Yet another height question

[Rescue]

I have yearned for a 1200GSA for a while now and would like some honest opinions on the height of the damn thing,
Im 5'7", nearly 13 stone, but with a 29" inside leg, yes 29" !

In your honest opinions, am i too short for a GSA ?

I dont mind being on tip toes at all, but i would like my tippy toes down on both feet.

 

[gavin@iow]

I have yearned for a 1200GSA for a while now and would like some honest opinions on the height of the damn thing,
Im 5'7", nearly 13 stone, but with a 29" inside leg, yes 29" !

In your honest opinions, am i too short for a GSA ?

I dont mind being on tip toes at all, but i would like my tippy toes down on both feet.

The best thing to do, is go to the nearest dealer and sit on one and get the feel of it, you yourself will know whether it is 'right' for you. It's all to do with confidence.

 

[Packer]

I've sat on one of these in the showroom, (I'm 5'10", 31" inside leg over 14 stone) and would be concerned that if I was stopping on uneven ground that I would not be able to get both feet down.

Having said that ask around the forum for anyone with low seat options that you can maybe get to sit on.

BM offer a lower seat and after market suppliers can offer lowered suspension.

At least one lady member of this forum (IluvmyGS) rides a standard 1200GS and I seem to recall that she posted somewhere that she is only 5' 4" tall. Mind you that may be 90% legs and a short body for all I know.

 

[Shep]

I'm 5'10" with an almost Gazelle like 29" inside leg and I ride a 12GSA with the standard seat, On road, you have to be a bit street wise with parking and observing cambers, but I get by OK. Off road Its a big bike and if all goes OK its great, however its real easy get "stranded" and over you go

Saying that i've not dropped it any more times than the budget 1200's i've had before.

Get a test ride with a low seat, its a great bike

Shep

 

[Janie]

i'm 5.4 and ride a gs with a low seat.........29in leg...........get yaself a pair of paddock boots with a thick sole.............sorted.....the bike has a low down weight so its easy to ride...........go have a test ride then you can decide what you want to do....................................janie

 

[Bones]

Lots of info on seat height here

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/showthread.php?t=96377

You could always get some stackies

 

[Rescue]

Height

Cheers peeps, it would seem then it is possible with the help of a low seat and abit of confidence.

Trip to Rainbow for me then tomorrow. Wonder how long they would let me test ride an GSA for .

 

[Janie]

I went to southport superbikes and i had the bike for 3 days to play on.....over the weekend..............bought a new one on the monday i took the demo back.....................

 

[John Armstrong]

Wonder how long they would let me test ride an GSA for.

Depends on how likely they think that you'll buy one from them. I'm sure they get quite a few tyre kickers who fancy a go on a nice new bike at no cost to them.

 

[LiquidLAN]

i'm 5.4 and ride a gs with a low seat.........29in leg...........janie

I was doing really well at paying attention until you said that!!! Now I'm feeling all distracted

Rescue, you should be fine I'm 28" (I think) inside leg, I initially found that I needed to ride the 12GSA with a low seat, but after 5k miles, the suspension has softened enough that I'm fine with the standard seat. There are a few tricks you can employ to make life easier. Namely sit it upright and apply the front break, then drop it back on the side stand, if you do this you'll loose a good inch or so off the over all height and make getting on easier. Similarly, apply the front break before putting the bike on the side stand, you'll keep the bike down until you get off then.

Boots wise, Daytona do a made to measure service and they'll spec a pair of boots how ever you want them

 

[LiquidLAN]

I went to southport superbikes and i had the bike for 3 days to play on.....over the weekend..............bought a new one on the monday i took the demo back.....................

if you talked about the 29" inside leg, I'm sure the dealer would have be just as distracted as I am you can get away with anything at times like that

 

[JohnC]

budget 1200's

 

[miffolump]

Is there a specific low seat option for the 1200GSA like there is for the 1200GS, or do BMW only do one low seat which fits both the GS and the GSA?

 

[Psycho]

i am 6' 4'' have a 32'' leg 19 stone and have no problems what so ever on a gs,
but i cant fit on a mini moto
so its swings and roundabouts
but i know what machine i would rather ride

as on the small bike i would look daft

 

[LiquidLAN]

Is there a specific low seat option for the 1200GSA like there is for the 1200GS, or do BMW only do one low seat which fits both the GS and the GSA?

Same seat... one seat fits all... well the 12gs and 12gsa at least

the same is true for the rear seat if you want a happier pillion that is.

 

[Rescue]

Height

Been into Southport Superbikes today and sat on a 1200 GSA with a low seat. It certainly seemed managable to me. Couldnt quite get my right foot down, but its something i think i could cope with. Only problem is that i tried it without any fuel in or panniers on. The dealer seemed to think i would have real problems when it was loaded up with panniers and nearly 5 stone of fuel, ( surely not 5 stone in weight for a full tank full ? ). He said i wouldnt be able to get it off the side stand with a full tank. I didnt ask, but i think he wasnt keen on letting me have a test ride. I nearly said to him that what if i was taller but a right skinny weakling. Surely if the bikes heavy then its gonna be heavy for everyone, not just us vertically challenged. He was more than keen to let me have a go on something else though, so knew i was a serious buyer.
What do you the good peoples think, will the full tank of fuel make a big difference to my already short legs, bearing in mind i aint no light weight and do have strong legs.

Cheers all,

 

[THE ROVER]

Been into Southport Superbikes today and sat on a 1200 GSA with a low seat. It certainly seemed managable to me. Couldnt quite get my right foot down, but its something i think i could cope with. Only problem is that i tried it without any fuel in or panniers on. The dealer seemed to think i would have real problems when it was loaded up with panniers and nearly 5 stone of fuel, ( surely not 5 stone in weight for a full tank full ? ). He said i wouldnt be able to get it off the side stand with a full tank. I didnt ask, but i think he wasnt keen on letting me have a test ride. I nearly said to him that what if i was taller but a right skinny weakling. Surely if the bikes heavy then its gonna be heavy for everyone, not just us vertically challenged. He was more than keen to let me have a go on something else though, so knew i was a serious buyer.
What do you the good peoples think, will the full tank of fuel make a big difference to my already short legs, bearing in mind i aint no light weight and do have strong legs.

Cheers all,

Hi Paul. I sat on the same bike last week thinking exactly the same as you.

Was it Mike you spoke with?

I soon got of it when it was mentioned that I would need to put 5k towards a deal!!

Stuart.

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

I have yearned for a 1200GSA for a while now and would like some honest opinions on the height of the damn thing,
Im 5'7", nearly 13 stone, but with a 29" inside leg, yes 29" !

In your honest opinions, am i too short for a GSA ?

I dont mind being on tip toes at all, but i would like my tippy toes down on both feet.

You're about the same height/leg length as me tho I beat you on the weight I don't have an issue with my GSA on a BMW low seat. You've just got to be careful where you put your foot when pulling up to a halt

 

[John Armstrong]

33 litres at 0.8 sg = 26.4 kg = 58.08 lbs

Maybe they were on about getting it upright off the sidestand with the panniers / fuel? It seems to lean over a long way, just like the 1150 GSA. But then you can "adjust" the angle of dangle to equal the heat of the meat IYKWIM

 

[Janie]

instead of worryin about the 1200gsa...................why not have the 1200gs .............you can get ya panniers on that and all................i'll get me coat!!