GSA Seat Options

[Happyhenry]

Having just traded my GS for a GSA, I have to say that I'm not that comfortable with the seat height. I have backed-off the rear pre-load and have the seat on its low setting but it is still too high for comfort. With one foot on a peg I can just put the other down flat - any camber and I've had it. I've already had a 'car park topple' and I don't fancy any more of them.
I'm 5' 10", have a 31" inside leg and was happy with my GS standard seat on the low setting.
Apart from the hugely expensive (I have just shelled out on a bike after all!) Corbin/Sargent/Wunderlich offerings what are my options?
Am I limited to a standard or low GS seat? - in which case I may have to do this in the interim and have the GSA seat reduced in the padding department so that the colour scheme matches the Aluminium Grey.
I really don't want to spend £4-500 on a lower seat right now.

 

[Ragnar]

See if you can borrow a standard GS seat for a test ride.

5'6" here with 30" inside leg and I'm fine with a standard GS seat on the low setting and partially backed off suspension.

If you find that OK, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone tall who would willingly swap their standard seat for your adventure seat!

 

[Happyhenry]

Cheers Ragnar,

I'll bum a loan of a standard GS seat and if that works I'll sort out re-apolstering the GSA seat to match - I'm sure the base of the GSA seat is the same as the standard GS, it just seems to have a lot more foam in it.

HH

 

[jetjock]

Cheers Ragnar,

I'll bum a loan of a standard GS seat and if that works I'll sort out re-apolstering the GSA seat to match - I'm sure the base of the GSA seat is the same as the standard GS, it just seems to have a lot more foam in it.

HH

HH

If you fancy meeting half way between Leicester and London we could have a trial swap to see what we both think .I reckon a taller seat might be more comfortable for me. PM me if you like.

JJ

 

[Jon P]

I am 6' with short legs - 31" and I too was a little worried about the height. Everyone was saying that it's very high and very heavy............I just got used to it - I even have the seat on the high position. Essentially I just take extra care when pulling up - though now after more time I don't even seem to have to even do that any more.

 

[Magwych]

I'll bum a loan of a standard GS seat ...

Whereabouts in London are you ? If you can meet in Canary Wharf I am willing to lend you my std seat in exchnage for a trial of your GSA seat.

Seems some arses are more suited to some seats than others.


P.M. me if interested

 

[Happyhenry]

Thanks for the offers guys. I'll more than likely be at the North London meeting next Thursday, so was going to ask someone there for a swop for 10 minutes just to see if it makes a difference.
Spoke to a chap at BuMW today who said that the standard GS seat is quite a popular swop for the GSA and that people also get the foam in the GSA seat resculpted as the base is the same on both seats and the cover then matches.

 

[Magwych]

Your call.
Whatever you do though I would not make a decision based on 10 minutes sitting on a seat.

Usually the first few miles feel fine, then after about 30-40 miles slight discomforts set in, then around the 50 mile mark the real pains start. It does take a while for the foam to compress. If you can blag it, get a loan for a few days at least

 

[Happyhenry]

I've just changed to the GSA from a 2-year-old GS, so I know what the standard GS seat feels like and I'm happy with it for 400-mile days. If anything 80 miles on the GSA seat has me wondering how the same seat base with more padding can be marginally less comfortable, but I could live with that.
It's the reach to the ground that is my only problem so a quick check with a standard seat would give me the answer.

 

[terayon]

HH I should be at the north london meet, and should also be at the Ace this sunday, your more than welcome to go off for an hour or so with my seat

 

[Happyhenry]

HH I should be at the north london meet, and should also be at the Ace this sunday, your more than welcome to go off for an hour or so with my seat

Thanks Terayon, I should be at the Ace about 10:00, with a bit of luck.
HH

 

[herrdirektor]

As mentioned by Bodisback in the thread of the GSA 2008 details, there is a new low riders seat coming up (820mm). Perhaps this one will be backward compatible with all GSA 1200's ?

Info in the R1200GSA PDF on www.press.bmwgroup.com

 

[lesliek]

I'll probably need the low seat option with the order I'm putting in and was wondering if anyone has the latest info on this 'new' low seat. The dealer here only as info for the 2007, and the low seat option for the 07 ADV models was basically swapping in the low seat made for the regular GS. Thanks.

 

[herrdirektor]

Perhaps this is obvious, but I believe that dealers will know more as soon as they will be provided with updated 2008 brochures and price lists.
I'm waiting for more info about the GSA low seat too.

 

[lesliek]

No worries. Just thought I'd check to see if anyone had the latest info on the new seats as the slow train out here means we're invariably at the tail end of the information dissemination line. I've gotten used to the blank looks when I inquire about stuff that's already gone a few rounds on this site and the advrider forum.

 

[herrdirektor]

Did my testride on a 07GSA with a seat from the regular GS. Perfect fit and I was able to flat foot both feet. If there is no new low seat introduced for the GSA, this would be my first choice. I have heard that the low BMW seat is a pain to sit on.

 

[Happyhenry]

I've now got a BuMW GS low seat on my 07GSA and a matching black pillion pad, which look fine. The low seat is just about right for me on the GSA - on my 05GS I used to be happy with the standard seat on the high setting, so the two bikes are obviously very different in the suspension department. Put any of these seats side by side and you'll see what a big difference there is in height.

As for comfort, I find the low seat perfectly acceptable (plenty of 'natural padding' helps here ). The low seat also drops you 3-4" lower in relation to the screen and makes for a very sheltered ride.

I only rode with the standard GSA seat for a few hundred miles and I must say that I found it less comfortable than any of the GS seats as it seems to have more of a pronounced ridge down the centre.

 

[Dabba]

Standard GSA seat was just too bouncy for me - took me ages to work out what it was having tested a bike originally with a regular GS seat. Using the seat off the standard bike made me feel at home again (and firmed things up nicely )