RE: Lowering rider's footrests. - 2

I agree that the spring arrangement is a bit shoddy but actually, it does not worry me too much. If it does annoy me in the future (it might creep up on me), I will just drill a wee hole in each block as Boxerboy did.

After my little ride of this morning, I can report that the leg position is now noticeably better. In fact, I may adjust it a little lower. I did not have any problems with dragging the footrests in the corners although I was not trying that hard. Neither do I feel the need to move the rear brake peddle with the provided bracket. It seems fine really. The only thing I will do, is to lower the gear change lever a little more as it is still too high but well within adjustment on the tie rod. The gear-pedal extension works well and all in all, it was a worthwhile purchase with a positive outcome!

To recap, I now have slightly higher bars, the low seat and the lowered footrests. As a result, for a little short-arse like me (5'6"), the riding position is all day comfortable, with good coverage of all controls and I can get both feet absolutely flat on the deck. Excellent. However, as I said before, I have had to spend about £500 quid to get here. Why can manufacturers not design some adjustment into the bikes in the first place? OK, had I bought the bike new, I could have specified the low seat option so I am being slightly unfair but the bars and footrest adjustment I still would have had to pay for. Who would buy a car with a non-adjustable driver's seat that would require you to buy a replacement if you did not conform to the manufacturer's idea of a standard human being?

Interesting. I ordered the same lowering kit as you, and they also sent the wrong ones, they apologiesed and sent some new ones! I’m hoping to fit them this weekend. I’ll let you know how I get on.

BMW does offer an adjustable footrest kit as an option. This, along with their selection of optional seats creates some choices for buyers. The broad BMW aftermarket offers even more; and at various price points. Coming from a cycling background, I'm accustomed to paying extra to achieve an advantageous fit...

I agree that for even more money there are BMW options and I think the seat is an inclusive one with no extra charge, although I might be wrong. Is that true of the footrest adjustable option as well? If so and there is no extra charge, I am being unfair to BMW.

Nonetheless, for virtually every other bike manufacturer I can think of and for every bike that I have owned, bar one, the built-in adjustability has been almost zero. Independent manufacturers do provide options, not all good and of course all at a price. BMW with its standard , three position, adjustable seat on my R1100RS being an honourable exception. It was also a major reason for buying it in the first place.

I expect that BMW is like all the bike makers: they build bikes to a very specific price point. Comprehensive adjustable ergos probably caused the bike to exceed this price. Their footrest kit is not inexpensive, but it is probably the best available. And just the availability of such a kit is a step in the right direction for the industry.

I am sure that you are right about the price point but as we all know, literally to our cost, BMW is probably less price sensitive than most other brands. This is for a variety of reasons, not all of them very justified in some respects and with some people; cue lifestyle aspirations, status assumptions etc. Of course many of us have also chosen BMW for very solid reasons as well, based upon long experience and discrimination of function over form and fashion.

So, I would suspect that the sales of BMWs, unlike some other makes, would not be negatively impacted by a price increase of £50 or so, which is what some gentle adjustability would probably actually cost if designed into the bike from scratch. In fact, I would contend that with BMW, in particular, there is a rather uniquely discriminating potential ownership (code for older!!) that would be seriously attracted to a genuinely adjustable riding position built in to the bike, properly designed and sorted out. I would be.... and have been.

Just fitted the SW Motech Ion footrest kit today. Although only a 15mm drop in the low position, as they seem slightly lower in profile than the stock pegs it’s noticeable on the bike; that and the wider, more stable platform make them a nice upgrade.

Positive feedback also for the Helibars bar risers - very easy to fit without having to install clutch cable extender or re-route anything, and the bike now feels much more comfortable.

Went the same way with SW motech footrest, looks functional and and even lower than 1,5 cm without rubber insert. Still not moto season here to be checked by my wife (her bike), I am glad to hear that improvement is noticeable.