Is the BMW comfort seat any good?
- Thread starter WeeBriso
- Start date
Yes.... it does what it says on the tin!Hi, am thinking of buying the BMW comfort seat for my 650 gs twin, having searched on here with mixed reponses....is it worth the £250 and has it a big improvement over stock..cheers
I did 878 miles in a day on mine last year, only thing to be aware of is the seat height, it's slightly higher than the stock seat.
stephen.stallebrass
Registered user
I'd say it depends on your preferred seating position. If you sit right up close then you'll be ok, but if you sit a bit further back you might find it a little less 'comfy'. What I'm trying to say is that the cut out of the BMW comfy seat pushes you forward. I tried one and this was my experience. This is exacerbated if you have a fat arse. It's a little better than the stock seat in terms of padding comfort. The grey of the BMW comfy seat is darker than it looks in the photo's and will look good on the grey F8 but look a bit out of place on the other colours... IMHO.
Consequently, I went for the Sgt Seat. A bit more expensive, but I got a used one on ebay in immaculate condition for 2/3 the price. Down side of this is that they don't come up all that often. The Sgt Seat gives you more arse room and a much more comfy ride position. I think the padding is also softer too. It also has a cool compartment under the seat for a few little bits. And if you buy new and pay a little more you can have coloured piping to match the bike (if you're so inclined), mine is plain black.
Go to you BMW dealer and have a look, test it and see for yourself. They're bound to have one, if not I'm sure they'll get one for you to try. If it had been all black, had more arse room (or if I had a skinnier butt) I'd have had the BMW seat. It's the best value of the main after market seats that I'd considered. The third being the Corbin Seat but these were more expensive and combined with shipping made it prohibitive, at least for me.
I'll post pics if you like.
Consequently, I went for the Sgt Seat. A bit more expensive, but I got a used one on ebay in immaculate condition for 2/3 the price. Down side of this is that they don't come up all that often. The Sgt Seat gives you more arse room and a much more comfy ride position. I think the padding is also softer too. It also has a cool compartment under the seat for a few little bits. And if you buy new and pay a little more you can have coloured piping to match the bike (if you're so inclined), mine is plain black.
Go to you BMW dealer and have a look, test it and see for yourself. They're bound to have one, if not I'm sure they'll get one for you to try. If it had been all black, had more arse room (or if I had a skinnier butt) I'd have had the BMW seat. It's the best value of the main after market seats that I'd considered. The third being the Corbin Seat but these were more expensive and combined with shipping made it prohibitive, at least for me.
I'll post pics if you like.
I think that the fact that BMW actually produced another seat and named it the 'Comfort Seat' speaks volumes about the comfort level of the dual purpose original...
I did over 5,000 miles on the original seat, and after about 80 > 100 miles it lived up to it's well deserved reputation, as an instrument of of torture..
rce
Registered user
The comfort seat is way better than the original seat, bit more restrictive on movement as you can't move back on it but such a difference from the original.
It is also good for pillions and you don't get them sliding forward in to you like you do with the original seat.
Mines a 30 year so had the red seat which I was disappointed about not using but when I trade bike (eventually) in the red seat will be in perfect condition.
It is also good for pillions and you don't get them sliding forward in to you like you do with the original seat.
Mines a 30 year so had the red seat which I was disappointed about not using but when I trade bike (eventually) in the red seat will be in perfect condition.
Sooty09
Registered user
If you have long legs the Rally seat is very good. Its flatter on top than std so you do not slide into the tank. You can move about to adjust the angle of your knees which makes longer distances more relaxing. The seat is no wider and has just a bit more depth with a bit firmer padding. I was doubtful at first but if you are over 6'1" consider it. I have a gray bike so the black and grey seat looks ok. I don't think other colours are available.
Dave Ett
Registered user
There's also the Touratech seat. Did over 800 miles in a day on this, since my skinny ass found the standard seat like sitting on a fence post...
MikeMike
Registered user
Comfort seat is expensive and will trap your jacket if it is longer in the back.
It locks you into one position and leaves little wiggle room.
For $99 you can get an Air Hawk which will let you do hundreds of kilometers without anything more than fuel and a nature stop.
Put the correct amount of air in the Air Hawk and you will have a perfect seat and good ventilation as a bonus.
It locks you into one position and leaves little wiggle room.
For $99 you can get an Air Hawk which will let you do hundreds of kilometers without anything more than fuel and a nature stop.
Put the correct amount of air in the Air Hawk and you will have a perfect seat and good ventilation as a bonus.
The answer to your question is;
Yes
No
And every permutation in between, depending on who you talk to! Comfort is a very subjective thing and can be affected by something as simple as what type of underpants you wear! Even sitting on a seat doesn't really help as that comfy, soft spongy seat can turn your arse to stone after only a few miles. I had a Corbin on one of my bikes, rock hard it was and I thought what have I done buying this, turned out to be super comfy and a true all dayer.
FWIW after 2 x hour long demo rides on the GS I had already decided the oem seat was going. I'm more than happy with my comfort seat and my wife who is used to RTs/LTs etc thinks the pillion perch is great. Initially I found myself too far forward on the narrow part of the seat but rox risers have sorted that. I also have an airhawk pad which I've used on my last 5 bikes, not something I'd want to use every day but defo a long distance arse saver.
You pays your money............
Yes
No
And every permutation in between, depending on who you talk to! Comfort is a very subjective thing and can be affected by something as simple as what type of underpants you wear! Even sitting on a seat doesn't really help as that comfy, soft spongy seat can turn your arse to stone after only a few miles. I had a Corbin on one of my bikes, rock hard it was and I thought what have I done buying this, turned out to be super comfy and a true all dayer.
FWIW after 2 x hour long demo rides on the GS I had already decided the oem seat was going. I'm more than happy with my comfort seat and my wife who is used to RTs/LTs etc thinks the pillion perch is great. Initially I found myself too far forward on the narrow part of the seat but rox risers have sorted that. I also have an airhawk pad which I've used on my last 5 bikes, not something I'd want to use every day but defo a long distance arse saver.
You pays your money............
Hi, am thinking of buying the BMW comfort seat ..is it worth the £250 and has it a big improvement over stock..cheers
Is it worth £250, probably not. I paid a lot less for mine. It pays to have a good relationship with the parts manager!
There are companies that will re-foam your seat with memory foam for about £60.Is it a big improvement over stock. Definately! If you're at all lardy (tosser size), then the standard seat is only good for 45 mins, and despite what some say, your arse does not get used to it. I have a skinny mate with the same bike, and he has no problems with the stock seat. The comfort seat moves you much further forward than stock. It's kind of SuperMoto. You soon get use to it, and the extra weight over the front end does improve handling. Pillion wise, it is much better. It also has the same cut outs etc for tools and first aid kit.
Tengiz99
Registered user
I found the regular seat hard to live with (boom boom) even with regular use. Comfort seat worked much better for me in terms of longer distances, but also once you get used to it, the new riding position is quite nice.
But it's all subjective and whatever works for you.
As with lots of things on the bike, if you can get it on the for sale section, not for full price, you can at least try it out without the full stealer outlay, and if it doesn't work, then sell it on again.
But it's all subjective and whatever works for you.
As with lots of things on the bike, if you can get it on the for sale section, not for full price, you can at least try it out without the full stealer outlay, and if it doesn't work, then sell it on again.
Barty
Registered user
Have you thought about an Airhawk. Transforms the 800GS.
StumpyFingers
Registered user
I think the standard seat is a bit hard so I tried an Airhawk, it has made a big difference and it only cost £82.
stephen.stallebrass
Registered user
The AirHawk does look good but it adds a little extra height and it's just more strappage: needs putting on and taking off (if you removed it everytime). I guess the good thing is you always gave a cushion/pillow?
outrunner
Registered user
+1 for the Airhawk, and it does mean you do not need to pack a pillow when camping. 
Andy.
Andy.
cristhemuso
Registered user
I found original seat very painful after no time. I just whipped off the seat cover and cut the seat much flatter with a bread knife so it didn't press on my coccyx which was the problem. Seat is now really good. Cost fro me was an hour or so of my own time and some staple for the staple gun. Simples! There is nothing wrong with seat just the profile of the padding needs adjusting.Hi, am thinking of buying the BMW comfort seat for my 650 gs twin, having searched on here with mixed reponses..
stephen.stallebrass
Registered user
Silversurfer
Registered user
BMW Comfort Seat
I've now done 17k on the Comfort Seat, including a couple of 500ml days and wouldn't swap it. I carry a passenger occasionally who reckons it is excellent compared to the original which she could only put up with for 20mins max.
Expensive - yes but worth it if you are going to do a lot of miles.
I've now done 17k on the Comfort Seat, including a couple of 500ml days and wouldn't swap it. I carry a passenger occasionally who reckons it is excellent compared to the original which she could only put up with for 20mins max.
Expensive - yes but worth it if you are going to do a lot of miles.
tosh23
Registered user
Your question was...is it worth 250....
my answer is look on the IBA website, we do 1000 mile days so when it comes to ALL day comfort then there is only 2 options..
1 sheep skin
2 air hawk..
Some use the usual suspects...Tony Archer..Touratwat ect ect but most use the above....
I can recommend air hawk, 36 hours and no numb bum...Ive never tried the sheep..some say it's even better but when you've got a winning combination you don't look for anything else.....Tosh
my answer is look on the IBA website, we do 1000 mile days so when it comes to ALL day comfort then there is only 2 options..
1 sheep skin
2 air hawk..
Some use the usual suspects...Tony Archer..Touratwat ect ect but most use the above....
I can recommend air hawk, 36 hours and no numb bum...Ive never tried the sheep..some say it's even better but when you've got a winning combination you don't look for anything else.....Tosh
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