runs I use the airhawk which brings the seat height up to the standard height but with more comfort.

With a pillion and full load + fuel I can actually flat foot it. If I wear my alpinestars enduro boots I cant extend my feet down as far as the boots are quite restrictive.

The 800GS is different because the fuel is low down and under the seat which is a big advantage.

 

[GSGill]

I ride a 1200GS too and am a 5.6 girly (good to see anoter girlie GSer out there!!, normal seat on low setting is ok, but the optional lower seat (thinner bench) is really the way forward for me.

Find the GSA too tall for me, but that probably has something to do with the 33l of fuel is as up top when full. 1200GS is lovely and really well balanced at slow speeds. Good stuff

See if you can take both out and see what you think

Heard a lot of good things about air hawks, never used one myself, but a lot of riding buddies swear by them.

Hope that helps

 

[gsnoob]

I'm 5.6 with a 30.9" inseam. New to biking, only had rode some biggerish bikes on hols in Crete, Spain etc (transalp and drag star most recently). Also, 36, dad of five, more to come hopefully (just so you know what I am risking if I get in trouble on a bike).

Just got my license and am in love with the universality of the 12gs. My concern of course is the sheer size of the thing. Walk past one every morning on way to work and I keep asking myself if I could really use this beast for commuting. I would go for the 820mm low seat option on an 08gs (local BMW dealer prepared to sell their fully loaded 13000km test bike for EUR14k, worth EUR18k+ new).

So its either going to be that, OR an 08 CBF600 (probably naked).

Pros and cons of 12gs as I see it:

Pros
-best bike ever
-versatility
-given the noob I am the electronic traction control on 08 model would give me some more confidence

Cons apart from price
-bl-y big
-will i regret it in city traffic?
-huge screen - I would have to be looking through it, not over it. I am a bit of a cleaning nerd when it comes to monitor screens, windshields etc - if I have to stare at or through them then I like em clean. Would I not be constantly cleaning the thing?

Pretty much turn the above around and you get my pros/cons for the CBF600.

Would be grateful for your any pointers you can give.
Thanks a lot

 

[vertically challenged]

Measured Inside Leg..

Thanks for all the advice... finally go round to measuring my inside leg... 29"

So taking into account all the replies I should be ok with

1150ADV with a low seat.. or 1200 with the seat on the lowest setting..

Need to find somewhere with both so that I can take them out for a spin... preferably in the dry.... if it ever stops raining !!

Thanks again...

V C

 

[Shep]

I've got a 1200 adv with the 1200gs low seat fitted and it felt a bit lower than the budget 1200 with a standard seat (in low position) I rode last week.

The adv suspension is much better as well, on the GS i have to have the suspenders set quite hard to get really good ground clearance, wheras on the GSA i have the rear spring set about a 3rd up from soft and quite stiff damping.

I'm sure this makes a difference to the static sag when just sitting on the bike stationary.

Shep

 

[GSGill]

cross testing them both

The R 1200 GS is surprising stable at low speed i have ridden it at the off road school and also through traffic. Test it you may be surprised.

There is a national approved used bike stock locator online, must be a link form the BMW website/google, so do a search to see which dealer has an 1150 you like the look of, they will defintely have a R 1200 GS on demo as well. then take them both out for a good spin on mixed roads.

If all else fails, you have had a nice afternoon out, provided this rain stops that is