BMW R1200R R1150R/T F800 K1200R R1100R/T R1250R RnineT Message Board

Ok - the dealer called today and invited me over to see my R12R being worked on (installing the luggage racks, Traction control unit, Tyre pressure, etc...)

I LOVE the pinstripes

Anyway, he asked me which seat i want; standard or high?

At 6' 1", 34" inseam and 85kg they BOTH feel pretty comfy. I have opted to take the sport windscreen (ztechnik on the way for the winter months) and i also ordered the alaska sheepskin & airhawk (my wallet blames you, ChiTown )

So any input regarding the tall/standard seat will be appreciated.

Eisen,

Can you hop back on it and try it out again? You said they were comfy, but the reason I ask is not because of your butt, but because of your legs and arms.

I was toying with the idea of the high seat to get a bit more leg room (which I think you may welcome at 34" - same here), but I'm hesitating as by moving me up I don't want this to cause an effective lowering of the handle bars.

So, while I may not have a recommedation, I hope it give you something else to consider. Hopefully the dealer will allow you to test them again.

Oliver

BTW: With a Black bike with pin stripes you've chosen somewhat wisely. Black is the fastest color, but the pinstripes add weight and create turbulence in the airflow over the tank, which slows you down.
Sorry couldn't resist.

... but I'm hesitating as by moving me up I don't want this to cause an effective lowering of the handle bars

Thanks for your input, Oliver.

I have managed to get around that problem by buying some verholen bar risers CLICKY

I'm 5ft-12 and a 1/2inch with a 33" inseam and have the standard seat. I was finding the seat to be O.K. on the tail feathers, but hard on the knees, on 500km days.

So I went with a set of SW-Motech bar-backs and the "Ulitimate" sheepskin/memory foam/gelpad from American Motorcycle Specialties.

It's thick enough to take the strain off the knees and have the benefits of the sheepskin. But if I'm just bopping around town I don't bother to put it on.

I've also got the 'touring' windscreen and that puts the windload just below shoulder level and the helmet in clear air.

Kyle

eisen,

Glad you like the stripes... we all know the real truth about the Stripes and their benefits to the performance of the R....

When making your decision about the seat, remember the AirHawk will raise you up another 25 mm...
I'm 182 cm tall and before I had the AirHawk I thought that I could have went with the tall seat instead of the standard to give me more comfort in my legs and arms. After I bought the AH pad my height was just about perfect, and I was glad I went with the standard...

Unfortunately no matter how many experiences you hear about, yours will be different, and all the "perfect setup" planning will go out the window when you start to ride your new bike.
I would try and set it up so you can exchange seats after you get some miles done, if necessary.



On another note, I've been meaning to ask you. How far can you ride in Israel? I was looking at maps of the area, and without crossing borders into countries than our news media has us Americans fearful of, it doesn't seem like there's that great of distances to cover. Is that true?

What kind of temperature's do you have in the winter?


Here's our local weather today, not exactly riding weather, even by my standards


Cheers

Joe








Sweet Home Chicago....

THE WINTER STORM WARNING IS NOW IN EFFECT UNTIL 9 AM CST
WEDNESDAY.
A WINTER STORM WARNING MEANS SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS OF SNOW...STRONG
WINDS AND DANGEROUSLY LOW WIND CHILLS ARE LIKELY. THIS WILL MAKE TRAVEL VERY HAZARDOUS OR IMPOSSIBLE.

I posted the same question about a month ago.
Some of the answers might help.

Not sure how to attach the post, however if you look through the posts, you will find mine listed "Seat Height"

I pick up bike up in April, in the snow right now.
Mine will come with the high seat, but I"m still not sure what that means.
Anyway, if I don't like the height, I will ask the dealer to change it at no cost
Thats the deal...

eisen wrote:At 6' 1", 34" inseam ...

So any input regarding the tall/standard seat will be appreciated.

I'd have to recommend the tall seat. Since you have 34" legs (I'd give anything to have a 34" inseam), I'm thinking your legs will be bent rather severly with the standard seat.

I have a 29" inseam, and my RR has the standard seat. The low seat was too low for me (I have bad knees, so I can't keep them bent too much on long rides). The standard seat was just right (for me).

Jumped over to the dealer today.
He will supply me (initially) with the TALL seat.
However i have the option to change at any time once i receive my Airhawk/sheepy.
GREAT dealer & a happy customer

ChiTown - Israel is tiny
We can ride a maximum of 200km to the North, then another 500km South before entering hostile territory. But there are so many beautiful places in-between you are always spolied for choice. The S/O and i love eating & drinking out - so being able to just jump on the bike and have breakfast in a remote cafe in the North mountains (2 hours away) just never loses its appeal.
There are also some fantastic bed&breakfast/spa's located all over the place - so an overnight trip is always a pleasure as well.

In have attached some piccies from our last two trips:

The S/O and me:


THAT remote mountain cafe i was talking about:


Massada:


Reflection from the Dead Sea:


Peace & Quiet on the desert roads:


Getting dark near Jerusalem:


Jordanian & Syrian Border:


Taking a well-deserved break


Tiberias:


Heading down to the lake:


Old underground army bunker:


Sniper spot:


Border:


Distance:


I'm looking forward to posting some pics with the latest member of the family - the R12R (name=undecided, still trying to find something appropriately jewish )

Regards,

E

Eisen,

Cool pictures, looks like a wonderful area.


As far as finding something appropriately Jewish, how would you spell / say "Black Beauty" in Hebrew?

...As far as finding something appropriately Jewish, how would you spell / say "Black Beauty" in Hebrew?

hhmmm, not quite kosher enough

EISEN

Your MV Verholen bar backs for the R12R, did you have to add brake line extensions? Or was it just install and remount and go.........?

jgp

eisen wrote:

...As far as finding something appropriately Jewish, how would you spell / say "Black Beauty" in Hebrew?

hhmmm, not quite kosher enough

Funny

But "Black Beauty" was not meant as a suggestion to you, but I was curious myself what it would look like in Hebrew and if it's something one would say (not that I'm planning to have it tattoed on my neck ala Britney Spears) Sometimes, things do not translate well.

Too bad you don't have a Harley. Otherwise, you could have a contradiction in terms and call it a kosher hog.

JGP wrote:EISEN

Your MV Verholen bar backs for the R12R, did you have to add brake line extensions? Or was it just install and remount and go.........?

jgp

I'm not Eisen, but I also have the MV Verholen's on my bike.
I did not have to add any extensions. The whole installation was a 1/2 hour affair, because it was "just install and remount and go........."

My Bar risers are on order - so obviously i have not installed them.
Actually, i don't even have the R12R yet! Being prepped for a Friday pickup.

From what the dealer explained (& OlyVR) - the risers can be installed without any other mods. Should be a straight forward job. I will post a quick report once they are on...

Any - back to Black Beauty. In hebrew it looks like this:

יפה בשחור
Roughly translated, it means "Beautiful in Black"

Maybe i should add some white pinstripes to my LT as well

Eisen,
thank you for a look into motorcycle riding in Israel, I look forward to more beautiful pictures.


-Joe

I see these photos and find it hard to imagine that such a beautiful spot is one of the most hostile places on the planet.

You should come vacation in western NC. The roads here are some of the best we have to offer in the nation.

Stay safe, and ride often,

NCGS is right I head over to W.NC from E TN every chance I get to ride and camp.
Mark

Western NC peaceful -- really!
A few years ago while leading a bunch of bikes along the dirt/gravel roads that parallel the Blue Ridge, I stopped to check the map. A local came by and asked if we were lost, a friend (?) announced in a loud and clear New York accent that I was showing them where my great Grandfather came through with General Sherman during the Civil War (Oops - War of Northern Aggression). What happened next was not friendly or peaceful and the language from that little old lady was definitely not in the vocabulary of the local clergy. I moved the group out smartly before she could get her gun out. This because of an incident that happened almost 150 years ago.

eisen wrote:Any - back to Black Beauty. In hebrew it looks like this:

יפה בשחור
Roughly translated, it means "Beautiful in Black"

Thanks Eisen,
That looks cool.

Showing my ignorance here, but Hebrew is read from right to left, correct?

Thanks again and let us know what name you come up with for your bike.

Showing my ignorance here, but Hebrew is read from right to left, correct?

Yup. Its read from right to left.
BTW, its not an ignorant question at all.

All the best,

E