The Seat Video is Complete

[peckhammer]

I just finished editing the complete custom seat video for my R1200R. Enjoy: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ReMQF3XWhvQ

[Caol]

Awesome video!

Hmmm.....

I'll be moving west in a couple of years. May have to pay those folks a visit!

[Dan-A]

Nice Video! I would like to have a seat like that!

I had a custom seat done at Russell for my Gold Wing, and though it took 2000 miles to break it in, I now really love it.

It looks like Rich does an even better job of custom fitting.

I am sure you paid dearly for that seat, and I am sure it is worth it.

[peckhammer]

I am sure you paid dearly for that seat, and I am sure it is worth it.

$775.00

[eisen]

I am sure you paid dearly for that seat, and I am sure it is worth it.

$775.00

Great video.
Even though i don't really suffer from monkey but, my bum is still jealous

Enjoy your seat!

[Dan-A]

I am sure you paid dearly for that seat, and I am sure it is worth it.

$775.00

I think that's the price neighborhood of quality, unfortunately. The Russell was also in that range, plus the cost of a back rest.

I used to have a 1999 Triumph Sprint ST and I purchased the Triumph gel seat. It was not expensive, but it was terribly uncomfortable due to a ridge that cut into my left thigh. I sold it on EBAY.

The way Rich shapes the seat, and insets the gel is very impressive.

Now I have to figure out a ride-in to Seattle on a bike with no bags or windshield.

Please give us a report after a few thousand miles.

[peckhammer]

I purchased the Triumph gel seat. It was not expensive, but it was terribly uncomfortable due to a ridge that cut into my left thigh. I sold it on EBAY.

The way Rich shapes the seat, and insets the gel is very impressive.

Please give us a report after a few thousand miles.

I too had a Sprint, and I know what you mean. I asked Rich about aftermarket seats and he said they can work if you are you are average height and weight. He said that if you are buying a seat and the company isn't asking your dimensions, you may be throwing your money away.

Rich does do a fair bit of mail order seat work. He said that these seats are definitely better than the typical after market seat, but the best seat is going to be the one made specific to you (with you sitting on it, test riding it, and him working it to fit your body).

BTW, it is cheaper to re-work a seat for a single rider. My seat was customized for "GirlWonder." That added a couple hundred dollars to the price.

[bmwk100]

Two of you had Sprints before. How does R1200R compare? I sure love the look of it.

[peckhammer]

Two of you had Sprints before. How does R1200R compare? I sure love the look of it.

They are very different bikes, so a direct comparison is hard to make. I really loved the Sprint motor. Of course, I love the R1200R motor too. Every comparison I try to make between the two ends up with me thinking they are too different to even go through the motions.

The first ride I went on with the BMW was up my favorite road in WA to the top of Mt. St. Helens. I've done this road (forest road 99 to Windy Ridge) many times on the Sprint. On the Sprint, I would ride the entire run in 2nd gear, which I always referred to as "the people's gear." You can easily do 20 mph to 70mph and not really need to shift. When I did this same run on the BMW, I was mostly in 4th gear. The grunt of that twin works well and is very different than Triumph's triple.

I do miss the front straight of Pacific International Raceway, cruising along at 140mph. I would not attempt that on the BMW without some serious wind protection.

Handling is another area where comparison is tough. The Sprint (RS) was extremely sharp. I had done many a track day on that bike. My Windy Ridge run on the BMW had me wondering how to handle the bike because it feels so different. That said, it is incredibly forgiving. I can do things in corners that I would not have attempted on other bikes. And it feels very light, yet always firmly planted.

The brakes on the BMW are better than the Sprint, IMO. They are not better than the brakes on a Speed Triple, but for a linked ABS system, I think they of the best I've ever experienced.

The build quality is way better on the BMW. Again, that's my opinion based on my experience with both machines. As for appearance, well, the BMW kicks the Sprint's butt.

I bought the BMW because I wanted something that looked like a motorcycle, not a guppy. I wanted something that had classic, yet evolved lines, and it also had to have modern technology that was useful. And getting 50 mpg on the highway would be icing on the cake. The R1200R fits the bill.

Another big plus for the BMW is that it fits several roles. It's a standard, a hooligan bike, and a comfortable two-up sports touring machine. It just depends on my mood.

[bmwk100]

Thanks for the comparison Peck. I have to agree with your analysis and basically I have to accept that the R1200R is not designed to be a sports-tourer.

[peckhammer]

Thanks for the comparison Peck. I have to agree with your analysis and basically I have to accept that the R1200R is not designed to be a sports-tourer.

You've got to test ride an R1200R to see for yourself. When I did, I was thinking, "this is a really pleasant motorcycle, very refined." Then I whacked open the throttle and nearly had my arms torn off. That is when the bike was sold.

[ka5ysy]

Thanks for the comparison Peck. I have to agree with your analysis and basically I have to accept that the R1200R is not designed to be a sports-tourer.

Shhhhh...... please don't tell my RR that; she does not know that she should not be giving crotch rockets a hard time!

[bmwk100]

You've got to test ride an R1200R to see for yourself. When I did, I was thinking, "this is a really pleasant motorcycle, very refined." Then I whacked open the throttle and nearly had my arms torn off. That is when the bike was sold.[/quote]

Actually, I took a short test ride with the bike and felt it was a little "small". Best description I can think of. It was a brief ride because the dealer did not want a lot of miles put on the bike and I did not get a chance to open it up. I would have also liked to have taken it out on the highway to see how much wind I felt at my average cruising speed of 80-90 mph. (We have a lot of fast drivers here in South Florida.)

I'll have to take a longer test ride next time.

[peckhammer]

Actually, I took a short test ride with the bike and felt it was a little "small".

I know exactly what you mean -- especially coming off the Sprint. Sort of the same difference between the '95- '99 Thunderbirds and '00 Thunderbirds.