I had no intentions of getting into dirt when I bought my GS low suspension. I did the MABDR a year later. My advise is to get the standard height if you fit. Why limit your possibilities from the start?

 

I am 6' with a 32" inseam. I test drove standard and lowered. Bought standard because it felt better and drove better then the lowered. If you can drive both. Seat adjustment helped the standard fit me.

 

I'm 5'-10" with a 29" inseam and have several GS. I can all but flatfoot on the lowered versions but prefer the standard height better even if up un the balls of my feet.

At 6'-2" unless you are all torso the lowered model is going to feel short.

My suggestion is ride or at least sit on the standard and low versions an see what fits better.

 

At your height and inseam it would be a big mistake to get the low suspension.

Ian

 

At that height why are you considering a lowered? If we know your thought process we could give you better suggestions.....

 

I'm 5'7 and have no problem with the standard suspension; I would not consider lowered suspension for myself. I think at 6'1 it would be a mistake to get lowered suspension.

 

Correct unless hes getting 5 thousand dollars off plus luggage plus NAV 6......

 

My reasoning was that I am not planning on doing any tough off road riding, so I didnt think I would need the standard suspension. Also, I thought it would be important to be able to flat foot if I could. Lastly, the dealer that has the gsa in the kalamata(?) color I like only has a lowered one. But I think he has the one in racing colors in a standard height. I emailed him last night to find out.

 

Gasoline sit on both and see how you feel.....all of us are just giving our opinions. You have to see what you are comfortable with. If you feel you are more planted and confident with the low suspension then go for it.

 

I am 1.74m (5'7") with a 2011 R1200GS with ESA and a lowered seat, I am very comfortable on the standard setting, in full off road mode I tend to be on the ball of my feet, So if I was you I would just get the lowered seat and leave the suspension alone, works for me and I do alot of off road

 

I'm 5'6", 29" inseam, couldn't ride my current 1250 GSA or my previous 1200 GSA unless it came with the factory low suspension. There's exactly the same amount of room as with a standard GS/GSA it's just closer to the ground. My legs are nearly straight with the balls of my feet on the ground, the OP sounds like he's big enough to flatfoot one with some bend to his knees. I'm 99% on-road, some fire-road type stuff for the other 1%. Other people are welcome to take a 600# bike offroad, I would choose a different bike for that purpose.

Completely satisfied with it, I'm not concerned with reduced lean angle - my position is that scraping pegs on public roads (anywhere, actually) means you're pushing the envelope too hard. I just took it to a track day, the photos show that even riding as hard as I care to in a controlled environment, I still have plenty of clearance left.

 

I think the GSA looks funny lowered. The GS lowered with non metal side bags looks great.
I'm 5-11 31 inch inseam, Standard 2020 GSA, with lowered seat. I do pretty good at stops.
I keep the suspension on low also, do mild off roading and does very well.

 

I’m 6’2” and have the lowered suspension and I have had no issues at all with my limited off roading. I do have a RDL seat which sits me slightly higher. I feel much better flat footing stops, and being able to mount and dismount from the bike without scraping my boots across the seats. Mow that I’m older, not as flexible as I used to be

 

At 6.2 you would have been flat footed on the full suspension.
There is a very noticeable difference in ride quality between low and normal suspension height.

Ian

 

Inseam is a much better gauge of bike height fit comparisons than overall height.

6'2" with a 36" inseam is a bit different than a 30" inseam.

 

30" inseam here an no problem with the standard height bike. I put the seat in the low position and ride some pretty challenging off-road on mine. The only time I feel uncomfortable with the height of the bike is when I'm trying to duck walk it backward out of a parking spot - so I don't do that. I'll walk it out beside the bike and then jump on it when I can ride off forward. When I'm in riding challenging situations where most people feel like they need the security of a foot on the ground, I'm standing on the pegs anyway with my eyes up. Rarely need to dab a foot when riding like that.

 

Didn’t think I would do anything but dirt roads either until a friend asked me to join him on a BMW two day offroad class, which to my surprise was an absolute blast. Now I can’t wait to find the next class 4 road. Friend of mine has a lowered GS and ripped the skid plate right off on our most recent trip. I am 5’5” and glad to have the regular suspension GS, albeit with a lowered seat (29” inseam). Of course the lowered GSA would still have a similar ground clearance to my regular GS, if I am not mistaken?

 

I have a lowered GSA. Although the dealer told me it was the same height as a standard GS, it's about half an inch lower. ...Still OK with me.

 

I would go for the standard height and just put the seat in the low position. I am also 6.1 and I sure appreciate the ability to have the extra room to stretch my legs when I am riding mostly slab.

 

If you put the seat in the low position, or worse, get a low seat and put IT in the low position, you're making the seat-to peg distance smaller....effectively same as raising the pegs. Low seats also offer less foam...better than riding on a 2x4 but you get my drift here? When you get lowered suspension, the distance from peg to seat stays the same, assuming you have a normal seat. You just lower the bike a bit.

The only minus with lowered suspension is: Peg to the ground is less, so you can scrape your boots when you lean the bike over hard, which I do a lot. I've learned to put my toe on the inside peg or just raise up my inside foot when the lean angle gets extreme.

The other situation where lowered would not work in your favor is when climbing over big rocks or logs. I just don't do that. I've had my bike over a year and 22K miles. So far? I've never touched the skid plate on anything.

If you use your bike off-road a lot on gnarly trails, then think hard before you decide to buy a lowered suspension, otherwise, low suspensions are terrific.

 

The extra travel in the GSA can still be useful on those trails. And you’re better off giving up that inch or so with a lower seat than by limiting that suspension travel.

im 5’10” and am still waiting for the seat. I can flat-foot onone side with toe+ball on the other. I think you‘LL be fine.

 

I think this boils down to dirt-riding vs sport touring. For me, twisties and long distance transit riding are more important. I've had 4 RTs over 20-some years and that's the sort of riding I like to do. The GSA offers pretty decent wind protection with the large tank...and, of course, more range with the 8 gallon capacity. Additionally, it has ½ degree less rake in front and turns in fantastically. I didn't want a short seat because they have less foam in them for long rides. Also didn't want to give up the peg to seat distance for similar long-ride reasons. I hate no-speed drops in uneven parking lots and things. No way I want to put up with the GSA height every time I make a stop. If I'm on an unpaved road, it's because the GPS didn't tell me the road was unpaved.

The first day of offroad training from BMW, they tell you you're going to drop your bike several times. It's part of the training. I get it. I just don't want to do it on a bike I own and have to pay for repairs on.

I'll buy a smaller bike to do BDR if I get interested...and I'll trailer the bike to the ride. My GSA is a road bike with 90/10 Trail Attack 3's. No contest at all between touching comfortably down every stop and increased ground clearance for big rocks. It's lowered suspension for me, thanksverymuch.

 

I would recommend the standard height. I'm 5'10" with a 31" inseam, and the height is no problem on my standard GS. Plus, you will have a little more legroom from the seat to the pegs, which is more comfortable on a long ride.

 

I would recommend the standard height. I'm 5'10" with a 31" inseam and the height is no problem on my standard GS. Plus, you will have a little more leg room from the seat to the pegs which is more comfortable on a long ride.

This is incorrect. Seat height to peg is the same on a factory lowered GS

 

Remember, the bike has 3 preload settings: low, dynamic & high (not sure those are the exact labels). I'm 5'8" 30 inch inseam. I've got the low suspension 1250gs. Since I'm not tall, I can't compare but with thick-soled boots; I'm good in low & dynamic. The high setting, not so much, but I imagine it'd be fine for your size and riding style. If you love the bike in question, have them start it up and run through those settings to see how they work fur you.

 

I’m 5’5” and ride a 17 low GS. I am used to riding a 08 GS, not lowered, and a 14 RT, not lowered. I can tell no difference in clearance (I‘m a 100% street rider). In fact, of the 12 bikes I’ve owned, this 17 is the best suspension ever, hands down. I ride with lots of GS jockeys all the time, and though you are tall enough for the standard height, I have tall friends on standard GSAs that would buy a lowered GSA next time. Very personal decision, but unless you’re going to ride lots of rough terrains, clearance will not be a problem.

 

I rode an F800GT for a number of years, then traded in for a new R1250GSA with lowered suspension recently. Night and day difference in suspension. So much more comfortable. Felt more comfortable on the lower suspension model in city driving but there was no difference once you got going. In fact, would say that the non-lowered rode slightly smoother yet because of that extra inch or so in the suspension even in town.

I'm 5' 8" with 30" inseam and I debated back and forth. If I were to do it again, likely I would not get the lowered model.

 

I’m 5’9” and rode both. And I bought the 2020 GS Exclusive low suspension. For me the Lowered suspension handled way better than std, as it just felt more nimble (center of mass is lowered). And per my plan, I put on a Sargent Seat which lifted seat height a little and it’s perfect. I also lowered the foot pegs .5” to relax knee bend. Think about the after market seat you might put on which usually raises the seat height. I also mostly tour on it, but I can ride up over a curb without issue. BTW - the Sargent seat can adjust to low or high setting just like stock seat for more fine tuning. I leave it low, but you might go high setting. I think it’s about an inch difference. I rode ~1,600 miles last week on mine from Atlanta to Lake Erie and back. I never got sore once. The GS just continues to amaze me.

 

BTW - my bike is GS with Vario cases. I realize you are looking at GSA.

 

I have the lowered version and often ride on rural gravel roads no complaints here, but I'm 5'8" with 30" inseam, so the lowered version was essential.

 

No, no! I am 5'9" with a 29" and rode the 2018 GS standard suspension on and off road - it was a perfect fit! I sat on the lowered suspension model in the showroom and found it way too low adn the clearance for off-road is less. The height was perfect, the weight was about 150 lbs more than ideal.

 

I'm your same height and have the same inseam and have a 1250. I'm very comfortable with the standard suspension and the higher seat height.

You guys also both play Center for the Sonics, right? "The height was perfect"? Are you both wearing high heels for riding? Perfect for what?

When you're out in the middle of nowhere with a loaded up bike on unlevel ground, riding something tall is a PITA. Nice that you have "skills", but you're going to drop it eventually. Happy to have my lowered GSA 99% of the time. 1% a little more height might be fun, but it's not needed...and I can set ESA to "high" for those occasions...although I don't because it's really not needed.

 

I'm your same height and have the same inseam and have a 1250. I'm very comfortable with the standard suspension and the higher seat height.