BMW Comfort Seat vs. Sargent Seat

[Las]

I own my sargent seat for about 12k, it looks great, it's very comfortable for longer rides. Only think I can complain about is that is a bit slippery, especially for my wife. When I break little harder she slides forward and I slide all the way to the tank
No doubt it's a great seat I just wish I could do something about being that slippery.

Try tank grips on the small ares on the tank where your knees grab it. I like the ability to slide laterally on the seat when I ride aggressively ( ok, when I ride). - it makes hanging off a bit easier on my ancient knees.

[Las]

How does the heated seat hook up? Where does the controller sit?

Post pics of the seat if you have them Las. I would be getting the same seat for my Classic (heated with alpine white piping.)

Thanks,
Barry

Pics in a day or two. The controller, which is currently on back order so it wasn't sent with the seat, goes anywhere that you choose.

[Las]

How does the heated seat hook up? Where does the controller sit?

Post pics of the seat if you have them Las. I would be getting the same seat for my Classic (heated with alpine white piping.)

Thanks,
Barry

Pics in a day or two. The controller, which is currently on back order so it wasn't sent with the seat, goes anywhere that you choose.

[Las]

How does the heated seat hook up? Where does the controller sit?

Post pics of the seat if you have them Las. I would be getting the same seat for my Classic (heated with alpine white piping.)

Thanks,
Barry

Pics in a day or two. The controller, which is currently on back order so it wasn't sent with the seat, goes anywhere that you choose.

[Las]

How does the heated seat hook up? Where does the controller sit?

Post pics of the seat if you have them Las. I would be getting the same seat for my Classic (heated with alpine white piping.)

Thanks,
Barry

Pics in a day or two. The controller, which is currently on back order so it wasn't sent with the seat, goes anywhere that you choose.

[Las]

How does the heated seat hook up? Where does the controller sit?

Post pics of the seat if you have them Las. I would be getting the same seat for my Classic (heated with alpine white piping.)

Thanks,
Barry

Pics in a day or two. The controller, which is currently on back order so it wasn't sent with the seat, goes anywhere that you choose.

[badbs101]

I ended up ordering the standard height Sargent with Alpine White piping but no heat. Despite living in MN, I didn't want to spend the extra $ for the heated option. I also didn't want to deal with trying to mount the controller cleanly. I know, lazy, right? Maybe I'll end up regretting the decision but my butt is usually not what gets cold and I have a heated vest for cold rides. Turn around is expected to be 3 weeks, including shipping to and from. I'll have to ride my wife's bike for a few weeks so I don't miss any riding time. I'll try to post a comparison to the BMW Comfort seat in the coming weeks.

[badbs101]

My standard height Sargent Seat came in today and I snapped a few pics. They sent me back my old Comfort Seat cover and foam too. I am currently messaging with a forum member who wants to buy my Comfort Seat cover and foam for a DIY BMW Comfort Seat. If the deal doesn't go through, Ill post it here in this thread for anyone interested in trying to reupholster their seat into a BMW Comfort seat.

I've only had the seat on for less than one day but I can share some initial observations on the Sargent seat. The look is very nice and professional and it doesn't give up much, if any, to the original BMW seat in quality. I find it looks sportier than the BMW Comfort Seat which I like. The main seating area is as wide as the Comfort seat. I find the seat height to be about the same or maybe very slightly lower due to the seemingly softer top foam on the the Sargent. I sit back a bit farther in this seat so the leg room afforded is greater overall without creating a stretch to the handlebars (I'm 5'9"; 30" inseam). Additionally, unlike the Comfort Seat that locks you into one position, the Sargent allows for more sliding back and forth which can help on longer rides to relieve painful spots. The front section feels slimmer for flat footing which some may like but I would prefer it to be a bit wider for support. Generally, the more area supported by the seat, the less likely it is to have hot spots and pain. (see Russel Day Long Seats - ugly but effective) Narrow fronts tend to put more pressure on the crotch area. For me, being able to flatfoot is not a requirement. I almost always put only one foot down at a light etc, not two. Also of note, I did not feel that the seat slid me forward, a complaint of some about the Sargent. In fact, I'd guess the stock Comfort Seat slid you forward more than the Sargent. Overall I'm pleased and feel it is an improvement in comfort over the stock seat. I'm convinced there is no perfect seat. Time will tell the whole story on this one.


Comfort Seat foam


Comfort Seat Cover




Sargent Seat with Alpine White Piping.

[Patch]

Badbs... that seat looks great on that classic

Thanks for the writeup. After 600 miles yesterday I bailed on any more miles, have an airhawk on order - but am now considering a new seat.

[badbs101]

Thanks. I think the Alpine White piping (Sargent calls it a "welt") really sets it off, especially in photos.

A lot of people really like the Airhawk. I tried an Airhawk on a different bike and ended up not liking it. It felt like sitting on a water balloon and distorts some of the feedback between rider and machine. I also didn't like having one more thing to deal with when riding.

After 600 miles even a couch may feel a bit uncomfortable.

[deilenberger]

Thanks. I think the Alpine White piping (Sargent calls it a "welt") really sets it off, especially in photos.

A lot of people really like the Airhawk. I tried an Airhawk on a different bike and ended up not liking it. It felt like sitting on a water balloon and distorts some of the feedback between rider and machine. I also didn't like having one more thing to deal with when riding.

Your Airhawk was over-inflated. Common mistake new users have with it. It should be inflated just to the point that when you sit on it - a tiny bit of your butt should actually compress it enough so those parts are touching the seat under it.

All air seats work by distributing the load over a bigger area. They aren't supposed to be "softer" - they're supposed to provide more contact area to your butt - specifically the cheeks. If it feels floaty it's over-inflated, let some air out. The ComfortAir make addresses the floaty feeling by having two separate air chambers, a left and a right, each with their own valve to inflate them. The reason for that is under cornering, if you only have one combined chamber - air tends to be compressed out of the inside chamber (the one on the inside of the turn, ie - left if cornering left) and the air then inflates the right side chamber. That can give a floaty feel.

I believe some of the newer Airhawks have adopted a similar design.

I have nothing to "deal" with on mine - it sits on the seat, held on by two little elastic straps, I sit on it and the bike goes. I never change the inflation once I get it right (and it might take a bit of fine-tuning the first time), so it's basically just there.

FWIW - I'm using my FreedomAir on a Sargent seat. It adds several hours of almost comfortable riding time to my rides. I'm good for around 7-8 hours now, which is when I'm starting to zone out anyway, so it's time to get off the bike.

[badbs101]

I tried several inflation levels. I didn't like the Airhawk. Just a personal preference.

Thanks,

Barry

[badbs101]

I just wanted to follow up on my impressions of the Sargent seat. I've had it for over a month now and am happy. It puts me up a bit higher and a bit farther back and is softer yet supportive. My knee no longer gets the tight feeling that I got after longer rides in the cramped Comfort seat. I made the right choice. The BMW Comfort Seat was pretty good for a stock seat but the Sargent is just plain better. I also think it looks better and the white piping really sets it off. Despite Sargent's claim that the seat needs no break-in, I've found mine has become a bit more comfortable as it "breaks in"; maybe my butt has broken in? One poster described sitting on his Sargent as "my butt disappears in the seat".