too tall... for mini me

[mkatz]

I went to the cycleworld bike show convinced that I would fall in love with the R1200R. I've owned twins (R50, R100R, R1100RT, R1100S) and have loved twins in the past. I found the current generation of R series bikes to be a bit too tall for my comfort. Perhaps I'm shrinking. Perhaps after a fews years of not riding (result of a high side off off of an R1100S) I'm leery of starting to drop bikes again.

I'm 5'6", 135 pounds, 30" inseam. Yes, I know, once the bike is moving seat height is not a problem. What, realistically, can be done to lower the R1200R to allow me to flatfoot it?

As an aside, I sat on and loved the fit of teh F800ST lowered version... but have read of too many bad ABS related events on that model for me to feel comfortable buying an F800 with ABS. I've read only good things about the R1200R's ABS implementation. I also like the anti-dive effect of the telelever.

[taosports]

mkatz,

According to BMW, the R1200R seat height is listed at 31.5 inches, the F800ST is even higher at 32.3.

You'll fit fine on the R1200 with the lower seat option.

[mkatz]

I believe the f800st "low" has a seat height of 29.9... pretty amazing, really. First time I've flat-footed a bike since the R50, many years ago. At the show the rep claimed that the seat on the R1200R was the low seat... I m not so sure that he was correct.

The other niggling negative thing about the R1200R as compared to the F series is that the R seems to have a much higher center of gravity, perhaps enhanced by where its gas is carried (as opposed to the under-seat tank in the F).

[taosports]

You're right, the 1200 does have a higher cg than the 800. Even more so when the tank is filled with gas. All the bikes at the show have empty gas tanks.

[NeilS]

I'm also "vertically challenged," and I've found seat-height specs to be fairly awful predictors of whether I'll fit a given bike. Obviously, an R12R with a "low" seat is a better fit than the same bike with a "normal" seat, but there are too many other variables from one bike to another.

I find the R12R to be somewhat "tippier" than other bikes of the same general size. Part of it is the bike is fairly light and it carries a large fuel tank up high. But also--and I haven't gone through the geometry to prove this mathematically--I think a boxer is harder to keep upright once it falls slightly off center.

That said, I'm now reasonably comfortable on my R12R with the low seat. It does require a bit more thought about where I'm going to put my foot down as I come up to a stop, but I think that's an acceptable trade-off to ride an excellent bike.

[NCGS]

29" inseam here.. No problem getting my feed down (not "flat", but down so I don't feel unstable when stopped). Like you said, once the feet are up, it's all relative.

A demo ride might help..

[BOXERCOLOMBIA]

30¨ inseam here.... no problem whatsoever, I have low seat, and I can place both balls of my feet down.... no problem with handling in parking lots... this bikes is awesome in low speed handling... as opposed to what you guys have said, i found the 800 in the test drive, feels taller than the r1200r... cornering is by far easier with the r1200r.... I was told this has to do with boxer engines as they have all the mass of the engine lowered than the K or 800 series, altough tank is higher it doesnt compensate for the engine being lower than in the 800... thats what i feel during the test ride... r1200r feels better and easier cornering....

In the MOTORRAD-MOTOCICLISMO magazine test, the r1200r was ranked higher than the 800 series (in fact, was the king over 20 bikes!!!)...
http://www.motorradonline.de/news/motor ... 262884.htm

[mkatz]

If memory serves me correctly, I think i read of somone lowering the R1200R about 10mm by changing front and rear shocks, resulting in (somewhat) improved handling with a more compliant ride. Any information/thoughts about this approach?

[Dauntless]

There is going to be a factory lowered chassis option for the R1200R along with the lower seat option.
http://www.cmgonline.com/magazine/index ... &Itemid=80

[mkatz]

Bingo! I wonder when and by how much they will be lowered?

[Skippy]

I can't imagine that a R1200R is to high considdering you had a R1100S. I'm not short but had the R1100S myself and this is quite a large and high bike compared to the nimble R1200R(standard seat). Seat on the R1200R is also less wide then the seat on the R1100S so this should also help.
With the low seat the R1200R is even lower so can't realy imagine that this would be a problem for you with a 30" inseem and you should be able to flatfoot it no problem.
I would suggest that you testdrive the R with a low seat(no cost factory option) so you can see for yourself and fall in love with the R1200R after all as it realy is a great bike and for me personnaly the best bike I ever owned.
The R1200R is a great bike compared to the R1100S it handles mutch lighter is more versatile and quite a bit more powerfull too(so watch out when the revs go over 4500rpm cause then it realy starts to pull).

[mkatz]

The R1100S I loved... while I had it... until I high sided, destroying the bike and nearly destroying myself (7-8 broken ribs and a broken scapula). I survived, I suspect, because of the gear that I was wearing.

ATGATT!

The problem with the R1100S, and R1100RT... and R100R... and Triumph Trophy ... for me was that I tend to drop bike. I even did that with a Polaris Victory that I owned for a few months. Yes, I did adapt to their height and rarely had problems I attributed to their heights.

The problem with me is that I have still a little anxiety about returning to the fold... have not ridden in the five years since my crash. I found from sitting on bikes at the motorcycle show that I was more "comfortable" on models that I could flat-foot. It's primarily a psychological comfort issue at this time.[/u]

[NeilS]

I understand where you're coming from. I occasionally get students in my MSF classes that have been in similar situations.

My advice to these people is to buy a bike much smaller than the one they think they want and ride it for a year to restore their confidence. If they buy used and Japanese, they can be pretty sure they'll be able to sell it in a year and not lose any money.

Of course, you're not going to win any races or do any Iron Butt events on those bikes, but that's not what you're buying it for.

[NCGS]

The R1100S I loved... while I had it... until I high sided, destroying the bike and nearly destroying myself (7-8 broken ribs and a broken scapula). I survived, I suspect, because of the gear that I was wearing.

ATGATT!

The problem with me is that I have still a little anxiety about returning to the fold... have not ridden in the five years since my crash. I found from sitting on bikes at the motorcycle show that I was more "comfortable" on models that I could flat-foot. It's primarily a psychological comfort issue at this time.[/u]

Katz, I read ya loud and clear. I had a bad "off" in May '06. Damn near kil't myself. Broke my neck (C2 - same bone Christopher Reeves broke), 5 ribs, and 2 toes. The most painful part (as I'm sure you know) was the broken ribs. They'll make a grown man cry.

I heeled - about 80% of where I was, but good enough to get back on one.. I was only out 4 months.. I couldn't wait to get some air in my face. I'm thinking that once you go for a good ride that you'll lose 95% of the apprehension that you're feeling.. it's like riding a horse - you MUST get back on one - or the other side wins.

FWIW, the guys at Capitol BMW lowered a R1200GS to the point where I could sit on it with both feet flat on the floor, and with both knees bent. You might call the service manager - Jon - and ask him what they did. I know it was all in the suspension.

Good luck - you know you wanna do it!

[deilenberger]

There is going to be a factory lowered chassis option for the R1200R along with the lower seat option.
http://www.cmgonline.com/magazine/index ... &Itemid=80

They say 750mm height - which looks like 29.5" - which is... mebbe 1/2" lower than the low seat height now?

Still a good thing. Be interested in seeing how they do the chassis drop..

[hass]

I still think the R12R is one of the least top heavy bikes I have ridden and extremely well-balanced.

I bought an Aprilia RSV1000R a few years ago and the guy who owned the dealers where I bought it was about 5ft tall. When stationary he rested with the back of one knee over the seat in order to get his other foot on the ground and then he kind of jumped up onto the bike as he rode away. It was VERY impressive to watch. He was an ex racer so i guess he'd had practice.

[8b]

This is a common thread that is near and dear to my heart since I am also vertically challenged and own a R12R with low seat. I dont think I will change bikes (although I think about it) as I am just not as comfortable (yet?) as I was on the better sized (for me) F650CS I had before. I could go back but the R12R is a superior bike in so many ways (twin, power, suspension, I could go on). I'd almost like to see a separate forum for the vertically challanged. The info lives on various posts, but not in one place.

So, if one wasnt going to do a R12R with low seat, what is on the list?
F800 ( s, st , gs) ? Do all three of the f800 have a low suspension available? anyway, I just wonder what I could get if I changed.
What are the logical other choices at this point in time?

[AllanCook]

I sat on an F800ST yesterday, and it was every bit as tall as my R1200R, so I don't think that's going to address your issue.

[deilenberger]

I have heard rumors of a lowered suspension R1200R coming from BMW. No details to be found, but they were fairly strong rumors.. I think BMW realizes they really can't afford to dismiss 30%* of their potential market.

* = 98% of percentages quoted on the Internet are made up on the spot. This is no exception.

[ShinySideUp]

Since I'm not inseam challenged, I'd like to chime in on the part of the discussion about handling.

This past year I did a 2000 mile tour of the Alps (with Beach Motorcycle Adventures) and specified a F800ST, thinking it might be a good replacement for my Honda ST1100, since I began using a bike in San Francisco on the job. I had bought the Honda for long distance commuting which was fine, but for my present job's city duty, it was simply a pig that I had to wrestle all day long.

The photo of the hairpins above (border between Italy and Switzerland) shows that there was plenty of opportunity to test a bike's handling. The F800ST performed admirably in this department, but, having been used to a larger engine, I disliked the fact that the real power was available only at the higher RPM's.

A German automotive engineer friend, with a garage full of BMW's, joined us for a few days and really extolled the virtues of the boxer design and strongly recommended I test ride the new R1200 series.

I'm really glad he did! There's just no comparison in the handling, in my experience. The R1200R with the low COG engine and the light frame handles like it's on rails. I just look where I want to go and the bike is there. No fighting. It WANTS to follow the optimum track in a turn. I find it to be much more solid feeling in the twisties than the F800ST. It's even easier to handle while parking. (And when I rode the ST1100 to the new buyer, I could hardly stand to be on it!)

As far as getting back on the horse after a crash, I say, from personal experience, you might do well to follow your gut feeling. When and if you become ready to ride again, you will know it. Riding a smaller bike and just riding again period to give your being a chance to readjust all sound like excellent suggestions. Just pay attention to that quiet knowing voice inside.