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

BMW "Comfort" Seat

I too found the original seat on the F800 GS bloody uncomfortable after only 50mls.
Bought the BMW "Comfort" seat. Bit pricey at £237 but absolutely brilliant compared to the original. Did a 3600ml round trip to southern Spain with no issues at all. Could literally ride all day with no discomfort.
If you are ordering your bike new it may be possible to get some sort of discount if you tell them you will only buy the bike if the comfort seat is fitted.
The comfort seat is around 20mm taller than the original. I'm a bit challenged in the leg department so dropped the forks through the yokes by 20mm and fitted 20mm handlebar risers to compensate, but on reflection it probably wasn't necessary.
 
Plus 1 for the comfort seat. Changes the riding position a bit, makes it a bit more "supermoto" riding position, but much better than the original, sitting in the bike more than on it, and the gel in the comfort seat makes it easier to corner using yer bum cheeks. Point n push!
 
I think it comes down to the Accessory list.
BMW seem to sell everything bog standard then charge for the bits we consider for comfort.
 
I've just ridden 2348 miles to the south of France and back, and I used a Corbin seat to replace the OE one (useless). Again, not the cheapest but, having ridden some 9 hour days and felt nothing but comfort, the best 'extra' I've bought for my bike. It's a little lower, but also a little wider. I got used to it quickly, and it's VERY comfortable.

I also bought a red one to match the 30 yrs colour scheme!
 
...it seems the comfort seat is an improvment on the original; does anyone have any experience or information on the rally seat?
 
I wouldn't worry about the seat. I am on my second F800GS and have travelled some 15000 miles using the standard seat. It is hard but you get used to it and it becomes a non-issue. Why is it hard in the first place? No idea except to say that is is hard-wearing and puts up with a lot of abuse.
 
I've got a Touratech seat on mine, and it's good for 800 miles a day...

touatechseat.jpg
 
Last gasp arse assistance...

A dead sheep, courtesy of Lambland.

2011_0819bike0002.JPG

Trying it out tomorrow, before a little jaunt to France.

I that doesn't work, I'm putting my name down for an arse transplant.

Anyone got a high-mileage arse they're not using?
 
...just come back from a 3K mile trip across Europe on my F8GS.
I was going to lash out some cash to get my seat modified before the trip but then someone suggested padded cycling shorts....thought I'd give it a try and for less than £20....Abbracadabra.....all discomfort gone. I can ride all day, comfortably!
Honestly, try it out and see if suits you before spending on a custom seat. I know I'm gonna spend another £20 for a spair set of shorts....problem solved.

:thumb2
 
...just come back from a 3K mile trip across Europe on my F8GS.
I was going to lash out some cash to get my seat modified before the trip but then someone suggested padded cycling shorts....thought I'd give it a try and for less than £20....Abbracadabra.....all discomfort gone. I can ride all day, comfortably!
Honestly, try it out and see if suits you before spending on a custom seat. I know I'm gonna spend another £20 for a spair set of shorts....problem solved.

:thumb2
 
nrg said:
...just come back from a 3K mile trip across Europe on my F8GS.
I was going to lash out some cash to get my seat modified before the trip but then someone suggested padded cycling shorts....thought I'd give it a try and for less than £20....Abbracadabra.....all discomfort gone. I can ride all day, comfortably!
Honestly, try it out and see if suits you before spending on a custom seat. I know I'm gonna spend another £20 for a spair set of shorts....problem solved.

:thumb2
Click to expand...

Just what I have done, although I think a piece of bubble wrap would do in a pinch.
 
I changed the original seat at once after getting home from the dealer.
Now I'm riding with the BMW Comfort Seat.

If I go all the way through Europe in one leg, I put on my lamb skin.

My popo lives a life of luxury.

Niklas
 
Hyperpro progressive springs lowering

Fitted Hyperpro progressive springs (lower than standard-think the 50 mm) last September on my 800 GS - as am height challenged.

Its a totally different bike handling wise and worth the money have now added a lower gel seat and can place both feet flat on the ground. :bounce1
 
UKDirtboy said:
Fitted Hyperpro progressive springs (lower than standard-think the 50 mm) last September on my 800 GS - as am height challenged.

Its a totally different bike handling wise and worth the money have now added a lower gel seat and can place both feet flat on the ground. :bounce1
Click to expand...

Did the springs alone knock off some hight from the bike? is the new handling noticeably different immediately?....did you fit the springs yourself?

Looks like the way to go perhaps.
 
800gs

I've been riding Europe for 5000 miles now on my GS and am slowly getting used to it but when I first bought it the rear preload was wound way up and I could hardly touch the floor which dented my confidence especially stalling it in the middle of the road turning into my local bike meet and dropping it on the floor.
I booked into the BMW off road training school down in Wales where the excellent instuctors boosted my confidence no end. When fully loaded though the story was the same, just no cnfidence with all that weight so high up and only tip toes touching the floor. (I'm 5'9")
In the end I gave up and backed the rear preload right off so the the bike is dropped on it's ass, I can now get both feet almost completely flat on the floor which is a massive help, especiallly when manouvering in gravel car parks etc.
BUT At 120KPH + on the German autobahns the front end starts to weave and wobble to a worrying degree, a sudden swerve is out of the question at any speed and the brakes are under powered with this much weight on. The plan is to drop the Yokes 10mm down the forks to see if I can re-dress the balance, Anyone know if this is a good amount? (I'm 70kg with about 80-90kg on the back of the bike)
Failing that Hyperpro do a 50mm suspension lowering kit available direct or through the touratech catalogue and WP do fork internals but I don't know how much adjustment they give (hopefully they dial out the ridiculous amount of initial dive, not helped by the grabby at low speed front break and easy to stall motor). Anyway, sorry to bore you all by waffling on for so long, stuck in Budapest awaiting my replacement bank card so I'm a little bored to say the least.
 
Comfort Seat Tear :(

Hi folks

Whilst giving my bike a clean this afternoon, I noticed a small tear / slit (approx 1/2 an inch long) on the underside of my comfort seat. The tear is against the rim edge of the seat. Not sure how it's happened, it's not been dropped & only taken off for cleaning purposes. Not sure if it'd be covered under warranty????

Anyone got any suggestions for a fix before it gets any worse? I'm concerned water might get in. I've thought about putting a blob of clear silicone on it but not sure that would work? Don't fancy getting it re-covered!

Any suggestions would be welcomed.

Regards
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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