BMW R1150GS Lowering

Got a Tech Question? Know something about BMWs?

Moderator: JimVonBaden

Postby Blaster229 » Tue Dec 25, 2007 12:14 pm

Well, to see how it would be without cutting the sidestand or center, just put a two inch block under the sidestand right now as is and there is your answer. I don't see how you can't lower the stands.
Blaster229
Ms. Kitty, Jr
 
Posts: 7695
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 6:32 pm
Location: Balmer.

Postby Yellowjacket » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:13 pm

FINALLY!!!


My R1150GS is lowered. The wait is well worth it. I got some Works Performance shocks and JVB and Kermit did the wrenching. I am using a low seat with the set up and can ride the GS comfortably. Coming from a R1200C the GS feels almost feels like a ST. It has been a long journey getting here and BMWBMW members deserve most of the credit.

A quick chronology:

1970's - Rode 50CC to 250CC street bikes. Got the riding bug.
1987 - Rode a friend's Honda 750 and revived the bug.
2003 - Caged down to Morton's for an open house and fell in love with the 650GS' and the Dakar. I had followed Paris-Dakar since I was a kid. Joined BMWBMW without owning a bike. At that time BMW bikes were out of my league.
2003 - Went by Bob's and Paul Mihalka put me on a 650CS in the middle of the showroom. Still felt the bike was too tall and too expensive. Vaguely remember Repo advising that I find a big rock to put my feet on when I stopped.
2004 - Went to a BMWBMW meeting, met Anton, and got some advice.
Bought a 1980 Honda CM400 to practice.
2005 - Bought a 1995 Kawasaki Vulcan to try a cruiser. Sold the Kawasaki.
2005 - Found a deal on a Yellow/Black R1200C that has the lowest seat BMW made. Finally fulfilled my childhood dream of driving a shaft-drive and BMW bike!
2006 - Sold the Honda CM400. Lots of practice on the R1200C.
2007 - Sold the R1200C and got a R1150GS. Had to get some shorter shocks and a low seat. It is as light as a feather and as smooth as a summer breeze.
2008? Longer trips and may be a off-road school...

Special thanks to BMWBMW members:
-Anton and Paul for their advice and encouragement.
-Repo for advising me to find a big rock to rest my foot.
-JVM and Kermit for their tech knowledge and service. And their ability to purvey the addictive cool-aid.
-Hellokitty for drinking the special coolaid before me and letting me try her lowered GS. That sealed the deal on achieving my goal.
-Doughboy for selling and installing a crash bar on the GS which increased my confidence. He also helped me pick up the GS on a cold morning.
-All other members who have shared some wisdom at one time or another.
-Morton Parts and Accessories for patient and outstanding service. Pat, Seth and Steve.
-Laps for emergency service.

JVB may be posting some pictures soon.

WHAT a CLUB!!!
Last edited by Yellowjacket on Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:41 pm, edited 1 time in total.
-------------------------------------
2004 BMW R1150R (Green and Black)

George Byron: "The best prophet of the future is the past."
User avatar
Yellowjacket
Just call me Moz!
 
Posts: 3499
Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:38 pm
Location: Socialist Republic of PG County

Postby Blaster229 » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:23 pm

Finally means NOTHING without pics!
Blaster229
Ms. Kitty, Jr
 
Posts: 7695
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 6:32 pm
Location: Balmer.

Postby Yellowjacket » Sat Dec 29, 2007 10:47 pm

Pics are coming. BTW the side stand does not need to be cut. I will not be using the center stand.
-------------------------------------
2004 BMW R1150R (Green and Black)

George Byron: "The best prophet of the future is the past."
User avatar
Yellowjacket
Just call me Moz!
 
Posts: 3499
Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:38 pm
Location: Socialist Republic of PG County

Postby JimVonBaden » Sat Dec 29, 2007 11:14 pm

I have to say, on appearances alone, the Works Shocks seem to be pretty nice!

Here are a few pics of the shocks and bike.

Image
Image
Image
Image
Image

In case you were wondering, this is why his bike looks so clean!
Image

After Mosses rode off, Kermit and I decided to attack Tina's bike. An hour and a half later her new Ohlins were on too!

Thanks Kermit!

Jim :brow
User avatar
JimVonBaden
Smooth Motorcycle Operator
 
Posts: 17669
Joined: Tue Oct 28, 2003 11:48 pm
Location: Alexandria, VA

Postby Yellowjacket » Thu Jan 03, 2008 12:38 am

Feeling froggy, well-grounded, with pictures to proove. Thx JVB and Kermit.

Image
Image
-------------------------------------
2004 BMW R1150R (Green and Black)

George Byron: "The best prophet of the future is the past."
User avatar
Yellowjacket
Just call me Moz!
 
Posts: 3499
Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:38 pm
Location: Socialist Republic of PG County

Postby Blaster229 » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:13 am

Bike is looking a little too upright on that sidestand for my likes.
Get rid of those sissy city bags too. :wink:
Blaster229
Ms. Kitty, Jr
 
Posts: 7695
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 6:32 pm
Location: Balmer.

Postby RJP3579 » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:58 am

Ya...and get it off the sidewalk!! :lol: :lol:
Rick :rider:
User avatar
RJP3579
Are you not entertained?
 
Posts: 2715
Joined: Tue Nov 08, 2005 1:32 pm
Location: Pasadena, MD

Postby bread » Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:06 pm

Looks Nice!

Ben -- Do you know the final seat height? Can I ask how tall you are?

I am 5' 7" and the seat height of a cycle is one of my major criteria when looking to buy a bike. Your lowering project interests me for a possible GS someday.
bread
 

Postby repo » Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:17 pm

Yellowjacket wrote:
Special thanks to BMWBMW members:
-Repo for advising me to find a big rock to rest my foot.
WHAT a CLUB!!!



:lol:

i try to help when i can.
repo
 

Postby Yellowjacket » Thu Jan 03, 2008 2:55 pm

Looks Nice!

Ben -- Do you know the final seat height? Can I ask how tall you are?

I am 5' 7" and the seat height of a cycle is one of my major criteria when looking to buy a bike. Your lowering project interests me for a possible GS someday.


I am 5'7" as well with a 28" inseam and chubby legs. I would guess the final seat height to be 29" (28.x compressed by my body weight) which is similar to my R1200C. My rear shock is 2" shorter and the front 1 1/2 shorter. I can get the balls of my feet on the ground. Another member with 29 inseam can flat foot sitting on my bike. If you are riding a K75, you may want to try a GS standard with a low seat which is cheaper than getting new shocks. Further The seat can be shaved narrower in the front part to accommodate reach. Also check on the weight of the GS vs the K. The K bikes' center of gravity may be higher and may also weigh more. Going from my R1200C to the R1150GS, the center of gravity may be about the same, and I shed 100lbs so the GS is much more manageable at lower speed and is light as a feather at higher speeds.

Moses
You can call me Ben, but that is not my real name. The real Ben may show up at some point :lol:
-------------------------------------
2004 BMW R1150R (Green and Black)

George Byron: "The best prophet of the future is the past."
User avatar
Yellowjacket
Just call me Moz!
 
Posts: 3499
Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:38 pm
Location: Socialist Republic of PG County

Postby bread » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:34 pm

Yellowjacket wrote:I am 5'7" as well with a 28" inseam and chubby legs. I would guess the final seat height to be 29" (28.x compressed by my body weight) which is similar to my R1200C. My rear shock is 2" shorter and the front 1 1/2 shorter. I can get the balls of my feet on the ground. Another member with 29 inseam can flat foot sitting on my bike. If you are riding a K75, you may want to try a GS standard with a low seat which is cheaper than getting new shocks. Further The seat can be shaved narrower in the front part to accommodate reach. Also check on the weight of the GS vs the K. The K bikes' center of gravity may be higher and may also weigh more. Going from my R1200C to the R1150GS, the center of gravity may be about the same, and I shed 100lbs so the GS is much more manageable at lower speed and is light as a feather at higher speeds.



Thanks!
I sat on a new BMW-something with a low seat the first time I went to Bob's a couple months ago. It was niiice. The standard seats were mostly too tall for my comfort zone, but I really liked that bike with the low seat. :) :)

Yellowjacket wrote:

Moses
You can call me Ben, but that is not my real name. The real Ben may show up at some point :lol:


'Doh!
I started to use your screen name, but your tag line "Call me Ben" seemed like an invitation, so I did.
From now on I'm addressing everyone by their screen name when I post!

- "Bread"
bread
 

Postby Yellowjacket » Thu Jan 03, 2008 4:46 pm

I started to use your screen name, but your tag line "Call me Ben" seemed like an invitation, so I did.
From now on I'm addressing everyone by their screen name when I post!


You never know when the webmaster may get itchy fingers and create a name. :lol:
If you go to the holiday party, you are welcome to sit on my bike.
-------------------------------------
2004 BMW R1150R (Green and Black)

George Byron: "The best prophet of the future is the past."
User avatar
Yellowjacket
Just call me Moz!
 
Posts: 3499
Joined: Sat Oct 11, 2003 10:38 pm
Location: Socialist Republic of PG County

Postby Blaster229 » Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:20 pm

hey with a limit for the avatars, why is there no limit on a sig line? Especially with a BIG pic of ones bike??
Blaster229
Ms. Kitty, Jr
 
Posts: 7695
Joined: Fri Dec 30, 2005 6:32 pm
Location: Balmer.

I have a big what??

Postby bread » Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:50 pm

Who,... me?????
Image




well, I didn't want to violate the avatar size limit but I still wanted to include a better pic of my bike. And placing large-ish images in the signature line still takes less room than most pictures that are posted in a post.
..but I do plan to remove the big sig pic.
I can remove it sooner if it bothers you. Because I'm just a bloody nice bloke!! :wink:



compensating with a large signature for my small, um, bike,
-bread
bread
 

PreviousNext

Return to Tech

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 14 guests

cron