"Adaptive Height Control" - BMW 1300GS - How It Works Manually & Automatically

[@spetersonmusic]

It's a very cool feature. Regarding the melted plastic on the headers, some chrome polish and elbow grease will get it squared away and become a faint memory and a funny story to tell.

[@cyclingbikerwholovestotinker]

I never went for this option, i'm 6' 2" and fairly strong so not needed, however I went for the higher seat option, so it will be interesting to see how that compares to standard. Cant wait to get my triple black towards the end of January - great content showing the adaptive height.

[@neilhutton1528]

I messed up the chrome headers on my 1200 by wiping a micro cloth on them when they were hot and bits melted to them. I researched the safest way to clean them and found that using a Brillo pad on them when they were warm was the best. I did that and it worked perfectly.

[@razur9065]

That is one beautiful machine! I’ve never owned/ridden a GS but i do own a ‘22 R1250RT and love it!

[@paulyflyer8154]

Keep it!

[@IanTed]

It’s a brilliant idea for us ageing shorties I’d order it without hesitation, makes a great bike (I’ve had three GSs) even better. It’s now at the perfect seat height as my Multi V2S for me with a 29” inseam.

[@NothingToProve]

Yes, just get the low seat option (no extra cost) and the seat height will be 790mm/31.1in off the ground. With my bike, I have the normal seat, 820mm/32.2in, my inseam is 32". Agree with you on the "brilliant idea", at first I was thinking that I don't need it but now that I have it, I don't want to go with out it. Having that extra 30mm lower is a great secure feeling when pulling up to a stop, especially on an incline or imperfect or slippery surface. take care, Scott

[@n.elliott9122]

Scott I answered in the other video as soon as I saw you picking it off with your finger because I put a cover over my super Duke r even after sat for an hour and it still did the same thing to the exhaust on the super Duke car so I knew exactly what you had done but no big deal if you run it back up to temperature and take a red Scotch Bright pad with it running with it hot it will remove it all at least mine did.

[@stevesane800]

Damn Scott, that is such a beautiful motorcycle ❤️⭐️ This is a bike that does & can do it all! I bet you can’t wait for summer 💯 Enjoy festive season & Christmas in snow⭐️

[@NothingToProve]

Thank you Steve! Yea, it's snowing over here right now 😒🙄 so just filming in my garage for the next few weeks but when January hits we should get some sunny days with no snow on the roads and then get some filming done on the the bike. It will still be stone cold but hey, it's a GS!!! take care, merry Christmas! Scott

[@couttsy222]

An American talking in millimetres -- respect!!

[@NothingToProve]

LOL! Yea, learned that growing up in Michigan when I was hunting/shooting/playing around in my teenage years & working on Japanese (Ninja) sport bikes. Lots of fond memories of those days. take care, Scott

[@tdeloriea]

I use EZ-Off oven cleaner on the hot chrome on my past Harley from rain pant melting onto them. It didn’t damage the chrome. Hot pipe spray cleaner with cardboard masking to protect paint. Use wet sponge to wipe off goo after letting it bubble for a bit. Repeat till all the black is off. Do not rub it hard. Let the product do the work. It will completely come off without any scratches or stain.

[@p-dub7422]

Excellent video and explained very well! I did not know that and I can see the difference. Do you think the bike has too much technology and it takes away from the motorcycle experience. And more things to go wrong plus cost to repair it? How is the riding experience and do you like the riding experience better than your RT? Is there a noticeable power difference between the two engines, etc. Is the power difference alone worth getting this bike? Or is it worth it with the other upgrades?

[@NothingToProve]

No, good - RT is still better, a little bit more power is not worth it, over all, yes

[@larryvanputten4048]

It's a piece of art! Well explained!

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

That stand lift, is some thing I personally would never need. I worry that all these extra gadgets just make these bikes heavier than they need to be. This said, I do love my electric screen on my Honda forza 350. hahaha... I really love the look of this new 1300 gs, ( having owned a 2004 gs and a 2013 GSA ) I m very tempted by the 1300. If only they were a little cheaper. Here in the netherlands they cost around 30,000 euro. or, almost 33,000 dollars US.

[@NothingToProve]

Well, you being in the Netherlands, you are probably tall? So this is not something you need but if you are short, this is a Godsend!

[@Dean-does-Stuff-81]

@@NothingToProve I am actually English, and not tall. I have owned a gs and a gsa in the past, and have not found them to be difficult to get up on the centre stand. I have also tried the gs 1300 with out the ignition on, and it was still very easy to pop up on the centre stand. So for me, I can only see this useful for people under 65 kg, that won’t have the body mass required to get this weight up onto the centre stand.

[@NothingToProve]

@@Dean-does-Stuff-81 Yea, my wife is 49kg and she cannot get this up on the center stand at all...little alone my 1250RT, she can hardly get that off the kickstand LOL! I make jokes about it all the time about it and she just makes "mean" faces at me. take care, Scott

[@michaelhudson8968]

Something else to go wrong.

[@fedenovo1]

And sell stuff you probably only use once.

[@bobcobb7719]

Based on thinking like that you’d still be riding a horse. Oh no wait, they break too! 😮

[@maxflight777]

🤡 Michael Hudson

[@dougiequick1]

not to mention how much WEIGHT does that add? Lots of things seem nice to have but if they all add up to an extra 100 pounds /45kg ish then is it REALLY "worth it"?

[@skylerbentley8713]

@@dougiequick1lighter then the 1250 without it. People are stupid 😂

[@DannyBBom]

Don't worry about the chrome. I did similar with my riding plastic riding pants years ago. I used chrome polish, and managed to polish the melted plastic off.

[@NothingToProve]

👍😁

[@RikBridle]

You explain things clearly but what I want to know is how to put the feature into manual and having done so, what it allows you to do? For example can you leave it sitting low at whatever speed and raise it on the fly if need be?

[@NothingToProve]

Yes you can do all those things manually with the press of a button. So if I'm off-road, I'd always tell it to be in the up position, which in the video I showed this and as soon as I started it, it went up and when I shut if off it went back down when I put the kickstand down and all while I was not even moving. 😁👍

[@GroovBird]

I'm close to ordering one but one thing I'm wondering is where the 12v socket is located and if I should get the extra socket, mainly for being able to connect the trickle charger when I won't be riding for a prolonged time.

[@familystenlake2553]

HI, I feel tlike this could be a bit of up and down is you are riding a tight set of swithbacks and going between sub 25 for the corners and over 50 for the straights. I'd be interested to hear your view/experience of this.

[@NothingToProve]

Well, so far I can't feel it when riding, in this video I try to come to a complete stop before it comes all the way down: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f5ipnJJ3rZl4kLM

[@navigator8722]

Hello Mr. Warner, thank you for the video. Please recharge the battery from time to time. 😉

[@NothingToProve]

🙄😒😁☺🤣

[@nueng617]

Based on your explanation, when on Auto it goes to the lower position below 15mph and to the highest position at 31mph. Will it do any type of adjustment and when if it is setup to the highest position manually?

[@jurgenhaneklaus8444]

Does it work even in enduro and enduro pro modes? It should not because in tricky offroad environments one sometimes drives under 30 km/h.

[@mshk999]

What about if you are crossing water and needs the hight in low speed

[@NothingToProve]

Put it in Enduro mode and then you can tell it to manually stay up.

[@HUSKY7-1]

Does the height adjustment happen if the motorcycle is heavy braking at the time and speed the adjustment is due to occur?

[@billboyd8995]

I love it. Will it be something that will break often?

[@NothingToProve]

Ahh...yea, let me look into my crystal ball... 🤣🤣😁

[@servomekanism8505]

Thank you very much for this! I have 2 questions: 1. Do you know if the Adaptive Height Control can be used and work at a bike with the high, sport suspension? 2. At your bike, can you have it at high at all times during movement? Can you even have it high if it's parked and the ignition is off?

[@NothingToProve]

1. No, if you get the "sport suspension", you can't get the adj suspension. 2. Yes, only in Enduro mode 3. No cause the kickstand is set for the low height, as soon as you put the kickstand down it will go down, ignition on or off...does not matter take care, Scott

[@servomekanism8505]

@@NothingToProve thank you!

[@dimosk7389]

overly complicated? what happens in city traffic? constantly hopping up and down when you reach 50 or when you go under 25?

[@NothingToProve]

You can tell it to always be up or down with the press of a button. Well maybe two presses 👍

[@fourteenfour1]

it is Dumb and Dumber :) I so want this adaptive height control on the RT. having a shorter inseam by the time I set the seat up to accommodate myself I always find my legs cramped so being able to use the regular seat at its stock height, provided this feature does as much as I hope, I should be more comfortable moving as well as stopped so when riding how does it feel when it activates up and down? disconcerting at all? Will it happen when leaned over?

[@NothingToProve]

I have yet to actually feel it going up or down while riding. Only notice it with the little graphic on the TFT. But yea, I'd love this on my RT! Then I'd get the high seat and be more comfortable while riding and then it lowers when I put my feet down, BMW I hope you are listening! I'd trade my 1250RT for a 1300RT, IF it has this.

[@jonathannelson33]

So it lowers when you are going slow off-road where ground clearance is most necessary?

[@NothingToProve]

When it is put into Enduro ride mode, it won't lower.

[@Greggspies]

Whats the servicing cost

[@dgiturbo3247]

Point of interest. The rear goes up first and down last so the headlight does not dazzle anyone in front. Anyways, I hope it’s a durable system.

[@12masterr]

I have exactly the same bike and boy, that seat is torture! Since you are in Germany, please go to bmw headquarters and tell them to fire the seat guy!

[@johnbragg2014]

1300 have a bigger battery then the 1250?

[@arnoldtm31]

Hi do you know if the Trophy with the normal seat is 850 as well or is it 870mm ?

[@NothingToProve]

Yea, it's the same unless you get the "Sport suspension", then it's 870mm. Which a lot of guys do get that, since they go off-road.

[@Justz_118]

So it only goes up to 850mm when u first start the engine? And subsequently it will only go up when u move off and exceed 50km/h?

[@NothingToProve]

Umm...I created a video that gets into all this...oh wait, it's this one.

[@Justz_118]

@@NothingToProve Thanks for video. I didn’t knew the suspension will go up when you start the engine when it’s stationary. Im just surprised, considering the purpose of the adaptive ride height is so that vertically challenged riders can reach the ground easily. Feels like it defeat the purpose.

[@NothingToProve]

@@Justz_118 I was just showing if you wanted to raise it up manually, that is all. While the ignition was on I told it to go up but it can do that until the motor is running. So as soon as it started, it could accommodate my request. And then I knew that it would go back down as soon as I put the kick stand down. I just know what "triggers" or things to do to make it do what I want, that's all I was showing. If you leave it alone, it will always stay in the lowered position, and only go up when riding. take care, Scott

[@Justz_118]

@@NothingToProve I see. Much appreciated Scott. Thanks :)

[@reinistraidas]

I'm confused. A while ago I saw a video with you saying there was something melting on the pipes of your GS. You were about to take it to the dealer to find out what's happening. Since then the video has been removed? What happened?

[@NothingToProve]

I explained what happened in this video.

[@kabayanadventuretv7081]

It's amazing very cool,assisted height,you know,I propose next model of gs is installed self balancing he makes never fall,like Honda, have self balancing but not in the market.

[@Handirifle]

Just trying to one-up the HD adaptive ride height system they developed in 2021 for the Pan America.

[@NothingToProve]

Umm...no, Harley didn't develop it, Showa did and the Pan America came out in 2020. It's a Showa suspension that Harley buys and slaps on their Pan America. BMW developed and makes this suspension. What's the difference? Ownership. And the ability for them to repair it with out having to contact Japan. take care, Scott

[@dudeonart8492]

"Correct the American!!" Sorry I only have one life hahaha! Sorry just kidding! Tell me if you are on a bad camber can you leave it in high so as to make the side stand work at a more favourable angle? Love your content - keep it up : }

[@UncleWally3]

Don’t take my word for it (literally) but applying Diethyl Ether to plastic welded to the engine may help remove it. Mind you, breathing the stuff may irritate the nose and throat and cause drowsiness, excitement, dizziness, vomiting, irregular breathing, increased saliva, unconsciousness and death.

[@Marc-zf3xv]

I think I'd rather have the black marks.

[@cpuuk]

Weird, but fascinating.

[@MotoRiderTube]

"In English, both “dumber” and “more dumb” are grammatically correct. However, “dumber” is more commonly used and generally preferred. The rule of thumb is that for most one-syllable adjectives, and some two-syllable adjectives, we add “-er” to make the comparative form. So, in this case, “dumber” would be the better choice." - answer by Bing Chat

[@kevinmobile]

I would add too that you should not say 'more dumber'. That would be dumb!

[@dannyvan5792]

do you need that to ride a motor

[@dougiequick1]

Damn nice looking motorcycle! Does not even have the ADV look it looks much more spirited naked sportsbike except better much better wind protection! Cant wait to see the 1300RS which I think would suit me better....sort of done riding offroad especially a big heavy 1300! No matter how dirt worthy it is still too big heavy and expensive to go trail riding with....just my IMHO at 70 I even sold my WAY WAY lighter KTM 690 enduro...just kinda done with the dirt but not for lack of skill etc as I was on dirt bikes since age 12 including many years racing MX....I just dont find it fun to keep worrying about injuries

[@SoloriderH]

very helpful thanks

[@RabidHorse]

Hey, a bit off topic but when you originally reviewed the 1300 GS, you mentioned the Forged wheels. I have an order and I’m having a tough time deciding between forged and spoked. I’m prolly at most 80/20 (off/on road), so I’m sure either would suffice. Did you happen to test ride a forged wheel version or do you have any comments on the forged now that you have a spoked version yourself?

[@NothingToProve]

I didn't have a choice about anything on my bike, I took what was there, if I had ordered one, I'd be looking at Feb before getting it. But if you do off-road spoked will be stronger, no question about that but they are also heavier. So it's a trade off, if I had ordered one, I would have gotten Forged wheels. take care, Scott

[@RabidHorse]

@@NothingToProve haha, yes. I have the forged on the order now and the interweb, everyone has their thoughts. But it’s becoming more and more apparent that unless you’re going off-road HARD the forged enduro wheel is perfectly capable. I read topics going back to 2006 with CAST wheels haha, so the forged will be even better. Anyway, thx for your thoughts. I’ll no doubt keep the forged. They suit the bike imo too.

[@verdonrocksphotography3510]

cool stuff for sure

[@jimthompson717]

Acetone works to unstick melted plastic.

[@lowlandbikeadventures]

So if you go offroad and stay below 50 km/h you'll have 30 mm less ground clearance? 🤔😬 Or for example, if you are above 50 km/h and slow down to below 25 km/h for some technical stuff for instance, you again will loose 30 mm of ground clearance? 🤔😬 Or does this not work in offroad mode or can it be turned off?

[@Marc-zf3xv]

If you go off road you'd turn off the automatic ride height adjustment and leave it in the height you want as a fixed setting.

[@JoeS97756]

@@Marc-zf3xv It would make sense for it to deactivate in Enduro mode rather than having one more thing you need to deal with in the menu.

[@Marc-zf3xv]

@@JoeS97756 maybe it does but then how would it know what the rider wants? Should the system assume just because you go into Enduro mode it should go to high ride height? What if that's not what you want as a rider because you're just riding a dirt road and want some of the safety settings off like TC and a softer suspension but prefer the low ride height? Not sure how it works, hopefully NTP will go over it sometime.

[@JoeS97756]

@@Marc-zf3xv Yeah,, good point.

[@NothingToProve]

Wow, it looks like I need to do a more comprehensive video while riding the bike and putting it into all these situations. Yes, you can tell it to be in the up position all the time, this is what I did in this video @ 6:10, when I started it and it went up and then when I shut it off and put the kick stand down, it went down. So that is how I would have it set for off-road. It's just a quick press of the new quick menu button and then select the ride height with the wheel and then press "up" and when you start the bike or shut it off and put the kick stand down it will go back down. If you get the "Sport" suspension or on todays 1250 Adventure it's 20mm more suspension travel and you cannot get this Adaptive Height Control with that.

[@toravnerflyr6911]

God help the person that has an issue with that, especially after warranty.

[@stephan457]

Let’s see what happens in hair-pins, for example in the Dolomite’s

[@JoeS97756]

Good point

[@NothingToProve]

Just tell it to stay in the up position and then it will only go down when you stop and put down the kick stand like I did in this video and go back up when you start it up.

[@JoeS97756]

@@NothingToProve Hmm, so even in the always up position it still drops with the kick stand? I guess that's how they deal with the proper length kickstand if the bike always drops when parking....

[@NothingToProve]

@@JoeS97756 Yep 👍👍

[@kamika-z3853]

Exactly like harley pan america special with arh (auto ride height)

[@NothingToProve]

Except that is developed by Showa and this is developed by BMW. The difference? Ownership. BMW has the expertise, not some suspension maker in Japan.

[@edwardsenesac]

Has anyone ever said you’re a nut?! We love you. You can use “dumber” from what I know. But maybe I’m just dumb. I baked a nice summer jacket’s sleeve on a header pipe a few years ago and couldn’t figure-out where the smell was coming from and later what the stain was doing on the pipe!

[@NothingToProve]

LOL, yep, I'm crazy! It is dumber, I know but while filming I've always got so many numbers, words...etc. in my head, it gets hard to remember the simple grammar of my native tongue.

[@motolover5697]

Isn't that it lifts when you reach 30km/h?

[@NothingToProve]

Well yes, if you are talking 31 mi/h but km/h is 50 to go up and 25 to go down. I've watched the speedo to verify it several times and even you can see it on the ride home video it going up and down on the TFT you can see the arrow go from pointing up to down...but you really have to pay attention.

[@RuledByMars]

Get 3 more!! 😊

[@asturiancetorix2552]

This is really needed?. I mean, it puts wear on the suspension that´s not really needed. To put a GS or even a heavier RT on the central stand is not an issue if you use proper technique. It´s not a matter of strenght after all.

[@NothingToProve]

Well, if you ask my wife, weigh 49kg/108lbs and only 5'4"/164cm tall, even with this she can't put it on the center stand. I'd like you to say to my wife's face that she is not using the proper technique. LOL! Now her response to you, I'd pay to see & film, it'd get a million views! Now to me and obviously to you too, this is not needed, but to most women and shorter men, this is a godsend. take care, Scott P.S. Yes, even my 1250RT with the top case on and all 3 cases fully loaded, is not a real problem for me to get it up onto the center stand but I'm a lot stronger, taller & heavier than my wife.

[@with1nt3mptation23]

sounds fancy. that's just one more thing to break in a bimmer I guess.

[@BlueAlgon]

It looks like a brilliant system, just the thought of the cost of repairing it when it breaks down makes me shudder.

[@stephenchapman8344]

👍

[@nicholascrocker4329]

Anyone planning to purchase a R1300GS check insurance availability and cost first.

[@Mon_Cher_Monsieur]

Let the doctors and dentists buy it and keep it for 2/3 years and then buy it with 40 % discount with 10k km on it. Will be eventually good value for money then.

[@NothingToProve]

5k km on it...LOL!

[@csr2atlasbestsetups35]

Cool😂

[@martyn_g]

With good technique, you don’t need lift assistance.

[@keithdixon3896]

They are going to fit a hydraulic lift on the back soon , to lift the poor old buggers of the bike when they arrive at Starbucks! 😅

[@NothingToProve]

Na, they won't make it that far! 🤣🤣

[@alanjones8810]

Dumb and dumber. I think I might be able to beat you. I bought my first motocycle from a lad next door to me. I pushed the frame wheels attached to my house. Followed by the engine in bits loaded into old ammunition boxes. Being 15 years old, ( and not the sharpest knife in the drawer) The only difference now is I'm in my 70s The rest is just the same. I eventually rebuilt the bike a 1950s Triumph Thunderbird. Now came the moment to start it. Petrol on carburettor tickled Choke set advance and retarded set, kicked the engine over, engine kicked back, kept my leg straight, (didn't know I should have bent my leg ) The two roof boards I displaced with my head stayed like that for years. Eventually, got it going, Now Eventually getting to the main event, One of my friends turned up, is the engine warm yet . Me, I don't know I will check, putting my hand on the exhaust just at the point it comes out of the cylinder head. A 15 year old boy can be louder than a 650 triumph. Know I was dumb, But repositioning two she'd roof boards probably made me dumber.

[@NothingToProve]

🤣🤣😁😁👍

[@fixento]

Harley Davidson had this out for 2020 model year.

[@NothingToProve]

And Indian had the V-Twin one year before Harley. The GS has had variable valves since 2018, we could go on and on about who does what and when, if we did, the GS came out in 1980 and Harley's ADV? 2020. 🤣🤣😁😁

[@JoeS97756]

and still no one bought it ;-)

[@HappyAlexandros]

Has your wife the V77 ???

[@MrRGM10]

I feel like they built gs for the weak😂 nah thats just me

[@janospinter3138]

Just learn the right technique and you don't need these...

[@FatherOBlivion]

"Dumberer"

[@GPR111]

One of the ugliest expensive bikes money can buy

[@henrietn]

I think BMW is running out of "innovative" ideas on their new bikes. Who needs this anyway. If they want to install something that's handy, what avout a reverse gear? This is just and expensive and bound to go bad option.

[@MercilessGuitar151]

820mm is still too tall. They need to start thinking of us shorter riders for once. And don't give me the lean and or tippy toe bull shit, I'm old, that's a game for kids.

[@NothingToProve]

Umm...no call for swearing. There is a low/high seat option option. I mentioned it in the video, even put up a text box. Did you watch the video and just miss it?

[@donschultz3207]

that factory lo seat is horrible for sure. like your content very good i own a 2023 r 1250 rt. i wonder if BMW is going to introduce an all new 24 or 25 rt any thoughts? @@NothingToProve

[@NothingToProve]

@@donschultz3207 No clue yet on the 1300RT, BMW is "tight lipped" about it. If it will get just the powertrain or a whole new frame and suspension, cause the new suspension is part of the frame and that is where this Adaptive height control comes from.

[@KDSchiester]

BMW should have spent as much time designing a good looking front end as they did on the centerstand and then the bike would not be so incredibly UGLY….

[@NothingToProve]

It's the same centerstand as before. 😢