► Seats (too high, too hard, pillion...) and suspension

I just came back from Holland, Germany and Denmark, about 1500mile round trip and even though I had my seat done by Viking Vinyl which is great, I also used an Airhawk. I still experienced the little numbness now and again, but not any soreness, Airhawk makes a huge difference and for now I wouldn't go anywhere without it !

I pushed all over Germany in one go, pretty much, without the Airhawk, I don't think I would have been able to do that :thumb
 
Don't know what the fuss is about.

You should try a few hours on my CCM 604!

They call it a seat but I'm sure it's just a vinyl covered plank.

Spent three hours on my new 800 today, a bit of a numb bum but no real problems.

I can recommend cycling shorts, I use them on the CCM so I can ride longer than 20 minutes at a time :D
 
it's here!!

I got the call that the comfort seat had arrived, so I rushed down for it.

It is rather wide, and a two-toned cover on it. It was also heavily scalloped rather like the low seat.

And, for me, it was terrible. It wedged me in, and forced one position only. No portion of the front part was flat: all was either curving up or down. The space for the rider was too small. I like seats that are largely flat and roomy.

The pillion seat portion looked luxurious.:thumb2

I didn't bother :(

Aran
 
Sounds like BM may have come up with another poor seat design, why not just copy the mods done by good seat modifiers?
Having slagged BM many times for my aching rear I must make the following observations.
Test ride on first launch of GS650 - Very poor seating position and comfort.
Riding My wifes GS650 a few times -Seat not too bad at first but soon uncomfy.
Bought my own F800GS- seat not too bad for 30 mins but rapidly deteriorates. Fitted an Air cushion for long motorway trips.
Ride round northern France -750 miles in one week, only slight discomfort as I did not spend more than a few hours on the bike.
Ride from Dover to Leeds - the air cushion would not stay inflated and the run home was almost bearable.
Week later a run to Cromer-400m round trip very little discomfort.
This weekend - 550m trip to Pembrokshire with a motorway blast of 90 miles to finish, Almost no discomfort,

My conclusion is the seat is no worse than most bikes I have had in the past.
I have had an intensive seven weeks ownership and covered 5000 miles. I now feel comfy for most of the time, when I have felt numb a quick stop and walk round have restored my circulation, so for me Std now works OK but could be better.
On the other hand My wife has only done 3500m over the same period and has shown considerable personal padding losses through weight watchers and for her the seat has become so painful she could hardly walk the day after our Dover to Leeds run.
 
Worst Seat I've experienced

Of the 8 Motorcycles I've owned (3 by BM) the F800GS is the worst seat ever.

I took it to a upholstery guy and had it reshaped so that I would at least stop sliding in to the mock tank. A bead rider seems to help, but still after 300 miles it is a pain in the arse!
 
Gel seat pad

I went on my adventure to Istanbul this summer and found the lowered seat on the 800GS a real 'pain in the arse' especially the 24 hour ride from Poland to Calais (900 miles).

I have been watching this thread with interest and was on the verge of buying a sheepskin when I saw a gel seat pad on a parked bike. A bit of research and found them on Ebay. Cheaper than the airhawk, mine was £40 delivered. Three different sizes S/M/L. Mine is the medium one.

It only came today so haven't been out on it yet, will report back.

search for this item on ebay 160363576558

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Gel seat pad 004c.jpg

Gel seat pad 005c.jpg

Ghostrider
 
I've had the 650(twin) for a few months now and after having done 4000km on mostly one hour commutes I've finally got the "memory foam" modification done in preparation for longer summer trips - it still looks the same as the standard seat - but what an amazing difference all for NZ$70. The bloke that dreamed up this modification deserves a beer.
 
BMW 'Comfort' seat available?

Aran said:
I popped into Williams Manchester on the way through this lunchtime. The lovely Claudine didn't know about the comfort seat but quickly found out about it for me.
£216 incl VAT.
Ordered!

Aran
Click to expand...

Any more news on this seat? I checked recently with my local BMW dealer, and they had never heard of it -- only the Rallye seat, and I suspect that will be even less comfortable than the standard seat!

A part number would be really useful.

Cheers,

Paul
 
Gel seat pad

Well,

First thoughts are not that positive. I didn't like fact I was a bit higher than normal and could feel the full force of wind over the screen. Secondly under accelaration the seat becomes squirmy and you find yourself moving backwards in the seat. I found I wasn't in a comfortable position and therefore wasn't as confident as normal.
More importantly I found my arse going numb as it does with the ordinary seat. I think will give some more use maybe on a long run later in the year or in the spring but its not looking good.

Ghostrider
 
Thanks GhostRider

Don't think I will pull that trigger ... back to the memory foam I think.
 
Memory Foam Conversion - Gloucestershire

Anyone know a place in Gloucestershire (or near Cheltenham) where I can get my 800GS seat foam replaced with memory foam while retaining the identical seat shape?
 
Blobby said:
Anyone know a place in Gloucestershire (or near Cheltenham) where I can get my 800GS seat foam replaced with memory foam while retaining the identical seat shape?
Click to expand...

Hey Blobby, if you don't find anyone around your area, give Viking Vinyl a call, from memory, i think you can post your seat over to them for the mod and have it returned in a few days. Obviously this depends if you use the bike every day....their number is 07977-874-075
 
GS Biker said:
Hey Blobby, if you don't find anyone around your area, give Viking Vinyl a call, from memory, i think you can post your seat over to them for the mod and have it returned in a few days. Obviously this depends if you use the bike every day....their number is 07977-874-075
Click to expand...

Thanks GS Biker. If there is no local option I may well go the Viking Vinyl route. :thumb2:thumb2
 
if anyone is wondering about bmw's new comfy seat, i can say it's lovely
Allan jefferies lent us one for a bit today - pick up mine on friday!!

the missus was with us & she loved it, no more sliding slowly towards me, the pillion is stepped about 2" higher than me and has a gentle up slope to stop her sliding forward.

I'd recomend trying it atleast, going out all day sat, i'll let you know how i get on

Elliott
 
New Seat

I was at Pidcocks today and they showed me a new seat designed for the long distance run.

I tried it in the shop and it is very comfortable...i can only describe it as:

Narrower at the point where your thighs sit...this stops the digging in of the seat into your thighs when you put your feet down.

The seat itself is scooped out so you have a bit of support at the back/bum..the passenger seat is 'stepped' up higher..

The price is £216 inc VAT.....

They only had one in the shop at the moment, i did suggest they should fit it to my bike and i would promote it....no chance.

Sorry no photos, this seat went back in the box and into their store room before i could draw out my credit card.:augie...

Maybe i could get one as a Christmas present:clap

Morticia:)
 
Was this the official BMW comfort / long distance seat I've heard about?
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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