Little David -- Little Steve here. I just picked up a 2014 with low suspension with the seat placed into its lowered position, with my boots nearly flat on the ground - floating above just a small amount. I've never ridden a GS before, so I can't compare it with anything GS-like. But I would say it is quite managable, and I'm confident that with experience I won't end up lying sideways on the street at a stop.

 

I talked to dealer about a factory lowered bike, but after ridding the demo bike
I felt fine, the bike is a little intimidating on the center stand but after you put some weight on it, it's not hard to handle. I have a 32 inseam (82cm).

But I would say buying a lowered seat is not the solution. GS foot pegs are so high you feel like your riding a English saddle like a jockey all day, don't give up that distance between the set and foot pegs ...very uncomfortable on long trips.

 

But I would say buying a lowered seat is not the solution. GS foot pegs are so high you feel like your riding a English saddle like a jockey all day, don't give up that distance between the set and foot pegs ...very uncomfortable on long trips.

I agree with the above.

I have 29" inseam. I got the lowered suspension with the seat set high in front to prevent the balls vs tank collision. I can get the balls of my feet down . No need for flat footing on a GS. Ride the bike for a day or two and you won't even think about it.

Ed

 

I have a 29" inseam, and have no problem with the pegs. However, with the low seat in the forward low position, it dips in front pushing me into the tank. In the forward high position, the seat is more level but a little too high for me. Looking into an aftermarket seat to resolve this, hopefully. But the low suspension option is great for a runt like me.

 

Life with a 2013 lower suspension

I have a 29" inseam. For 10 years I thought the R1150RT seemed top heavy. Even with a Sargent seat I could only get the balls of both feet on the ground. So when I wanted to move over to the 2013 R1200GSW I knew I would have to order the lower suspension. Ordered in March, took delivery in May and now have 7800 miles. I am a happy camper! In the low seat position I am flat footed and feel in complete control around parking lots and camp grounds. But after a few hours in the saddle my "stich" begins to feel tight behind the knees. So I now ride long days with the seat in the high position with great comfort on the road and back to being on the balls of my feet in parking lots. The key for me, is the lighter weight of the GS makes the tip toe movements much easier. Oh, one possible negative; even though BMW claims to have changed the side and center stands, I find it very difficult to get the bike up on the center stand. So, bottom line, if you have short legs, I whole heartedly recommend the lower suspension.

 

PGH, I have the same experience exactly. With the seat front high, very comfortable but back to the toes. I hope to find a seat solution that satisfies both comfort and need for low. Several manufacturers including Sargent and Corbin are working on designs now, and should be announced in the Spring.

 

I just mounted the new Touratech "extra low" to try it; and it works. Placing the front of the new seat in the upper position is just about perfect for my runt stature. No sliding toward the tank. The seat is as hard as a rock, so I put on an Airhawk cushion, inflated just a little. All seems good now. I can flatfoot, and the seat is reasonably comfortable.

 

I purchased the 2014 GS with the factory lowered suspension not because I could not reach the ground but to lower the C of G and improve handling. I will never ride the bike in a true off road situation so the lower bike will more than meet my needs on dirt roads and fire trails when I run into them.

To improve leg comfort I purchased the factory standard height. The lowered bike with the standard seat has been great for me.

 

Pegs too high?

Maybe its just me, but I have a problem with the foot pegs also, they keep scraping on the road when I give it the hurry up in the twisty bits.

I do tend to ride it fast on the tarmac, and have no trouble go faster on the twist roads than a lot of mates on sports bikes. I guess everyone is different, and we all have varying degrees of competence.

I am 6ft 4 tall, and ride with the seat as high as I can get it, and with an air hawk on the seat as well, I find the comfort ok, but even with the suspension set for two up, I still grind the pegs on the road.
The tyres are certainly used to the very edge of the tread, and grip very well. I use Michelin Pilot Sport 4 Trail.

Is it just me? or do others grind the foot pegs as well.

 

Is it just me? or do others grind the foot pegs as well.

Never not once. I prefer to hang off so extreme lean angles are not required to negotiate a corner. I am old and don't want to find the traction limits the hard way. ?

Ed

 

2014 R1200GS LC, with factory lowered seat, 31" inseam and I have the seat in the high position for street. When I get off in dirt I lower the seat to get a little more foot down if needed.

I love this bike!

 

2015 GSA Low Suspension

I purchased the 2015 GSA Low Suspension model. While I probably could have gotten away with the regular suspension bike, it surely would have been on the low seat position most of the time. Tried both bikes before deciding and found the low suspension with the seat set to the high level was perfect. The difference between you and the pegs are the same for both bikes. With the seat in the high position, the knee bend angle is better. So I ordered it outfitted with a Sargent heated seat and the adjustable BMW pegs. Now after riding it for a while, it was clearly the right choice.

For those that might be concerned on the visual, it's tough to tell the difference between the two even side by side. BMW has long be criticised for ride heights on some of their bikes. This available option opens the GSA to a larger group of riders.

So heated seat, grips & vest. It's in the 30's. Let's ride!

 

Lowered suspension

I have the lowered suspension version, the dealer recommended the standard version for me (probably had excess on his inventory), but having experienced tip toeing around previously on a Triumph Tiger, I ignored his advice, and am I glad I did, around town at home I use the lower seat settings, however on long runs and touring I prefer to put the seat on it's higher setting which gives me a little more leg stretch. FYI I have a 29 inch inside leg and this bike fits me like a glove.

 

hi guys my very 1st post...

ive owned 5 bikes in total and current is a ducati 1199 and honda CBR

im new to BMW.. and looking to buy my very 1st...

i want the 2015 GSA but fightinh between standard with low seat OR
low suspension with standard seat...

i wish to ask if its ok that you guys post side pictures of your GSA... and ask whats the ground clearance...

i have 29 inseam and i worry that geting lowered would ruin the off road ability...
i dont offroad at all but there will be chance i will do some with river crossing..

 

would you mind posting a picture of your bike side on to see how much ground clearance... its hard finding 2015 GSA with low

 

Based on your current bikes and 29" inseam I can't imagine a GSA is ideal for you. If you really are going to go off road the longer travel suspension of the GSA and stock protection are nice features. If you are not going into challenging off road situations you will get no benefit from the GSA.

If it were me with that inseam I'd go for the lowered GS. If I were going off road I'd add some engine and body protection to my lowered GS and probably still save a bunch of money and have confidence when I need to reach the ground. I have a 30-31" inseam and see no practical reason not to have the lowered GS.

 

Hi, first post here. I have a 29 inch inseam. Currently looking at the GS with low suspension and seat. I test rode the standard suspension GS (33.5 inch seat height) and had no problems (one footing it), but prefer the reach to ground with the low suspension.

For bluebear 69 - The GSA has a 35 inch seat height (33.1 with the low seat), which for someone with a 29 inseam is a long reach to the ground. I have off-road enduro experience (KTM EXC) and will tell you that my 35 inch seat height KTM was an "adventure" in off-road (uneven footing) conditions. On a sub 300 lbs. enduro bike it is manageable, but a GSA is a 575 lbs. machine, which is a whole different story. Just my 2 cents...

I may be wrong, but it looks to me like BMW does not make the low suspension for the GSA (only the GS).

http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/us/en/index.html

 

bmw makes low susp on 2015.. both models...

i test rode both gs and gsa with low seat.. and they are on par seat height...
i can ride on road easy... infact i have no issue with 29inseam...
been riding 12 years so things like 1 footed is nothing.
problem is i want a bike i can travel a country on...
and that off road with unsettle road it be hard to get footing... so i ether go exlow seat gsa... or low suspension so i needed some feedback on the low suspension...

 

If all goes as planned, I should pick up my 2015 low suspension GS on Thursday. Will report back after I have a few miles under my belt...

 

thank you very much...

will you be doin some off road?

 

I just returned from a short ride on my 15 GSA with lowered suspension and a standard GSA seat.
I have a 36" inseam and have had RT's and GS's off and on for the last 9 years.
I wanted to replace a Goldwing with another RT but they have shrunk the rider's triangle even more. One test ride showed me that the RT was no longer a fit.
There was a factory lowered GS and a GSA on the showroom floor which had just been rolled onto their floor that morning.
Test rode the GS demo that they had and thought that I was riding a sports bike.
One look and a short ride on the lowered GSA and I made the purchase.
750 miles now and I'm loving it. I actually like the heavier crankshaft feeling the that the GSA gets.
Now. The farkling begins.

 

...I have a 36" inseam...

Is that a typo and you meant 26"????

36" and a lowered bike doesn't make sense to me.

 

is the lowered suspension... just shorten down suspension?
so less suspension travel?

or is it that they lower the bike down the forks and change geometry of the bike to lower it by 2 inchs?

 

It's been reported that the lowered bikes loose suspension travel. The fully compressed shock is supposedly the same length between lowered and non lowered -- the lowering comes from the top. You might also get a stiffer spring since there is less travel to play with.

With lowering from the top the geometry should stay pretty much the same.

 

I've had my low suspension GS for 325 miles now, so it is still really a new bike for me. My initial impression: I love it! I test rode the standard height bike and I don't notice any greater stiffness on the low suspension model (all road riding so far). With the ESA in Soft it is very compliant and I usually keep it in Normal for general use - although soft gives me enough sag to easily back peddle it out of the garage - which is something I can't do with most standard height bikes. With a 29 inch inseam getting both feet down on an adventure bike is well - unusual, so this is a real winner for me... It is also a breeze to get up on the center stand, so they must have modified that too. I keep asking myself, why is BMW the only manufacturer to have figured out all riders do not have +32 inch inseams?

 

did you get the GS or GSA?
any hassle cornering?

 

I've just deposited the R1200GSA LC Early this week for the local assembly version. Apparently in Thailand they going to sell only local assembly version.

However, is come with only one option with Low suspension + Dynamic ESA and Low seat.

I'm quite worry because i'm 182 with inseam 32. I did try the GSA LC with standard height + Low seat. I quite happy with the bike's height.

Would i be just fine with the Low suspension + low seat.. the actual one will arrive in August to try out. -_-'

if not happy, i have only two option.
1. Change the suspension. BMW recommend touratech suspension which around 3-4000 USD.
2. Upgrade the seat the standard seat. it only like 400 USD to upgrade this and again. I don't know how the ergonomic of the bike will be.

 

THE SEAT HAS BEEN SOLD.

I recently sold my low 2014 GS. The bike came with a low seat and I swapped the low seat for the stock seat to gain leg room and it worked out well. The new owner wanted the low seat so I now have the standard seat for sale in the classified section. Take a peek if you have interest in a stock seat for your low GS. I'd say if you are maybe 5-8" or taller the stock seat is a nice way to take advantage of the added cushion of the stock vs. low seat the low bikes comes with. Under 5'8" the standard seat which adds about 3/4" may make the low bike too tall.

 

Is there an easy way to tell if a bike has the factory low suspension option, something to measure or a code on the frame ?

 

Go here. Free Online BMW VIN Decoder, lookup, check - BMWVin.com Key in the last 7 of your VIN, answer the CAPTCHA question, and get your results in (mostly) english.

BMW Baureihenarchiv · April 2016 · bmwarchiv.de can give you the same info in German.