Need Shop to install new Lowering kit

[crewzzn88]

Good evening. I am going to place an order with Hyperpro for a front/rear 30mm lowering kit. Before I do this, I will need a shop in my area to install it plus adjust my side stand and center stand. I live in the San Francisco bay area. Any help will be appreciated. Thank You!

[deilenberger]

This is really a pretty simple DIY project.. and there is nothing done to the side/centerstand unless you want to order the ones used on BMW lowered suspension model (which are slightly shorter..)

If you receive them in the next few weeks, I'll be going through SF area sometime early next month, and could show you how to install the shocks in about an hour.. A few tools are needed, but I might actually have them in my Cayenne.

[crewzzn88]

Don,

Thanks for your offer, but I'm in no hurry. Heck, maybe I'll give it a shot. Might save me some money to boot. Which shock did you do first?, the front or the rear? or does it matter?

[deilenberger]

Don,

Thanks for your offer, but I'm in no hurry. Heck, maybe I'll give it a shot. Might save me some money to boot. Which shock did you do first?, the front or the rear? or does it matter?

I did the rear first since the lowered rear shock makes it easier to lift the front end enough to get the front shock off... Do make sure your rear tire clears the ground when on the centerstand, and have a floor-jack handy to lift the front end up.

The rest of the job is just unbolting and bolting stuff on. The tank has to be moved back about 2" to get to the top front shock mount, remove the two throttle-body covers, unscrew the sidepanels, and remove the plastic trim inside the fork-tube tunnels on the tank. There is one bolt on the left side that retains the tank. With everything off, and the bolt remove you can lift it a bit and slide it back 2" without the need to disconnect anything. If your carbon-canister is still in position, you'll need to remove it (mark the hoses so you get them back on the correct nipple..)

Have some medium strength locktite handy - it's used on the two bottom bolts on both shocks, and I also used it on the bolt/nut on the top of the rear shock.

Good luck!

[cswett]

Not to hijack this thread, but, Don, are you going to be in the Sacramento area, too? I'm dying for someone who knows his stuff to listen to my 1150r and tell me if the clicking is abnormal.

[deilenberger]

Not to hijack this thread, but, Don, are you going to be in the Sacramento area, too? I'm dying for someone who knows his stuff to listen to my 1150r and tell me if the clicking is abnormal.

Sorry - nope. Did Sacramento about 4 years ago on my last C2C2C trip. Will be sticking to the coast pretty much until we get up in Washington and turn right heading back east.

Best,

[dbrick]

Have some medium strength locktite handy - it's used on the two bottom bolts on both shocks...

I just did this job. I'll add that the lower bolts, both front and rear, come from the factory with locktite. Heat is necessary to remove them.

[crewzzn88]

I decided to "go local " for my new lower shocks. I will be ordering my shocks from Ted Porter's Beemer Shop in Santa Cruz, just 80 miles from where I live. I will be using Wilber Shocks instead of Hyperpro's. From what I been reading, both are great shocks. Now I have to figure out whats the best way to redo my side stand and center stand.

[Motoscuba]

Greetings. I'm new to this forum. Currently on a F650Gs twin, factory lowered frame. Putting knobbies on the GS, permanent. Looking at the R1220R as my road bike but I need it to be as low as the factory lowered frame 1200R with low seat. Question. Does BMW actually make a "lowering kit" to do this to any 1200R? Would it be as low as the factory lowered 1200R? Do other aftermarket kits lower it as far? Should this be true, I could actually buy a pre-owned standard height 1200R and lower it myself. Please enlighten me.
Larry (Motoscuba) Stough, St Louis.

[crewzzn88]

bmw doesn't sell a lowering kit per say. they do sell new lowered bikes though. from my searches, you have to order aftermarket shocks and let them know you want them x amount lower that stock. i just ordered wilber shocks made 1" lower than stock, NOT cheap. but the r12r will be my everyday bike because i am retiring my 02 zr7s kawasaki soon. hope this helps. i'm 5'5" 155lbs. with 40 years of mc riding experience.

[deilenberger]

Greetings. I'm new to this forum. Currently on a F650Gs twin, factory lowered frame. Putting knobbies on the GS, permanent. Looking at the R1220R as my road bike but I need it to be as low as the factory lowered frame 1200R with low seat. Question. Does BMW actually make a "lowering kit" to do this to any 1200R? Would it be as low as the factory lowered 1200R? Do other aftermarket kits lower it as far? Should this be true, I could actually buy a pre-owned standard height 1200R and lower it myself. Please enlighten me.
Larry (Motoscuba) Stough, St Louis.

Almost any of the "custom" shock makers (HyperPro, Wilbers, Ohlins) will make a shorter shock for you. You could certainly order them to the same length that BMW uses. One downside of the "standard" shortened shock is loss of suspension travel. The lowering comes off the "top" - ie - the max height of the bike changes. The fully compressed suspension height of the bike remains the same. This can lead to a somewhat harsh feeling suspension. I worked with Klaus at HyperPro to come up with a lower suspension that maintains the same travel as the stock components. It works great for me - but it can mean you may touch-down sooner if you're a 9/10ths rider and hit a bump mid-corner.

There are tradeoffs for everything.. The plus with having custom shocks made is they are typically better quality and more adjustable then the ones BMW uses (and cheaper - believe it or not - then replacement BMW shocks.)