Ergo Seats

[Professor]

Anyone have experience with the Ergo seats from Wunderlich? I'm reasonably comfortable on my stock R1200RT seat except it seems to push me into a forward-leaning position. Any information on the Ergo or other seats for the RT is appreciated.

[janschunck]

The Wunderlich seat is for sale as seat only. However, Wunderlich says, it is at part of an ergo-package, consisting of 1) adjustment of foot rests, 2) adjustment of handlebars and 3) seat. If you want the whole package, you must show up and have the firm's ergotherapeut to do the measurements. I still have the standard seat on mine but consider buying the Wunderlich package. I live in Denmark and the shop is just 600miles away from my home. (1200 miles is nothing on a new R1200RT)
You can not buy a Wunderlich seat fitted to your buttocks as for example a Russel day-long.

[Moto99]

I bought the Wunderlich for my GS, because I had the same feeling of sliding forward. I am very happy with the Wunderlich. I bought mine at the International Cycle show here in Phoenix. I had them write on my receipt that I could return it, if after I rode with it, I did not like it.

[Professor]

Thanks for the replies. I'm not too concerned that it's not fitted to me personally. The Corbin seat I got (used) for my Moto Guzzi was not fitted for anybody, but it works well.

One concern I have with the custom seat makers is that I have to send them my seat for them to re-build. As best I can tell, with Wunderlich, they make the whole thing and don't need my stock seat pan.

Thanks for the information.

[Greenwald]

Trolling for a seat recommendation is like taking a vote for the best pizza or movie ever.....a thousand different responses await you.

I switched from the uncomfortable stock seats on my R1200RT to Sargent, and could not be happier. All-day riding comfort, and I did not have to send in my original seats - they use a special seat pan of their own design that contributes to the overall fit and finish.

As an added bonus, there are storage areas built into the bottom of both front and rear seats, where I can now store confidential documents or temperature-sensitve materials, securely locked.

I was also impressed by Russell seats - may give them a try someday, but for now, I rest easy (and long) on my Sargent.

[TomfromMD]

Greenwald is right about seat recommendations. At any rate, I bought the 1200RT Sargent seats and found them to be a great improvement over the stock (low) seat. One consideration at the time was not having to send in my seat.

However, in an unending search for comfort for these aging bones, I later sent my stock seat (rider's only) to Rick Mayer for his treatment, in leather. After about 10,000 miles on the Sargent and 5,000 on the Mayer, on a scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate the stock seat as a 2, the Sargent as a 7 and the Mayer as a 9.

Like they say, YMMV.
Tom

[hlothery]

Rick Mayer may have had to change his procedure, but when I ordered mine from him he constructed my seats on seat pans he had in stock and sent them to me. In addition to payment for the seats, I had to send him a deposit (think it was $350) and had 30 days after he shipped the new seats to me to return the stock ones, or forfeit the deposit. I sent in the stock seats (so that he could salvage the pans) and he sent me back my deposit check. It all worked very well, and we are very happy with our Rick Mayer seats. BTW, he was able to retain the heating elements in them, so we still have heated seats. But I agree with all above......YMMV.

[janschunck]

About service and quality. read this.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=11288
I get more and more hooked on Russel

[Professor]

Thanks for the link, Janschunck. That provided LOTS of food for thought. It looks like Sargent and Russell will be what I investigate first. I sure appreciate the information.

[FredRydr]

It's sad that so many people clamor for aftermarket seats.

When I got into BMW in 1999, I found the OEM seats MUCH more comfortable than the Suzukis I'd been riding for years. Three Roadsters and three comfortable seats, the R1100R, the R1150R (a bit wide at the front) and the R1200R (best). I guess with my Scot/Suisse genes, I must have some celtic-teutonic butt combo that makes my cheeks as pleased as can be on German foam and vinyl.

Fred
'07 R1200R

P.S. I think the Sargent and the Russell are at the opposite ends of the hardness spectrum, with BMW in the middle somewhere.

[riderR1150GSAdv]

So many butts, so many opinions..:brow So like it or not; here's mine :rofl
I tried the 'custom' route and although it was ok, I still think that the le$$er investment in an Airhawk was the best one I made. The only stock seat that worked, for me, was the comfort seat on my '04 1150 RT. I had a Rick Mayer and it was fine, but the money I spent on it would have paid for gas for a very long trip.
Remember that the aftermarket seats can only be custom if your butt rolls into their factory and gets measures/fitted somehow. Doing this over the internet with a few pics of you sitting on your ride is not custom IMHO. YMMV

[Greenwald]

It's sad that so many people clamor for aftermarket seats.

When I got into BMW in 1999, I found the OEM seats MUCH more comfortable than the Suzukis I'd been riding for years. Three Roadsters and three comfortable seats, the R1100R, the R1150R (a bit wide at the front) and the R1200R (best). I guess with my Scot/Suisse genes, I must have some celtic-teutonic butt combo that makes my cheeks as pleased as can be on German foam and vinyl.

Fred
'07 R1200R

P.S. I think the Sargent and the Russell are at the opposite ends of the hardness spectrum, with BMW in the middle somewhere.

You should be thrilled that your physique matched up so well with original BMW seats. You saved a bundle of dough over the rest of us poor souls. Believe me, it wasn't like I had an extra $600+ lying around, and lacking somewhere to spend it, decided to upradge my seats.

It seems like many motorcycle seats, in terms of padding thickness and broadness, are almost an afterthought during manufacture - like it's the last thing Honda, Suzuki or BMW think of just before finishing a bike and crating it for shipment.

In the past, I have had to upgrade to Mustang seats on one of my Suzuki's (a Volusia) and my Honda VTX1800R. A huge upgrade in comfort and fatigue management, but also a huge investment.

Fred - be happy with your butt ergonomics - we envy you.

[hlothery]

It's sad that so many people clamor for aftermarket seats.

.

I agree, there are a million opinions. I'm sorry you are sad, but I feel like I gave the OEM seats a fair trial of almost 6 months. I can assure you that my butt feels much better about the decision to replace them. Remember.......YMMV.

[ggfossen]

...or you could take the stock seat apart, glue and carve the foam, and sew up a cover. I did. I cost maybe 20 bucks for the whole mess. Even with all those efforts, I found, after some miles, that it needs a bit more tweaking.

I bought some good foam glue, but used rug padding and such for the build-up. I cut and formed with various tool; sanders and grinders; anything that would cut the foam.

My cover leaves a bit to be desired in the looks department simply because our sewing machine can't get into the tighter spots, but it works well, and that's all I care about.

Yes, I did remove the heating pad, and reinstall it. All works well.

Gary

[FredRydr]

I'm sorry you are sad....<sniff> Gee, thanks!

Fred (not really THAT kind of sad)

[1analguy]

Greenwald is right about seat recommendations. At any rate, I bought the 1200RT Sargent seats and found them to be a great improvement over the stock (low) seat. One consideration at the time was not having to send in my seat.

However, in an unending search for comfort for these aging bones, I later sent my stock seat (rider's only) to Rick Mayer for his treatment, in leather. After about 10,000 miles on the Sargent and 5,000 on the Mayer, on a scale of 1 to 10, I'd rate the stock seat as a 2, the Sargent as a 7 and the Mayer as a 9.

Like they say, YMMV.
Tom

As you say, the Sargent is a great improvement over the stock low seat. I bought mine at the the big rally in Wisconsin this summer. The problem was, I run my seat in the high position, and the Sargent wouldn't stay there! The back of the seat kept sliding down to the low position, leaving it tilted up toward the front and poking the gas tank. That "custom" seat pan of theirs has the rear mounts slightly off-location...just a little bit too far forward, so the rubber bumpers under the back of the seat slip off of the "high position" shelves and down onto the low shelves. I'm 6'2" and about 220 lbs, so the low position isn't really that comfortable for me. I will admit that the seat itself is light years ahead of the stocker as far as shape, though. You just have to run it low for it to fit correctly...

[TomfromMD]

Bob, that sounds like a manufacturer's flaw that Sargent should remedy. I ran mine (low seat) in both lower and upper position and had no problems - the fit in both positions was better than stock.
Tom