BMW seats

[atractaspis]

I know that I will need a lower seat to be able to get my feet down (or at least more than my tippy toes) on the R1200R. I was just looking through the accessories booklet for BMW bikes and for the R1200R it shows 6 different options for seats. I am not sure which of those is the "low seat" option the bike will actually come with, when ordered with low seat. Does anybody have any experience with those? Here is the list of seats it shows (with seat height):

Sport seat: 31.5"

High Seat: 32.7"

High Comfort Seat: 32.7" (is that the 'standard seat it usually comes with?)

Low comfort dual seat: 31.5" (what is a dual seat?)

Low comfort seat: 30.3' (so what is the difference here to the low comfort dual seat?)

Extra low seat: 29.9"

[fastdogs2]

Atractaspis,

The standard seat height for the R1200R is 31.5 inches. This is what the bike comes equipped with.

You don't mention which year the R1200R is that you are going to purchase. All R1200Rs manufactured in 2011 and after come eqipped with the Comfort Saddle as stock.

I don't know why they refer to the seat as a "dual seat," since all R1200R seats are one piece seats. R1200RT seats are usually two piece (one seat for the driver and another for the pillion.) R1200RT bikes have a low seat option, which is a "dual seat," meaning all one piece for the driver and pillion.

If you are vertically challenged, I think you want the extra low seat, which at 29.9 inches would be the shortest seat height.

Bill

[atractaspis]

Bill,

I forgot to mention the model. It would be a 2013... The booklet I have is for 2012 models I believe.

I thought the same thing about the dual seat... Seems all r12 seats are one piece. Of course, there is no picture or better description I can find anywhere.

Lina

[Karamazov]

I'm on the vertically challenged side myself (29" inseam) and on my '07 RR had the low seat and the standard seat - both of which I believe are now called the "sport" versions. On my 2012 I have the stock standard "comfort" seat. I got much more comfortable on my tippy toes in between RR's, riding a G650X with a 34" seat height, but that said, find the standard "comfort" seat to be pretty comparable to the low version of the "sport" seat I had on my first Roadster. The standard "comfort" saddle is pretty scooped out.

I would suspect that unless you specifically ask for the low "sport" version (the rubbery guy) you'll get the low "comfort" version. Despite the extra .4 inches, I think it's the superior choice.

And we thought the confusion ended with the model designations...

[atractaspis]

I would suspect that unless you specifically ask for the low "sport" version (the rubbery guy) you'll get the low "comfort" version. Despite the extra .4 inches, I think it's the superior choice.

And we thought the confusion ended with the model designations...

I tried the standard seat when test riding... And i didn't like the height. I hope it's the low comfort and not the sport. I tried that and didn't like it either.. Just seems like it would be painful after a while. I am now wondering what the dual low seat is. There is just no info out there on it. The dealer has no clue either.

Thanks for the info Karamazov... It seems the more I look into it the more confused I get...

[Karamazov]

I hear ya. To my knowledge, whatever the terminology, there are only two kinds of seats - the bumpy, rubbery guys (sport) and the smooth, leathery ones (comfort) - and they each come in three heights. If you ask your dealer for the lowest version of either, and he can't figure it out, I would expect him to keep ordering seats until he gets it right. If getting your feet down is your primary concern, then perhaps the seat for you is the low, sport version - described by BMW as the extra low, I guess. That's if the .4 inches makes a difference to you, and it may. I wouldn't be thrown by your initial impression. I had it on my '07 and had purchased it in addition to the standard (sport) seat as my around towner, where I'd be stopping a lot. I kept the standard one for touring. Ultimately, I found it to be much more comfortable for longer distances than the standard, with it's extra padding. If I remember correctly, Don E. felt the same way about his.

In any case, you're paying a lot for a motorbike, and should get what you want. It's your dealer's responsibility to be informed about the product, make him work for it.

Best of luck!

[Don C]

There are so many seats available that it's hard to keep track. There used to be four regular bench seats, extra low, low, standard, and high. I don't think you want any of those. Then BMW came out with the comfort seats. Low and high. And these seats are both available with or without the passenger grab strap, so now there are eight different part numbers. We're pretty lucky to have such a selection. I'd suggest, as the others have, that the low comfort seat is the one you would be most happy with. It comes standard now. 52537719485 is the number, with no strap.

[atractaspis]

Very helpful information. Thank you don!

[deilenberger]

Don,

I believe (at least in 2007) that the uncomfort seat (aka "sport" seat now) only came in 3 heights (low, normal, tall.) The middle height (normal) is the same height as the "low" comfort seat.

Having the low-uncomfort seat, I can't see how they could make it any lower.. there is very little foam to begin with. I had mine redone by Sargent, and had them remove a bit more foam from the nose of it on the sides, so my legs can go straighter down (27" pants inseam..) The Sargent redo is worth the $$ - after about 50,000 miles on it - it has become pretty darn comfortable, especially combined with a Freedom-Air cushion. I'd bought the "low comfort seat" - and it just didn't work for me. The seating position is slightly more forward than the standard seat, and it was just a bit higher than I like. So - I sold it to a friend who wanted it for his wife to use when she was riding his R12R.

The dealer should know all of this - but given the sad state of many dealerships, it wouldn't surprise me if the sales person doesn't know, and doesn't care to know much at all about the product they're selling. On the '07 bike - owners were given their choice of seat at delivery, the dealer was supposed to stock extras of the low/tall seats (the bikes came with the normal height seat.) No charge to switch the seat when you purchased the bike.

[Don C]

I'll try to clear up the low vs low low comparison with a photo. And it's correct that the low low seat is not really lower than the low bench seat at least not measurably so. But I don't know a better name for it. The low low seat moves the rider forward relative to the other seats, perhaps assuming that short people may have short arms as well as short legs. And it makes it a bit easier to reach the ground because the seat is narrowest at the front. The low low seat was included when you bought a bike with the low suspension option. Note the the extra padded area just in front of the passenger grab strap, showing that the seating position is moved forward. There is also no molded groove under the seating area, and less padding at the front allows the rider to scoot a bit farther forward. The low low seat is the one in the back. We should have a faq about this.

[Caroanbill]

I have a 2007 with the low seat - now "low bench" or "low sport" depending on your country. Wanted a comfort seat, for the better pillion section as much as the better under-thigh shape.

I also tried and tried to get information on the "low comfort" seat ... all a bit conflicting. I couldn't really tell what I was looking at since pictures, part numbers and drawings all disagreed (part numbers are diffrent in different countries - I'm in Australia). Couldn't really place an order ..
.. finally, I looked at the seats that come on the 2011-13 model (camhead). The 2011 "low" looks identical to the 2007-2010 hexhead "low comfort". Brainwave! Swap seats with the "low" seat off a showroom 2011-13 to try fit to me and to bike. Fits perfectly and is justwhat I'm looking for. Done! I simply ordered the part number from the 2011-13 seat and when mine came it still fits both bike and me.

And now for the good news. The new seat, while vertically higher, still allows me almost the same foot placement as the old one. On both I can just flat foot both sides .. a little closer on the old seat but actually not really different in feel / confidence. I still use my airhawk with no issues. I think, if you can use the low 'sport / bench' (whatever!) seat you have, the low or low comfort should be fine - but you could test it at a dealer if there's one handy with stock.

Best part is that a current seat is more likely to be in stock and will have a return possibility in the event it doesn't work on first trial - the old "low comfort" may well be a Germany order, take time and be non-returnable (taht was the case in Australia).

[atractaspis]

[/quote]


Great!!! thanks so much Don C ... nice to actually see a picture of them!! I wish dealers would have as much info as that.. none of the dealers close to me (close enough to drive there for a day trip) had any clue about the difference in those seats nor did they have one in stock... One dealer only had a sport seat and tried to convince me it's the low seat (I understand that it's the same height as the low seat...but it's a different seat!). The same dealer would not let me get a bike I looked at with a low seat (instead of a standard).. they only would let me buy it is an 'extra'... and I am spending already a lot of money on a bike... would like just one seat for now until I put a few thousand miles on it and I know if I like that particular seat or not ... luckily the other dealer I went to gave me that option with the bike they already had as well ...but anyways I ended up getting a bike that was ordered but not built yet

[atractaspis]

I have a 2007 with the low seat - now "low bench" or "low sport" depending on your country. Wanted a comfort seat, for the better pillion section as much as the better under-thigh shape.

I also tried and tried to get information on the "low comfort" seat ... all a bit conflicting. I couldn't really tell what I was looking at since pictures, part numbers and drawings all disagreed (part numbers are diffrent in different countries - I'm in Australia). Couldn't really place an order ..
.. finally, I looked at the seats that come on the 2011-13 model (camhead). The 2011 "low" looks identical to the 2007-2010 hexhead "low comfort". Brainwave! Swap seats with the "low" seat off a showroom 2011-13 to try fit to me and to bike. Fits perfectly and is justwhat I'm looking for. Done! I simply ordered the part number from the 2011-13 seat and when mine came it still fits both bike and me.

And now for the good news. The new seat, while vertically higher, still allows me almost the same foot placement as the old one. On both I can just flat foot both sides .. a little closer on the old seat but actually not really different in feel / confidence. I still use my airhawk with no issues. I think, if you can use the low 'sport / bench' (whatever!) seat you have, the low or low comfort should be fine - but you could test it at a dealer if there's one handy with stock.

Best part is that a current seat is more likely to be in stock and will have a return possibility in the event it doesn't work on first trial - the old "low comfort" may well be a Germany order, take time and be non-returnable (taht was the case in Australia).

I believe (as you said very conflicting information) I finally got the low comfort seat.. I actually looked at the german sites for the r1200r (helps when your native language is German)... and ended up finding different info... found a site with all the part numbers and drawings of the seats (which all looked the exact same in the drawings... so it was just a generic drawing) ... ended up seeing different numbers for seats that were supposed to be the same type of seat (according to name)... problem so far was that none of the dealers had a 'true' low seat (not low comfort or extra low) in stock to try out.. if I could I would freaking fly to Germany and check them out and then go to the BMW headquarters and tell them to freaking at least put pictures and descriptions up for those sort of things !!

[atractaspis]

Having the low-uncomfort seat, I can't see how they could make it any lower.. there is very little foam to begin with. I had mine redone by Sargent, and had them remove a bit more foam from the nose of it on the sides, so my legs can go straighter down (27" pants inseam..) The Sargent redo is worth the $$ - after about 50,000 miles on it - it has become pretty darn comfortable, especially combined with a Freedom-Air cushion. I'd bought the "low comfort seat" - and it just didn't work for me. The seating position is slightly more forward than the standard seat, and it was just a bit higher than I like. So - I sold it to a friend who wanted it for his wife to use when she was riding his R12R.

you mentioned before that you had yours redone by Sargent.. am thinking once I have the seat I know how much I like the height..and if I like the height and seating position but it gets uncomfortable then I will probably rather have a redo by Sargent as well than buying a completely different seat that I have to try out again and to find out how comfortable it is...

I am a intrigued by the Wunderlich seat I saw (comes in low and standard)...but that's just another seat to spend a lot of money on without knowing how it fits... and don't know any place I can go to to give it a try anyways.. might have to wait until I go home again for a visit (Austria) and try and find a place to check that out there ...

[PhilSB]

I ordered my 2007 with low seat and I find that I can manage with the balls of my feet on the ground. I'm 27inch inside leg measurement. Oh the problems of being a shortass!

Phil