Need Seat advice

[Josh_S]

Ok, it comes down to this, as a tall guy, I have an appointment to get a Bill Mayer saddle built to replace my Low OEM seat, but then I was thinking I haven't seen or heard any one's opinion of the OEM Tall (High) seat. There don't seem to be any in So Cal to try. So heres the question, any one have a high oem seat, what do they think? Anyone have a Bill Mayer on an R1200R?
Any pix?
Thanks.

[fixinbones]

Ok, it comes down to this, as a tall guy, I have an appointment to get a Bill Mayer saddle built to replace my Low OEM seat, but then I was thinking I haven't seen or heard any one's opinion of the OEM Tall (High) seat. There don't seem to be any in So Cal to try. So heres the question, any one have a high oem seat, what do they think? Anyone have a Bill Mayer on an R1200R?
Any pix?
Thanks.

doesnt it piss you off that all these R1200Rs are coming with the factory low seat. I would insist on a high seat before purchasing one.

[Josh_S]

Yup it's a pisser, had I not fallen in love on the test drive, I might have thought it through and demanded a tall seat. Ah, love, ain't it grand.

[deilenberger]

Yup it's a pisser, had I not fallen in love on the test drive, I might have thought it through and demanded a tall seat. Ah, love, ain't it grand.

I think if you pressure your dealer a bit - they can provide you with a tall seat gratis.. you might want to contact BMW-Motorad to confirm it.. but the seat was a no-cost option.

[DrD]

The tall seat option still didn't work for me; it was too narrow and peaked in the center. A RIck Mayer seat -- with the height equivalent to the tall seat option -- does work for me. See the thread on handlebar and mirror replacement for pics.

[mtl-R12R]

The tall seat option still didn't work for me; it was too narrow and peaked in the center. A RIck Mayer seat -- with the height equivalent to the tall seat option -- does work for me. See the thread on handlebar and mirror replacement for pics.

Ditto ... it was the narrow and peaked in the center that bothered me ... I had the standard height seat ... now using the Corbin and I'm comfortable.

Howard

[mickyt]

... I had the standard height seat ... now using the Corbin and I'm comfortable.

Hi mtl-R12R
What height did you order for your Corbin and how does that compare to a standard seat height please?
Regards Mick

[mtl-R12R]

... I had the standard height seat ... now using the Corbin and I'm comfortable.

Hi mtl-R12R
What height did you order for your Corbin and how does that compare to a standard seat height please?
Regards Mick

I ordered the standard seat for the 12R from Corbin ... perhaps other heights would be available on a custom build basis.

Corbin lists the height on that seat as being between the height of the low and standard seats from BMW. My bike came with the standard height seat, and the Corbin FEELS higher.

I think that it feels that way because of the greater width of the seat which keeps your thighs up higher and the fact that it doesn't slope forward as the stock seat does.

http://www.corbin.com/bmw/bmwr12r7.shtml

Howard

[Josh_S]

Yup it's a pisser, had I not fallen in love on the test drive, I might have thought it through and demanded a tall seat. Ah, love, ain't it grand.

I think if you pressure your dealer a bit - they can provide you with a tall seat gratis.. you might want to contact BMW-Motorad to confirm it.. but the seat was a no-cost option.

I spoke to BMW-Motorad, and was told that although it is a zero cost option, after purchase the switching of a seat is purely up to the individual dealer. BMW-Hollywood said they could give me a discount ($300, as opposed to $360) if I wanted to buy a High seat from them. At that price it seems smart to bight the bullet and go custom.

Thanks all for the input, I am convinced i wouldn't be happy with OEM in the long run.. So next Wednesday I ride up to BMS for custom built seat. I'll post pix when I get back.

[jonkerns]

I just bought a new R1200R in mid-June. It came with the standard seat. I would prefer to have the low version. Now, I'm going to have to pay $360 to get a lower seat. My R just past 1,200 miles. Would anyone be interested in trading? I'm in Carmel, IN 46032.

[daveyator]

I'm fairly sure I have the tall OEM seat. This is because I have ample legroom compared to my "99 1100R with it's seat set at the tallest setting. I can barely flatfoot the bike being 5'11 with a 32" inseam. From a stock to stock standpoint this seat/height comb is considerably more comfy for me than my '99 was. Not sure if that tells anything.

[tunamambo]

My bike had the low seat when I bought it and drove it home. Gateway BMW swapped it for the high a week later--with a smile and no charge. Mighty fine dealer.

[DPA]

My new 2008 was shipped with the low seat. I am 5'11" with a 32" inseam. In 'making the deal' with my dealer, I asked him to get the Medium (as BMW calls it...the 800MM seat) for me; he did at no cost. The new seat just arrived the other day, so I went to get it. Put it on the bike, rode back to my office (50 miles or so to test it out) and started thinking: Jeez, this Medium seat seems quite tall, narrow and rounded. I also felt as though I was 'riding high' on the bike and putting extra force on my wrists. When I got to the office I flipped the seat over to check for the BMW part number. Well lo and behold...I think that was the first part on a BMW motorcycle without a stamped-in part number (no part number to be found). I called my dealer and asked him to check the part number on the seat shipping carton. Daaaang: they accidentally ordered the High seat. Long and short of it: the High seat is too high for me. I did not like the rounded/pointy feeling and it made me lean onto the bars too much. The Medium seat should arrive tomorrow. The Low seat is a bit too low for me. My legs are a bit cramped when sitting on that bugger. My 2 cents.

[Enjoy-Rider]

My R1200R came with the standard seat, but my dealer offered to order his next R1200R from the factory with a tall seat (I have inseam 36") and after 4 weeks of riding on the standard seat I could still swap the seats for free!!!!!

I think the tall seat is more comfortable because it is less soft, but after about 400 mile my butt stil becomes very sore. Now I am considering the Airhawk cushion for long distances..........
My only fear is that the saddle becomes a little too high with the additional cushion

[deilenberger]

My R1200R came with the standard seat, but my dealer offered to order his next R1200R from the factory with a tall seat (I have inseam 36") and after 4 weeks of riding on the standard seat I could still swap the seats for free!!!!!

I think the tall seat is more comfortable because it is less soft, but after about 400 mile my butt stil becomes very sore. Now I am considering the Airhawk cushion for long distances..........

Consider the "FreedomAir" cushion, your balls will thank you.. http://www.starcushion.com/consumer.php The medium size one works well (they now have 3 sizes..)

My only fear is that the saddle becomes a little too high with the additional cushion

Correctly used, air cushions shouldn't raise you more than 15mm or so. Too much air in them is counterproductive. You want just enough to lift your entire butt off the seat.

[Enjoy-Rider]

Thanks Don!
Unfortunatedly there is quite a price difference between the Airhawk and the Freedom Air in the Netherlands: the Airhawk is 115 euro (170 dollar) and the Freedom Air is 175 euro (260 dollar!!). Is the Freedom Air worth the price difference? For this amout I'd rather think of a Corbin seat or so.

[deilenberger]

Thanks Don!
Unfortunatedly there is quite a price difference between the Airhawk and the Freedom Air in the Netherlands: the Airhawk is 115 euro (170 dollar) and the Freedom Air is 175 euro (260 dollar!!). Is the Freedom Air worth the price difference? For this amout I'd rather think of a Corbin seat or so.

My experience was - the Airhawk changed the location of my pain, from my butt to my privates. My butt felt great, but the pain moved forwards and became somewhat excruciating. The FreedomAir is specifically designed to avoid that problem (big V cutout in the front.) I couldn't ride any further with the Airhawk than without it.. I guess no one is discounting the FreedomAir in Europe.

[Enjoy-Rider]

Maybe I can order it in the States.
Does anyone of you know a seller with discount prices that ships to Europe?

Thanks!!

[Bill Stevenson]

Mine came with the low seat and I sent it to Bill Mayor for a proper saddle. The new saddle is about 2" higher. Big difference in favor of BMS. I had BMS on my R1150R too. You are lucky that you are close enough to ride there and have them build your saddle while you wait as they can really tailor the saddle to your needs. Highest recommendation. My partner recently bought a Corbin because of convenience and although it ain't no BMS, it is still far better than the abyssmal stock seat. Although I have not personally ridden a Rick Mayor saddle, I met a guy up at Daytona who said he had one and with my permission he sat on my bike and got mad at himself for not going with BMS. From what I can tell BMS is the best.

Regards,

Bill

[Enjoy-Rider]

Unfortunatedly there is quite a price difference between the Airhawk and the Freedom Air in the Netherlands: the Airhawk is 115 euro (170 dollar) and the Freedom Air is 175 euro (260 dollar!!).

I complained about the price and now they're willing to give me a discount of 30 euro.
So I'm considering bying it.......however: which size is best for the R1200R?
(my butt is not so big ):

Standard Cruiser 14” x 13.5”
Cruiser XL 15.5” x 16”
Sport Touring 12” x 13.5”