Well they still aren't seat designers

[vetsurginc]

BMW Motorad designers have not clued in on how to make an all day on american roads type seat yet. My son and I just finished a 253 mile day ride in our attempt to toughen the buns for the run to Ohio. It wasn't as bad as my old Yamaha 350, but not up to my 1978 R80RT standard (or maybe just having a much younger butt makes a difference?). My son had a sheepskin on the passenger pillon and still had complaints. My section was factory standard. Apparently the MOA reviewer feels the same pain :-(

Now at the shop they recommend the Airhawk seat cushion as the first alternative. This was seconded by a motor officer that did a quick turn around to see my shiny R1200RT up close (shop was sold out). Of course some in the LT net really didn't like those.

Then there's the guy in the club that has ridden like forever on his Russell.

Any thoughts on good alternatives? I'm going to stay stock as long as I can but there is a 1000 in a day IronButt coming up for florida that I was going to try, and I know I can't do that on this seat.

Thanks for the opinions!

doug maccoy :wave

[riderR1150GSAdv]

First of congrats with your new ride!! My brother just got a new R 1200 RT as well and he thinks the seat is ok but my butt says no way :jose .
I have an 05 LT and it's stock seat sucked for my butt and I went to Rick Mayer with great result.
I had an 04 RT with the BMW comfort seat and that was fine for me. Seats are a very personal issue with many opinions about what works best. IMHO a custom seat from one of the major players is the best way to go. Whoever you decide to go with, it is money well spend.

[BradfordBenn]

I love my Sargent Seat. Not sure if they are out for the 05 yet, but the 02 one is really comfy.

[username]

the best way to properly prep yer behind for a bmw stock seat is to commit a crime and spend a few days in prison. after that, the seat seems nice. ;)

[dano]

I have a CORBIN seat on my '03 RT. I'm tall (6-05) with a 36" inseam, so I still have to stretch my legs at times, by extending them out as I ride, or let them dangle at speed, and let the wind keep them off the pavement.

But, even with leg cramps at times, my butt rarely gets to the point that it begins to hurt.

Even with an after-market seat, I still like to get off and take a break about every 2 hrs. at most. It can make the difference between enjoying a ride and putting up with one. :thumb

[RTdavey]

I have ridden my 04' RT for almost a year now, and the frigggin' seat has to go!!!
I am looking REAL hard at a "Rick Mayer", I have heard/read nothing butt absolute good things.
I wonder what it is going to take for BMW to get their head out of their asses and design a seat that is what it's made for ------- comfort.

[BubbaZanetti]

yeah, the airhead defentely had a comfier seat, i'm thinking that might be my first 06' upgrade, no more money on the bike this year..........

[riderR1150GSAdv]

the best way to properly prep yer behind for a bmw stock seat is to commit a crime and spend a few days in prison. after that, the seat seems nice. ;)

:uhoh :eek

[MechanicSavant]

It has been my experience that bmw seats & motors have something in common , both are made for a relatively long life and therfore it takes a while to break them in..after the first yr. w/my 85 k-bike I thought the seat was uncomfy , so I got a corbin,,very nice when new but after 3 yrs it was toast,it fatigued so badly it affected the side pannel mounts ...back on went the stock seat..I occasionaly used a sheep skin for days of 500mi.or more and got another 11yrs out of it..Initial impressions(no pun)on my R1150r seat were pretty much the same pretty stiff for the first 20k or so but it seems to be better w/ more miles..Also I highly recomend against the jail route to toughen up ones seat area,,,it's a bizzare bunch of riders in the extreem...you'd be much better off finding young lady who is talented w/silk whips and such to get your bottom in condition,,,or so I've heard... :evil

[SweetT]

I have a rick mayer seat and it worked out really well for me the first 10,000 miles I had it. In fact I even did 1026mi in 21hrs across the praire on the thing in order to avoid being hailed on by a pursuing storm. However, after not riding a whole lot this winter, now I get on the bike and my butt starts to ache after 75miles! Crazy! I'm traveling out to CA in a couple of weeks and I plad to use my beaded seat pad for added comfort.

so I have a mixed opinion about rick mayer. The quality of the seat is very good, it looks great on the bike, and the price was in my budget, and initially the seat sat very well. but now I think that If I ever get another one I think I might try russell

[phil]

I had my stock seat installed with memory foam (temper foam).
They also lowered the seat a bit. I am very impressed with the results. On the plus side the price was $160.00. I looked into purchaseing a new seat and thought $500.00 plus was a bit overpriced.
Saint Pete Phil
P.S. Leaving for Deals Gap in 2 weeks cant wait.

[username]

I have a rick mayer seat and it worked out really well for me the first 10,000 miles I had it. In fact I even did 1026mi in 21hrs across the praire on the thing in order to avoid being hailed on by a pursuing storm. However, after not riding a whole lot this winter, now I get on the bike and my butt starts to ache after 75miles! Crazy! I'm traveling out to CA in a couple of weeks and I plad to use my beaded seat pad for added comfort.

so I have a mixed opinion about rick mayer. The quality of the seat is very good, it looks great on the bike, and the price was in my budget, and initially the seat sat very well. but now I think that If I ever get another one I think I might try russell

it might be that your butt needs to be reconditioned. i cycle, (or used to...) and i have a really hard, lightweight saddle. (titanium rails cliffy!) if i jump on it for an hour, it doesnt feel so hot. as time goes on, and i do a few short rides over the course of a few weeks my ass, and the rest of my body, (shoulders, hands, arms, legs, feet) get used to the (ab)use and cease to hurt after 1-2 hour rides. then it takes three hours. then it takes four. i've ridden the bicycle for 6 hours with zero pain, but after training for a few months. if i got on it today and rode that ride, i'd likely have a lot of discomfort.

i think the same is true of the moto.i just did a fairly long ride, and on shorter (3-6 hour) rides prior to that, my butt would require shifting of weight, etc. by the end of this much longer ride, i was totally fine. i dont think my seat changed much, i think my butt changed.

[Bigrider]

I think username is on to something. Most of us forget the physical part of the ride. Best to prepare for a long ride by staying in shape. It behooves those of us passing the half century mark to maintain some muscle tone and some flexability. BTW round is a shape, so technically, I'm in shape.

Dave H

[lkchris]

Since it seems just intuitively silly to have a seat that forces a single riding position, I've never tried a custom bucket-style seat.

IMHO motorcycle seat sitting is something very much like excercise or other hard work. That is, it if you're not used to it it leaves you sore.

I've found myself uncomfortable after the first day of long riding, but if it's multiple days it gets better on subsequent days. Same thing applies to handlebar position, etc.

Seems to me a lot of custom seats are sold where it isn't necessary. If you forced yourself to sit in exactly the same position on a long car ride, it wouldn't be comfortable either. Move around. Get the woman her own bike.

[NYRIDER]

Although I don't often clock in hi mile trips, i do find that my airhawk gets high marks for the rough road cruzin experience.

The problem as I see it: I certainly did not need anymore gear to drag around when parking and leaving it on top of the bike was not an option(It could grow legs and run away).

Solution: I reworked the OEM seat, carved out the foam and put the hawk inside. I am very pleased with the result! The only aspect i have not addressed is easy access to the adjusting valve(for casual adjustment).
Since it was first installed, I was so satisfied with the result, that I never gave it much more thought.