Seat Questions

[peckhammer]

So what's the word on after market seats? Any good ones? Gotta be good for the passenger too.

I can get a custom seat done here locally by Rich's, which is one of the best places on the planet. I'd have to use my seat pan for the job. I have a slight concern about that, given the cracked seat pan thread.

Any suggestions?

[Motomo]

I had Rick Mayer do mine and it is fantastic! The longest day I have done on it was about 400 miles with absolutely no pain or irritation anywhere. I also really like the leather.

I know, I know, pics are helpful. I think someone else posted a thread with pics of their Rick Mayer seat and mine looks exactly the same. I will try to find it.

Rick will make an appointment with you so that you can send your seat to him when he is ready to make it. It only took him about 2 weeks to do mine.

I have had no problems with my seat pan so I am not sure what the issue is.

[TAG-Caver]

Here's the thread with a good pic of the Rick Mayer seat:
http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t ... ight=mayer

[ShinySideUp]

I had a Rick Mayer on my ST1100 and liked it well enough. This time, on the R1200R, I chose to try a Russell Day Long. I find it more comfortable, but also different enough that it takes a while to get used to.

Specifically, the "pocket" for the sit bones (ischial tuberosities) is very deep and well-supported. This is perfect for long hauls. Having the built-in steel spring support makes it wide which also helps spread the pressure, even more than Rick's high-tech foam approach, in my experience.

BUT, those features also mean that the seat hits your thighs when coming to a stop and putting your feet off the pegs and down to the street. So the seat design requires that you scoot forward a bit and sit out of the pocket where the forward portion of the seat is more narrow. It took me about a week to develop this habit. Now, when I'm riding in a lot of stop-n-go traffic, I automatically just sit forward on the seat, moving back into the pocket area once I get underway for a longer stretch. Not a problem, but just a process of getting used to it.

Rick Mayer's and Russell's shops are fairly close to each other, and I recommend making an appointment for a ride-in fitting if at all feasible, no matter which seat you choose. They can custom fit anything you don't like upon the initial sitting, and meeting the staff and seeing the process I found to be worth the ride.

[ShinySideUp]

Also, if your passenger is going to sit for any length of time, I highly recommend getting both forward and aft seats fully done. I skimped the rear one on my Mayer seat (like the one in the above referenced picture), thinking my wife wouldn't ride very much. While it was better than stock, she's MUCH happier on the present Russell which has the fully fitted option for her as well.

As for looks, I love the Russell, but it's hard to separate form from function in my mind. Here's a quote from their FAQ's:

Q. Can the Shape of a Day-Long Saddle be modified for a sleek, sport look?

A.The design of a "Day-Long" Saddle is a case of form following function (a concept with which all riders should well be familiar.) It's primary purpose is to provide a comfortable seat for both a driver and (in most cases) a passenger, a seat that will remain comfortable for many consecutive hours and hundreds of miles of riding. A large number of motorcyclists will readily attest that the design has well achieved that purpose. The shape of the Day-Long Saddle allows for the support suspension system that produces the Day-Long comfort. Each saddle is custom fit and sculptured for that particular rider, but the design does not change. If beauty is as beauty does, a "Day-Long" Saddle is beautiful! We have a saying at RCP: "Beauty is in the eye on the buttholder!"

Here's a picture of the Mayer on my ST1100:

http://tinyurl.com/38g7u3

And the Russell Day Long on the R1200R:

http://tinyurl.com/33syq6

[AllanCook]

Does anyone have any information on whether Corbin will be making a seat for the R1200R? I see on their web site that they have one for the F800 models, but nothing for our bikes. I had one on a Harley years ago, and it was very comfortable.

[deilenberger]

I guess if we all asked Corbin (and mebbe Sargent) it might inspire them to make a seat.

My past experience with Corbin was the seat was fairly comfortable - but fit on the bike was awful - it wore through paint in several spots on my K75S. And Sargent - well, lets just say I had a not-good experience with them, so I'm waiting until I hear lots of GLOWING reports before even thinking of spending $700 for one of their seats (if they ever make an R1200R one..)

More options are good - and since I don't carry pillion that isn't a huge concern to me.. the BMW low seat works well for me, which is sorta strange since no other BMW seat ever did.

[deilenberger]

Just seen on another list: http://greatdaytoride.com/Home_Page.php

No personal experience, but sounds like a much more reasonable approach, and you keep the stock look..

Somebody try this and let us know how it works out..

EDIT --------------------------------------------------------
Nevermind - I asked:

Don,

Thank you for your interest in my work.

Unfortunately the R is on the short list on models that I cannot work on. The seat pan is made of the same composite glass material that the LT uses but the LT seat is riveted together. Your seat is stapled together but can only accept staples before it is completely cured. After it has cured you run the very good risk of shattering or cracking the pan when reinstalling the cover. I have done it, and the risk of ruining the seat is just too high.

I am sorry that I can not help but appreciate the inquiry.

Ride safe, Spencer
http://www.GreatDayToRide.com

[peckhammer]

Don,

Thank you for your interest in my work.

Unfortunately the R is on the short list on models that I cannot work on. The seat pan is made of the same composite glass material that the LT uses but the LT seat is riveted together. Your seat is stapled together but can only accept staples before it is completely cured. After it has cured you run the very good risk of shattering or cracking the pan when reinstalling the cover.

Hmmm. I just stopped at Rich's custom seats today (in Seattle). They will customize the seat for rider and passenger, letting you test ride the seat several times as they work it to fit your body just right. Then they finish it and it's ready to pick up at the end of the day. IOW, a one day job, and they didn't mention any seat shattering risk.

URL of sample seat jobs: http://www.richscustomseats.com/photos.asp?MakeID=4

[ShinySideUp]

Don,

Thank you for your interest in my work.

Unfortunately the R is on the short list on models that I cannot work on. The seat pan is made of the same composite glass material that the LT uses but the LT seat is riveted together. Your seat is stapled together but can only accept staples before it is completely cured. After it has cured you run the very good risk of shattering or cracking the pan when reinstalling the cover.

That IS odd. Russell Day Long guys popped a bunch of staples in my stock seat pan with nary a shatter. I wonder how much of a risk the risk truly is?

[peckhammer]

That IS odd. Russell Day Long guys popped a bunch of staples in my stock seat pan with nary a shatter. I wonder how much of a risk the risk truly is?

Maybe you're suppose to heat the staples up till they're red hot before you shoot them in the pan.

[NeilS]

Given others' comments about cracks in their seat pans, I'd guess the material is fairly brittle. Not something you'd want to shoot staples into.

That also suggests problems down the road as the covers wear. And the plastic becomes even more brittle. Will it be impossible to re-cover our seats?

[mogu83]

Given others' comments about cracks in their seat pans,
That also suggests problems down the road as the covers wear. And the plastic becomes even more brittle. Will it be impossible to re-cover our seats?

Unfortunately I don't think the corporative intent is to have us riding around on these bikes 30 years from now. More like, when the warranty runs out -- get a new bike. The days of asking questions like '' How many times can you rebuild it? '' are gone forever.

[Acpantera]

Hey Allan, I too want a corbin seat , mostly for the removable back rest feature for the wife. They have e-mailed me back on all three of my product requests but I get excuses like they don't have a test bike, It's too new, or not enough people has asked for them yet. Then when you look at their web site, I notice that they have seats for bikes introced after ours........Concours14,Kawi klr650, and MV agusta!!! Tell me that there is more mv agusta riders than roadster riders???????? All I can say is that you should fill out the product request for on their site and hope that they find the roadster worthy of one of their seats.

[mogu83]

I think first we'll have to see if Corbin or Sargent will make a seat worthy of the Roadster. Coming up on 8,000 M the stock seat is a lot better than when it was new, I think (maybe).

[BigEasy]

Just seen on another list: http://greatdaytoride.com/Home_Page.php

No personal experience, but sounds like a much more reasonable approach, and you keep the stock look..

Somebody try this and let us know how it works out..

EDIT --------------------------------------------------------
Nevermind - I asked:

Don,

Thank you for your interest in my work.

Unfortunately the R is on the short list on models that I cannot work on. The seat pan is made of the same composite glass material that the LT uses but the LT seat is riveted together. Your seat is stapled together but can only accept staples before it is completely cured. After it has cured you run the very good risk of shattering or cracking the pan when reinstalling the cover. I have done it, and the risk of ruining the seat is just too high.

I am sorry that I can not help but appreciate the inquiry.

Ride safe, Spencer
http://www.GreatDayToRide.com

Truly unfortunate, I'd been contemplating using that guy. Now I'm going to have to revisit choices