GS Bike for vertically impaired

Str8lin · 01-18-2013, 10:57 AM

Hi Group,

Need some advice. Good friend ( 5'2") is looking for a decent GS, preferrably used that she can ride without 4 inch platform boots. I know we can adapt other ergometric concerns with bar backs, seat lowering etc. But do not want to chop up a suspension to point of uselessness off road.

Ideas???

Thanks,

Stkmkt1 · 01-18-2013, 11:07 AM

Sounds like your talking something along the lines of a 650?low seat, shorter shocks, don't know what else you could do?

usgser · 01-18-2013, 11:21 AM

If you're determined to get a GS. I would look into the earlier 650 "single cyl" era of the 650 GS. 2000 up era. Don't know your intended use/distances/speeds etc but if you can look beyond a BMW badged bike fun bike for banging around off pavement for short folks is the goofy Yam TW 200. Kind of a way over rated cult bike but low, light, and easy to handle for the inseam impaired. Slow, under powered and does nothing "well" but it's bullet proof reliable and super easy to handle.

Ricardo Kuhn · 01-18-2013, 11:41 AM

Str8lin · 01-18-2013, 01:05 PM

Well. she is not quite that small!

:-)

GSJon · 01-18-2013, 01:25 PM

The G650GS would probably suit her. It is a single and is a little lower than the F650/700GS or F800GS without a lower seat or having it lowered.

I'm 5'5" and have the F650GS with just the lowered seat and can flat foot it at stop lights. The GSpot forum would be a better spot to have posted this.

Northern Hooligan · 01-18-2013, 01:35 PM

My wife just got her MC lic in Aug of 2012, stands '5'2 on after trying a lot of bikes, lucked out and found a mint 2004 F650GS that works for her. I can not recall the name of the boots, but they are not altered in any way, waterproof, lifted her up enough that she can stand safely on the bike. The seat and suspension are stock, but we are going to have the passanger part of the seat shaved down a bit because she is dragging her foot along it getting off and on the bike. Other than that, for the short time she was able to ride it, she loves it.

gsweave · 01-18-2013, 02:00 PM

F650GS

Lowered shock, dropped fork tubes.

Works for my 5' tall wifey,

The K75 on short shocks will work as well, she has that for distance trips.

rkover1 · 01-18-2013, 02:37 PM

I'm 5'2", with a short inseam. I have a 2006 F650GS, not lowered that has worked well for me (almost 100,000 miles). The lowered version (either OEM or via Kouba Links) would give a bit more confidence once it gets off vertical.

doc

kubiak · 01-20-2013, 05:18 PM

yea a f650gs would be a good choice, i have a 02 f650gs dakar that i lowered. with the low seat and 1 inch lowering link i got the seat height down to 31 inches on it. the regular f650gs will go even lower.

01-18-2013, 10:57 AM	#1
Str8lin ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 375	GS Bike for vertically impaired Hi Group, Need some advice. Good friend ( 5'2") is looking for a decent GS, preferrably used that she can ride without 4 inch platform boots. I know we can adapt other ergometric concerns with bar backs, seat lowering etc. But do not want to chop up a suspension to point of uselessness off road. Ideas??? Thanks, __________________ *Attitude IS the difference between* *Adventure and Ordeal!* Str8lin screwed with this post 01-18-2013 at 10:58 AM Reason: better thread title

01-18-2013, 11:07 AM	#2
Stkmkt1 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2008 Location: Central Illinois Oddometer: 218	Sounds like your talking something along the lines of a 650?low seat, shorter shocks, don't know what else you could do? __________________ '09 BMW 1200GS Adventure, '09 Vstar 950 '09 Honda Rebel, '77 CB750A, new garage (in planning) Need more room for more bikes.

01-18-2013, 11:41 AM	#4
Ricardo Kuhn a.k.a. Mr Rico Suave Joined: Sep 2001 Location: Salt lake city, Utah Oddometer: 11,582	__________________ I'm really Sorry but I'm "Out" of Rickybars, Actually I have a bunch of bars and a Ton of end pieces but Not that many clamps to offer them as a product anymore.

01-18-2013, 01:05 PM	#5
Str8lin ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2009 Location: Seattle Oddometer: 375	Well. she is not quite that small! :-) __________________ *Attitude IS the difference between* *Adventure and Ordeal!*

01-18-2013, 01:25 PM	#6
GSJon Beastly Adventurer Joined: Sep 2008 Location: Chicago Oddometer: 1,074	The G650GS would probably suit her. It is a single and is a little lower than the F650/700GS or F800GS without a lower seat or having it lowered. I'm 5'5" and have the F650GS with just the lowered seat and can flat foot it at stop lights. The GSpot forum would be a better spot to have posted this. __________________ Jon ADVMax: BMW's do not break down - they fail to proceed.

01-18-2013, 11:21 AM	#3
usgser Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2005 Location: Westside WA Oddometer: 1,482	If you're determined to get a GS. I would look into the earlier 650 "single cyl" era of the 650 GS. 2000 up era. Don't know your intended use/distances/speeds etc but if you can look beyond a BMW badged bike fun bike for banging around off pavement for short folks is the goofy Yam TW 200. Kind of a way over rated cult bike but low, light, and easy to handle for the inseam impaired. Slow, under powered and does nothing "well" but it's bullet proof reliable and super easy to handle.

01-18-2013, 01:35 PM	#7
Northern Hooligan Adventurer Joined: Jan 2013 Location: Edmonton, AB Canada Oddometer: 21	My wife just got her MC lic in Aug of 2012, stands '5'2 on after trying a lot of bikes, lucked out and found a mint 2004 F650GS that works for her. I can not recall the name of the boots, but they are not altered in any way, waterproof, lifted her up enough that she can stand safely on the bike. The seat and suspension are stock, but we are going to have the passanger part of the seat shaved down a bit because she is dragging her foot along it getting off and on the bike. Other than that, for the short time she was able to ride it, she loves it. Northern Hooligan screwed with this post 01-18-2013 at 04:13 PM Reason: I was a year behind

01-18-2013, 02:00 PM	#8
gsweave Yinz, blinkers are on. Joined: Apr 2005 Location: The Paris of Appalachia Oddometer: 9,976	F650GS Lowered shock, dropped fork tubes. Works for my 5' tall wifey, The K75 on short shocks will work as well, she has that for distance trips. __________________ If your looking for me. I will be at Rella's eating Blackberry pie. http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=791094 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ampAFmwP_E

01-18-2013, 02:37 PM	#9
rkover1 doc Joined: Apr 2006 Location: Kailua-Kona,Hawai'i, USA Oddometer: 143	I'm 5'2", with a short inseam. I have a 2006 F650GS, not lowered that has worked well for me (almost 100,000 miles). The lowered version (either OEM or via Kouba Links) would give a bit more confidence once it gets off vertical. doc __________________ Ua mau ke ea o ka aina i ka pono

01-20-2013, 05:18 PM	#10
kubiak Beastly Adventurer Joined: Nov 2007 Location: madera california Oddometer: 4,139	yea a f650gs would be a good choice, i have a 02 f650gs dakar that i lowered. with the low seat and 1 inch lowering link i got the seat height down to 31 inches on it. the regular f650gs will go even lower.

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