Seat

[Swell]

Morning all,
I’ve put up with my 1250gsa rallye seat for long enough, it’s very uncomfortable on any journey longer than an hour. I’ve looked at purchasing a Wunderlich single seat and a rack for the passenger seat area. Has anyone got any experience of the Wunderlich seat or any other possible replacements.
Many thanks

Swell.

 

[BigT]

Morning all,
I’ve put up with my 1250gsa rallye seat for long enough, it’s very uncomfortable on any journey longer than an hour. I’ve looked at purchasing a Wunderlich single seat and a rack for the passenger seat area. Has anyone got any experience of the Wunderlich seat or any other possible replacements.
Many thanks

Swell.

Hi Swell, this is a question so many have asked, including me. Closely followed by 'why do BMW make torture contraptions sold as seats/saddles'?

I bought my 1st BMW for many years back in 2018, acquiring a bright shiny new K1600 GTL. The problem was after an hour I had to get off it, with progressively shorter intervals as the day progressed entirely due to the so called seat. I tried different underwear, blow up cushions, sheepskin....you name it. And so with some trepidation I sent my stock seat to Russell Day Long in the USA with my weight, leg measurement and photos they use to re-make the stock seat for you individually. My second ride using the RDL seat took me from Graz Austria to Hirtshals on the northern tip of Denmark, 1,650 Kms in one go spending 14 hrs in the saddle with consummate ease. I haven't looked back since. In May last year I bought my current ride, a new R1250 GS Adventure TE. Stupidly I didn't order an RDL as soon as I knew I was buying it. Not surprisingly the stock seat was just as bad as the GTL. Whilst waiting for the RDL to arrive I tried Borbro and Sargent. Borbro was well made but no better than the OEM comfort wise. It was returned. The Sargent was marginally better than stock but still not acceptable for anything more than an hour.

Long story short you'll not be surprised to hear that the RDL on my GSA is an absolute dream, enabling long, long all day rides in complete comfort. Seat fatigue no longer features in my thinking. I even sit on the bike whilst taking a coffee break, such is the comfort. As an aside I had mine made using Russells non slip vinyl to make sure I don't slide around. So far that has worked very well.

https://day-long.com/

Stay safe and well.

Regards,

Tony

 

[Paul C]

In my experience the Sargent seat is a winner.

 

[hawkeye]

I have the Wunderlich Heated Low seat on my 2019 R1250GS. At first I wondered whether I had done the right thing buying it, as it is quite a firm seat, however the support it gives to ones back when riding is really good indeed (I have a bad back) and even though its firm the comfort is very good, much much better than the standard seat. I use mine in conjunction with a Cool Cover in summer when touring which just adds to the comfort. In Spring / Autumn the heated element is much appreciated also

 

[Swell]

I’m now looking at the Touratech comfort seat. Same question, anyone got any experience of this option?

 

[pbbanks]

I have a Wunderlich standard confort seat. Had it on my 2018 1250gs. Bought it after i found standard bm seat uncomfortable after an hour or so. Tried sheepskin cover , then airhawk type of top, and mesh coolcover type (from china). Mesh cover helped a lot and you could move about on it . Then bought the Wunderlich which, as someone else says, is harder at first but gives a wider platform at the back of seat. It was the best for comfort for riding longer distances and still ok after an hour. Had tried Sargent on previous 1200 and didnt find that was any better for longer distance.
So I can say that standard wunderlich comfort seat is good.
New heated one may be even better??.
I have new 1250gs with bmw heated seat and that is better for comfort than old stabdard seat was. Keeping the standard Wunderlich one to try in summer.

 

[Deleted account 250319001]

Stock BMW seats since 2000. Proper distances. Never had any issues. I must have an Iron butt ? On the longer hauls I do use an Alaskan Buttpad (Sheepskin) though. I do believe individual fitness plays a part ?

 

[DS]

I too have the Komfort seat rider and pillion combo.
Can’t fault it. Used to get uncomfortable after a couple of hours on the o/e. Tried various positions to no avail.
Very happy with the Komfort.
I like the lower pillion too as it’s flatter. I don’t carry pillion.

 

[wpm]

Russell Daylong, Best seat i have ever had and true all day long comfort.
They make them to your spec, worth checking them out I love mine.
https://day-long.com/gallery/bmw/

 

[BigT]

Russell Daylong, Best seat i have ever had and true all day long comfort.
They make them to your spec, worth checking them out I love mine.
https://day-long.com/gallery/bmw/

The ONLY seat to go for and worth every single penny. I've done well over 100,000 Kms on RDL's fitted to my 2018 K1600 GTL and now my 2021 GSA, including several 1,000 mile days without so much as a twinge.

Nice looking bike by the way, is that the Touratech Mega sized backbox on it?

Stay safe and well.

Regards,

Tony

 

[wpm]

Hi Tony thanks it's a Givi outback tracker 48ltr

 

[BigT]

Hi Tony thanks it's a Givi outback tracker 48ltr

Any pro's and con's with the Givi?

 

[PitaNaanRoti]

Stock BMW seats since 2000. Proper distances. Never had any issues. I must have an Iron butt ? On the longer hauls I do use an Alaskan Buttpad (Sheepskin) though. I do believe individual fitness plays a part ?

See, I'm the same.
December 2016 - 1186 miles in 24hrs on the standard GS seat. No issues.
Current 1250 Rallye - no issues on that. Only have the pair of GSA seats for when the teenager is pillion.
Thinking perhaps its a combination of fitness and the average build of the Tossers here.

 

[wpm]

Your right the weight may have something to do with it.

 

[the woodster]

In my experience the Sargent seat is a winner.

+ 1 on that however, seats are like screens: there are many factors that make then comfortable or not for individuals. A friend of mine used to moan about how hard his VFR800 seat was until I discovered that not to be the case. It was too soft and he was sitting on the plastic moulding. A trip to Tony Archer in Huddersfield sorted that out nicely.

 

[shez1]

Russell Daylong, Best seat i have ever had and true all day long comfort.
They make them to your spec, worth checking them out I love mine.
https://day-long.com/gallery/bmw/

Does the seat raise the seat height?

 

[BigT]

Does the seat raise the seat height?

Hi Shez, a Russell seat does increase seat height. I estimate an inch to and inch and a half. I had my OEM high seat on the highest setting. When the RDL arrived I put the front setting down to low and left the rear of the seat in the high position. As far as I can see and feel there is little or no difference. Also an RDL is considerably wider than the OEM, this takes a little time to get used to, especially if the rider is unable to flat foot the bike at rest. Even I, at 6'5" had to adapt a little sliding forward a tad on the seat when coming to a stop enabling a full flat foot. Then after some time it becomes second nature AND the seat beds in and becomes more supple over time. I do not notice the difference now save for the comfort which, sorry guys, no matter fitness, weight, etc etc is THE most comfortable seat money can buy. Ps PitNaanRoti, those who enjoy comfort are not 'Tossers' and I'd be happy to explain that face to face over a beer or three ;-)

 

[shez1]

Thanks for that T, the seat would be too high for me. Sounds great though.

My 1250 came with a heated seat and it is the first BMW seat for years were I am reasonably comfortable on a day long ride. It's definitely better than the non heated version but not quite as good as the last Sargent I had.

 

[pcarnut]

I went with a heated Sargent, and although probably not on a par with the RDL, it is considerably better than stock. I still start to squirm after 2-3 hours but much better than the 45 minutes on a stock seat. I've had it a few months now and it's breaking in nicely and the heated function works very well. On the second seat I chose the grippy-tex material (or whatever they call it, rather than the carbon style) and I think it is more pliable, hence comfortable. I first tried their standard height and it raised me up to much since I was already slightly tippy toe. Sent it back and got the low version and it's about equal to the stock seat WRT height. I run it high in front, low in back.

As an aside, proper underwear helps too. Make sure you don't have a seam running across your butt cheek or sit bone (ischial tuborosity). And, I also layer LD brand (Long Distance) underwear over top of my briefs and this combination works well. I've on occasion also used bicycling shorts with the cushion in the crotch.

 

[wpm]

Hi Bud it does a little by about an inch.