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Are any other seats interchangable with R1200R?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:01 am
by Dale_K
I have a WTT ad in the forum classifieds because the R1200R I just bought used has a low seat and being 6'3" this isn't quite the best fit for me. I'm not getting any action with the ad so I'm looking for alternatives for getting a taller seat. I thought maybe there would be more possibilites to search if another model seat would work. Or maybe there is a different solution somebody could suggest.

Re: Are any other seats interchangable with R1200R?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 8:07 am
by deilenberger
Dale_K wrote:I have a WTT ad in the forum classifieds because the R1200R I just bought used has a low seat and being 6'3" this isn't quite the best fit for me. I'm not getting any action with the ad so I'm looking for alternatives for getting a taller seat. I thought maybe there would be more possibilites to search if another model seat would work. Or maybe there is a different solution somebody could suggest.
Other model seats won't fit - the R12R pan is unique to BMW. What could be done is get your low seat reworked to a taller one. They all use the same pan.. I'm sure Sargent could convert it to a normal height seat (they have a low and normal conversion, no tall-seat conversion), or someone like Russel or one of the brothers could make it fit however you want. Just takes $$$.

Have you approached a dealer? It's possible if they have someone who wants a low seat they'd be willing to give you a good trade-in price against a new tall seat.

Re: Are any other seats interchangable with R1200R?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:09 am
by Dale_K
I haven't talked with the dealer yet, although I plan to do this. I need to go back there anyway to pick up the title and get them to order me a second key. I called the original dealer to ask about a key and they said BMW would provide a second metal key upon request at no charge so long as one had not already been issued and he checked my VIN and said mine should be eligible for the free key.

Back to the seat - my dealer may have a standard seat model in the showroom so at least I could try it out a little. Maybe he will let me mount it on my bike and take a short ride. I'm in the middle of a little experiment right now where I took a big bath towel and folded it up to simulate a taller seat. Surprising how comfortable that made it. Plus I can tell a little more height is going to make a big difference on the footpeg ergonomics.

Re: Are any other seats interchangable with R1200R?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 11:40 am
by deilenberger
Dale_K wrote:I haven't talked with the dealer yet, although I plan to do this. I need to go back there anyway to pick up the title and get them to order me a second key. I called the original dealer to ask about a key and they said BMW would provide a second metal key upon request at no charge so long as one had not already been issued and he checked my VIN and said mine should be eligible for the free key.
If this is true - please get us more details on it.. I'm still using the one key I got (plastic one in my wallet..)
Back to the seat - my dealer may have a standard seat model in the showroom so at least I could try it out a little. Maybe he will let me mount it on my bike and take a short ride. I'm in the middle of a little experiment right now where I took a big bath towel and folded it up to simulate a taller seat. Surprising how comfortable that made it. Plus I can tell a little more height is going to make a big difference on the footpeg ergonomics.
I'm sure it will be MUCH more comfortable. Even though I need the short seat for my stubby legs - my knees start to cramp up after 3-4 hours of riding, and I have to get off and do knee-bends.. more peg/seat distance would greatly help.

Re: Are any other seats interchangable with R1200R?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 12:35 pm
by famousperson
Dale_K wrote:I have a WTT ad in the forum classifieds because the R1200R I just bought used has a low seat and being 6'3" this isn't quite the best fit for me. I'm not getting any action with the ad so I'm looking for alternatives for getting a taller seat. I thought maybe there would be more possibilites to search if another model seat would work. Or maybe there is a different solution somebody could suggest.
Dale,

I have a standard seat I'll swap for your low seat. I sent you a PM.

Peter

Re: Are any other seats interchangable with R1200R?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 2:43 pm
by Dale_K
Thanks. I sent you a PM.

Re: Are any other seats interchangable with R1200R?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:22 pm
by celticus
If the standard seat still doesn't do the trick you could try adding an Airhawk seat pad. It would make the stock seat taller and much less wretched.

Mark

Re: Are any other seats interchangable with R1200R?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 6:58 pm
by deilenberger
celticus wrote:If the standard seat still doesn't do the trick you could try adding an Airhawk seat pad. It would make the stock seat taller and much less wretched.

Mark
Or the new "sport" Freedom Air - (with patented ball relief) - fits the R1200R seat very nicely.

Re: Are any other seats interchangable with R1200R?

Posted: Fri Apr 24, 2009 7:19 pm
by Dale_K
Hey, I've got the Arkansas freedom air right here.
Image
Maybe you won't be surprised to hear that this is almost like sitting on a cloud :lol: I needed to get a sense of what a taller seat would feel like so I folded up a bath towel and took it for a test ride around noon. Big improvement. So genius that I am, for my evening ride I got a second towel out. This is REALLY comfortable. I don't know how the distance of two compressed towels compares to BMW seat measurements but whatever this height is, it's just about perfect. Quite astonishing how much more I enjoyed the ride when I had some leg room. I don't know if it's the padding provided by the towels or the riding position that permits the bike to move independently from your body (kind of a minor version of standing on the pegs) but the riding experience was the best so far on this bike.

Re: Are any other seats interchangable with R1200R?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 1:25 am
by Mollygrubber
Re. the second key issue, my dealer told me that BMW has just recently begun issuing 2 keys as standard with a new purchase (plus the plastic one). I would think they'd honor this retroactively if you asked nicely...

Re: Are any other seats interchangable with R1200R?

Posted: Sat Apr 25, 2009 9:30 am
by crazyhorse
i was in the same situation (although i'm not nearly that tall) and i bought a standard (medium) seat off of ebay (from a&s).

however it looks like you have it all sorted out.

now i need to see if my dealer will do the second key thing. let us know if anyone is successful.

wes