Lowering a Low Frame R1200R

[dodi]

I have a 2009 low frame, low seat r1200 and as was mentioned in previous posts....am loving it. I am only 5'4" tall and with a good soled boot i am managing the bike. ( have ridden for about 15 years....am 54 years old ) I am wondering if anyone can tell me if it is possible to lower my bike any further with an aftermarket shock. I know suspension travel and cornering clearance are all affected , as well as handling and some comfort issues but i would be interested only in a slight change in seat height ....maybe no more than 1/2 inch more. I know it doesn't seem like much but from my perspective a little bit helps, especially in putting my feet down in off camber areas or slight dips or potholes in the road. From my previous experience lowering other bikes i have realized whenever i have lowered them my riding and confidence level increased. In many cases i was advised to not lower my bikes too much because of riding/safety issues. Of the 10 or more bikes i lowered i never once had any issues with safety , bottoming out or cornering clearance. ( i guess i am not a very aggressive rider. ) on average I have lowered my bikes, mainly Sportbikes and a Kawasaki klr650 and Suzuki V-strom as much as 2 to 2 .5 inches. The Bmw r 1200 low frame model is 3/4 of an inch lower than stock if i am not mistaken. So the total amount that i would have the bike lowered is 1.25 or 1.5 inches overall. I hope this makes some sense. I know that i will be happy to ride and keep my r bike as is, but if i can have the bike lowered a bit more i would definitely consider it.

[Rocket]

Just a thought, probably impossible, but have you looked around for lower profile tyres?
And what about having a seat specialist take some foam out of the seat. I have the low seat and there's not much scope but feel sure a bit can be removed.

[fastdogs2]

Dodi,

I understand what you mean about riding confidence from the ability to put your feet firmly on the ground. The height of the R1200RT and my inability to flatfoot that bike was what made me sell the R1200RT and purchase the R1200R. Although I am 5 ft 8 in with a 29 inch inseam, I was uncomfortable with the RT because I was on my tip toes all the time, even with the low seat.

I am able to get the balls of my feet down on the ground with the R1200R. My bike is equipped with the standard suspension height and the 800 mm seat height (31.5 in) Comfort Saddle.

In answer to your question, yes it is possible to lower the R1200R with an aftermarket shock. My dealer was going to install a Hyperpro (Dutch made) shock to lower my bike up to 2 inches. After I sat on the R1200R and rode it on a test ride, I decided not to have the aftermarket shock installed.

As other posters have mentioned, in regard to lowering any bike, that it does affect handling characteristics and suspension travel. It also impacts the center stand and side stand lengths. You may have to shorten these, if you lower the bike.

You say that you are not an agressive rider, so the lowering may not affect handling or suspension travel for you.

Ask your dealer about the Hyperpro shock and lowering the bike with it.

Bill

[deilenberger]

Another thought might be taller boots:

http://www.daytona.de/english/boots_e/gore.html

There is a US importer somewhere.. Googling will likely turn them up..

[michael Tobias]

I have been fooling around with the seat on my bike for a while. I was not comfortable with the regular height bike and a low seat. I had it modified by a few different places but was never comfortable with the outcome. I finally took the cover off and started carving the foam myself... I did scoop out some of the foam and installed a 1/2 gel pad, got a cover resewn and managed to lower my seat at least 1/2", maybe a bit more. the saddle actually works well for long distances but because of the shape of the pan, I could not get a good "flat" spot on the length and have managed to make a saddle that pushes me up towards the tank too much. If you don't need to push away from the tank that far, you could probably get someone in the Vancouver/Seattle area to modify your saddle and get you lowered a bit more. After riding on it all summer I decided I needed to be able to mover around a bit more in the saddle so I am back on the quest again. for now I have gone back to the regular low seat.

[Caol]

Hmmm.... A friend of mine in the Ottawa area, also in the 5'4" zone, is now riding a 2010 R1200RT. She went with the factory lowered bike/seat and then had somebody in Montreal build shocks for both ends that dropped the bike a little further. I'm not sure of all the details/cost etc. I'll send her an email and see what comes up.

If I sat on the bike it would probably bottom out quickly (I'm in the 280lb class!), but she's not encountered any problems at all.


Kyle

[Motorcycle_Girl]

Another thought might be taller boots:

http://www.daytona.de/english/boots_e/gore.html

There is a US importer somewhere.. Googling will likely turn them up..

I tried on a pair of those Daytona boots...they do make a big difference in your ability to touch the ground and you can still use the controls comfortably...they are well made and waterproof....but not cheap. Still compared to the cost of shocks or other lowering it may be an option for you.

I guess it comes down to what ever you are comfortable with. None of the bikes I have ever ridden could I touch the ground so I have adapted..

I have the standard suspension and low seat and I have also ridden the bike with the standard seat and I am 5'2" with about a 28" inseam....I just get used to only putting my left foot down and my right on the rear brake.
Celeste

[Caol]

Further to my note above. She says her tech just sent the shocks and suspension measurements to "Stadium Suspension" in Montreal, where they trimmed just enough off the shock to lower the bike another inch and re-installed them. So it wasn't even new shocks, just modification of the stock (non-ESA) shocks. She didn't mention the price, but figures that any decent shock shop should be able to do the work.

Here's the URL for Statdium Suspension:

http://www.stadiumsuspension.com/en/about.html

Kyle

[deilenberger]

Further to my note above. She says her tech just sent the shocks and suspension measurements to "Stadium Suspension" in Montreal, where they trimmed just enough off the shock to lower the bike another inch and re-installed them. So it wasn't even new shocks, just modification of the stock (non-ESA) shocks. She didn't mention the price, but figures that any decent shock shop should be able to do the work.

Here's the URL for Statdium Suspension:

http://www.stadiumsuspension.com/en/about.html

Kyle

Interesting. Wonder if they did anything with the springs? You'd have a bunch of preload if the spring isn't shortened also.. From memory - travel in the front is a 2:1 ratio (2" travel on axle = 1" travel on shock) and the rear is 3:1. I imagine they took the end fitting off the shock rod, shortened it and then threaded it. Interesting if they can do that with the stockers.