If you had to choose between Seat or Shock to upgrade

[LeonardoNYC]

and you could only do one this season, which would you choose and why?

Interested to hear everyone's opinions.
(I think I am leaning towards seat as a mere two hours causes a fair amount of discomfort. )

[websterize]

Shocks because of the dramatic improvement in riding feel (or so I hear).

[KMalo]

I'd probably go for the set upgrade as well.

With one year of experience with my '11 model, I have not found the suspension limiting either my riding style or my comfort.

The seat, on the other hand, could use some help. I have had a few long days in that saddle and it has come up short IMO. My concern is improving the comfort without increasing the height. Not sure which way to go.

Good luck with your choices.

Chuck

[qfman]

Depends on the kind of riding you do.

If you do a lot of miles on Motorways and freeways, change the seat. Stock shock is fine for slab.
if you chase curves and switchbacks, change the shock. Stock seat is fine if you're moving your weight around a lot.

I changed my front shock to Ohlins a few years back. Stock seat still fine for me.

Tom

[hjsbmw]

Given my personal YMMV experience I'd say change the seat. I also used to get uncomfortable after 1-2 hours, after 3-4 hours I was in pain, and a better seat changed the enjoyment greatly, even when sitting at a light.

[Bill Stevenson]

Change the seat first absolutely. I have a Bill Mayers Saddle that was purchased right away. That was in 2008. My stock shocks worked OK for 30,000 miles and were just changed for new ones last month. New after market shocks do improve the handling of our bikes, but basically if the bike didn't handle to my liking I wouldn't have bought it in the first place. On the other hand BMW saddles are just plain uncomfortable for me. This has been true since my first one in 1970. So every new bike has been fitted with a custom saddle as soon as possible.

[Caol]

I've done both. On a '07 R12 I've swapped the original "standard" high seat for the "Comfort" variant which did make a difference, but the big change was swapping the single rate ESA springs/shocks for the progressive Hyperpro ESA springs/shocks.

I've wound up doing a fair amount of both slab and twisties and have found that setting the shocks in "comfort" mode on the slab, the little thumps (expansion joints etc) on the slab disappear with the progressive springs, making life much more enjoyable, yet in "Sport" mode in the twisties all is firm, predictable and fun.

I'm still considering a custom saddle, but it has slid way down the priority list at the moment.

Kyle

[xprof]

Depends on the bike. If it is an older bike made before the "comfort" seat, then I'd say change the seat. The saddle on my 2009 was intolerable for long rides, whereas my Mayer saddle is a dream. Also, what is the mileage on the bike? If low mileage, then change the seat by all means; try to get some miles out of the stock shocks, and when you do upgrade you'll appreciate the new ones even more. If over 30,000 miles, and if the saddle is not abusing your rear end too badly, then maybe I'd say change the shocks first. So which is it: comfort seat or old stock seat, low miles or high? That should give you some idea what to do next.

[Lost Rider]

Change the shock is my vote, and buy an $89 Airhawk instead...
Though what xprof said is logical too... if you have a shock with over 25-30 k miles it's a no brainer to be swapping that thing out first.
You don't need to be a canyon carver to appreciate the all around improvements good suspension will give you over the cheap crappy Showa shocks. Remember, the ride quality even on slabs is more comfortable with better suspension, getting just a seat is like putting a bandaid on a leak in a dam instead of fixing part of the root of the problem when it comes to fatigue, soreness and comfort.
If your bike has enough miles to have worn out the OEM shocks then the steering damper is also toast, it was also a night and day difference when I installed an Ohlins damper that I have adjusted on the tighter end of the action, noticeably improving handling and comfort. I think the steering damper is very often overlooked around here and is not a huge investment with noticeable improvements felt immediately.
With my experience even with a cu$tom Mayers seat, and Ohlins suspension I still use my Airhawk all the time (well, when I'm able to ride unlike now) because it's just that much more comfortable than without. Very long days in the saddle are never limited by butt pain with the Airhawk for me, only other contributing factors. I use an Airhawk on my dirt bike with a narrow plank of a seat... 12 hour days, day in and day out - no problem with a very small investment.

YRMV, but at least if you try an Airhawk and buy it from them you have 30 days to evaluate and return it if you don't like it.

Good luck deciding!

[deilenberger]

I'd have to go with Joe.. although I prefer FreedomAir over the Airhawk (although I believe they did address a few of the issues I had with mine.) Price is about the same. FreedomAir is a bit harder to find, and harder to find a deal on.

Both seat and suspension can contribute to a sore butt. One other thing also helps IMHO - LDRider underwear. No seams on the sitting part of the butt, and no bunching up. Also wick away moisture. They come in black only so if you have to wear them more than one day, you don't have to worry about mom yelling at you about clean underwear. I now have 7 pair (make a great father's day gift, something you'll actually use) so I'm set for longer trips. They can be washed in a sink if necessary and will dry overnight without a problem.

Shocks help if they're set up right. Less impact getting to your butt helps it stay comfy, even on BMW instrument of torture (a stock seat.) I rode today - (without my LDRider undies) for about 7 hours, and only the last hour was a bit uncomfortable, nothing that two ibuprofen couldn't cure. If I'd been wearing the LD undies, the IB would have been unnecessary. Thats with Hyperpro suspension, a Sargent redone low seat, and a FreedomAir cushion, over really crappy NJ pavement.

On the air cushion, the mistake everyone usually makes is to put too much air in it. You only want enough air so that the cushion touches your butt all the way around. More then that will make you less comfortable, and give a floating sensation when riding, plus raise you up (a problem if you have a short inseam..) If it doesn't work for you in the beginning, start letting air out of it. Mine if I ball up my fist and press it into either half (FreedomAir has separate port/starboard chambers to prevent the rocking motion a single chamber can cause) - my fist will feel the actual seat (while the cushion rises around it.) It looks under inflated, but it works just fine this way. This is a case of less is better.

[LeonardoNYC]

thanks to all ...think I will go with a new seat this season. I just wish I could find an aftermarket seat that did not require sending in your current seat!

[Lost Rider]

http://www.seatconcepts.com offers DIY install kits for their custom seats, I have one on my Husaberg and know many people with them who are happy.
Try giving them a call and see if the have a kit for the 12R, no down time from riding needed and the price is right!

[carlvs]

I personally would do the seat first. I bought a used pan from a member and modified the foam, took out the slope and added a piece of dense foam shaped like a saddle. Had it recovered in leather and now I have an "eight hour" seat. The only problem is that I go on ten hour rides;-)

[Rapid Dog]

http://www.seatconcepts.com offers DIY install kits for their custom seats, I have one on my Husaberg and know many people with them who are happy.
Try giving them a call and see if the have a kit for the 12R, no down time from riding needed and the price is right!

SC doesn't have one for the R. I let them know I needed one but he let me know they are too busy to do one.
Bummer. I've had 3 of their saddles and they are the best bang for the buck.
Maybe in the future...

Back OT, I'd probably do the seat first if you've got a newer bike with good OEM shocks.
Deals come up all the time on shocks.
Heck someone had a set of Ohlins in the FM for $500 this week!!!

[roger l]

I E-mailed seat concepts to see if they had a seat cover for the R1200R. I was told that they do not but they are interested in developing one. Lendon said that if there was someone local to San Jacinto, CA was interested in letting them have their seat they would come up with a seat cover. So, if someone is interested in working with Seat Concepts contact them and see what happens.

http://www.seatconcepts.com/contact

Thanks
Roger L

[Snapping Twig]

Mine is a 2012 with the standard comfort seat, so with the seat being pretty nice, I went with shocks.

What a HUGE difference in not only performance, but ride quality as well.

I selected a triple valve rear shock so I can adjust the high and low speed compression. Good call there!

Had those installed, dialed them in and only after several months I upgraded the seat.

If I had to do it over again, I'd get the shocks first every time.

[garr2]

1) You notice the difference after market shocks make every time you ride, an after market seat makes its presence felt much more on longer rides (after an hour or two or .....).
2) Riding the twisties which involves constant repositioning of your bum reduces the difference the aftermarket seat makes but accentuates the difference of the shocks. Riding the slab has the opposite effects.
3) Replacing shocks is going to cost much more than replacing the seat - by a factor of anywhere between 2 - 5 (depending on the brand & whether they are ESA or non-ESA).

I hope this makes things clearer!

Ian