1250 models

[Ken B]

Good evening and some advice please.

Considering a 1250GS and was at Bahnstormer this afternoon. Got chatting to a couple of guys, there was discussion of models and one said his was an Explorer TE. This brought me to thinking about models I have head of the TE; Exclusive TE; Rallye and now Explorer are there any summaries of differences?

Also one had a factory lowered model and the other a Wunderlich low seat. Sat on both and the Wunderlich seat felt just a smidge higher than the factory lowered model and certainly better for me these days, anyone experience of this saddle and comfort over distance?

Thank you
Ken

 

[Hann]

Don`t think BMW ever named any of their GS`s `Explorer`, isn`t that a Triumph name?
It was probably an "Adventure`, or GSA as they are more commonly known.

Did it have a rediculously large and wide tank with cartoonish proportions?
That`ll be an Adventure...

 

[littleade]

Hi Ken,

I think you miss heard him as there's no such thing as a GS Explorer, that's the Triumph take on a GS, but that's now just the Tiger 1200.

The TE (Touring Edition) is basically a GS with most of the bells and whistles over the basic GS (of which there's not many about as most want "the tech") - including semi active suspension, LED headlight, more Rider modes, Gear Shift assist, Hill Hold, 6 axis IMU, heated grips etc. The only difference between the TE and TE Exclusive is just cosmetic inc the paint job and possibly the front brake calipers. The Rallye has I believe taller suspension, a shorter screen and wire wheels as standard but those with one will know the details.

The factory low versions have shorter shocks and a low seat too, though some years you could specify a standard seat instead. A standard GS has the same bar/seat/peg ergos as a lowered version with the standard seat, but the lowered one is IIRC 20mm lower, the lowered seat reduces this further by I think another 30mm. So standard GS has a seat height of 850mm the lowered I think is 800mm with the low seat. If you're short of leg the lowered GS with a standard seat will be more comfy than a standard GS with a lowered seat due to the knee angle and more padding in the standard seat

HTH

 

[Pukmeister]

I have an informed opinion on BMW seats, having owned a few of their products…….they are dreadful.

If they were any good the aftermarket seat business wouldn’t sell anything for BMW models, but you have plenty of choice which tells you all you need to know.

 

[TechnoGSA]

I have an informed opinion on BMW seats, having owned a few of their products…….they are dreadful.

If they were any good the aftermarket seat business wouldn’t sell anything for BMW models, but you have plenty of choice which tells you all you need to know.

I disagree, I find BMW seats very good. I speced my Std frame 23 1250 GSA with the comfort pack and it gives me 4 hrs plus riding without arse ache. I've very recently obtained an OE BMW lowered seat for using 2 up and fully loaded just to get me complete flat footed when stopping/manoeving in traffic/uneven surfaces. To my surprise its it's giving me almost the same riding time before any aching as the comfort seat, the first area now to feel any fatigue is my keens as they're slightly bent more. Friends of mine have same bike with Wunderlich, Sargent and a mixture of seat covers fleece and net type covers. Having tried them all, I find my BMW seat to be as good as Wunderlich and way better than the Sargent and for me the latter two are useless.

I think you'll find seat/ride comfort is more to do with the riders size, weight, posture etc than BMW seats. Then you can add "one man's poison is another meat" a bit like tyres!

 

[stratblue]

To further muddy the waters, having purchased a hexhead a few years back I rode some considerable ditance to buy some Sargeant seats from a forum member, I put them on for the long trip home and after 30 mins had to change back to the standard seat. They were up for sale before the bike had cooled.

 

[Arsey]

I have an informed opinion on BMW seats, having owned a few of their products…….they are dreadful.

If they were any good the aftermarket seat business wouldn’t sell anything for BMW models, but you have plenty of choice which tells you all you need to know.

Agreed . Rode a 2023 1250GSA and a 2025 900 GSA both for about 300 miles this year . The 900 seat was just about bearable but the 1250 seat was probably the worst OE seat I’ve ever tried .

It really is taking the piss when a £20k bike comes with a shite seat , with a ‘comfort seat’ sat in the options list for £300.

Just add another £100 to the bike and fit the comfort seat from the start !!

 

[GSMarky]

Popped a windrider cover on my 1250 GSA seat and it was fine for a 500mile day..

 

[Pukmeister]

To further muddy the waters, having purchased a hexhead a few years back I rode some considerable ditance to buy some Sargeant seats from a forum member, I put them on for the long trip home and after 30 mins had to change back to the standard seat. They were up for sale before the bike had cooled.

They are probably twice as firm as you expect them to be, with greater width. They take a few rides to get used to IMO.

 

[Ken B]

Thank you all for your comments, I think his reference to explorer must have been to a triumph he had or been thinking about as there wouldn’t be a BMW with that model if triumph have one. Useful infor on the difference with the Rallye - sounds like it is heading the wrong way for me.

Regarding seats, thank you for your experiences, I think I will look out for a factory lowered model as the geometry is likely to be kinder to my knees than the low seat - I will then enter the fray of what seat - the comfort seat sounds a good option.

My bit of research suggests the factory lowered models are relatively scarce so might take a while.

Cheers,
Ken

 

[Victor c]

Thank you all for your comments, I think his reference to explorer must have been to a triumph he had or been thinking about as there wouldn’t be a BMW with that model if triumph have one. Useful infor on the difference with the Rallye - sounds like it is heading the wrong way for me.

Regarding seats, thank you for your experiences, I think I will look out for a factory lowered model as the geometry is likely to be kinder to my knees than the low seat - I will then enter the fray of what seat - the comfort seat sounds a good option.

My bit of research suggests the factory lowered models are relatively scarce so might take a while.

Cheers,
Ken

Seats are a personal thing, and what suits one person, may not suit another. I had a BMW comfort seat on my 2016 r1200gs and found it very uncomfortable after around an hours riding, as it was very soft. Since then I’ve had three r1200/1250gsas with standard seats, which have all been very comfortable.
I find what I wear is a big factor of how comfortable a seat can be. I always avoid underwear with raised seams, which can create pressure points and trousers with thick linings. Also, adjusting the bars so I lean forward slightly helps by taking weight off my tail bone area.
Something like a mesh cool cover can also help, but it will add a bit more height and width to the seat.

 

[littleade]

Thank you all for your comments, I think his reference to explorer must have been to a triumph he had or been thinking about as there wouldn’t be a BMW with that model if triumph have one. Useful infor on the difference with the Rallye - sounds like it is heading the wrong way for me.

Regarding seats, thank you for your experiences, I think I will look out for a factory lowered model as the geometry is likely to be kinder to my knees than the low seat - I will then enter the fray of what seat - the comfort seat sounds a good option.

My bit of research suggests the factory lowered models are relatively scarce so might take a while.

Cheers,
Ken

If you intend buying a used approved one from a dealer it might pay you to ring your local ones up and register an interest. I've had 3, 2 1200s and a 1250 and the dealers I traded them in to sold all 3 very quickly

 

[Trougher]

The TE Exclusive is the only one of the 1250s with Alloys, only in gloss black and a lot were optioned with wires therefore not too many about. Other than the paint job it's the same as the other TEs of the same years which I think were only available as 2019 & 2020.

 

[Gloop]

Thank you all for your comments, I think his reference to explorer must have been to a triumph he had or been thinking about as there wouldn’t be a BMW with that model if triumph have one. Useful infor on the difference with the Rallye - sounds like it is heading the wrong way for me.

Regarding seats, thank you for your experiences, I think I will look out for a factory lowered model as the geometry is likely to be kinder to my knees than the low seat - I will then enter the fray of what seat - the comfort seat sounds a good option.

My bit of research suggests the factory lowered models are relatively scarce so might take a while.

Cheers,
Ken

There is one in the for sales section, look up the one with the pcp ending.