Seat Experiences

[darrell]

After 50,000 miles on the RS I came to the conclusion the stock seat worked perfectly for me. But then I'd never sat on anything else. How quickly things can change.

Seat 1 - I had a rider contact me if I was interested in selling one of the extra Vortex GPS brackets I purchased from Tony T at Hightide Technologies. We agreed on a price and I rode the 150 miles to deliver the Vortex bracket to him. He had just purchased his used RS with around 3000 miles and it had a Seth Laam seat he did not like and had purchased the BMW stock seat. The Seth Laam seat sits me about ⅜" higher than the stock seat. We agreed no money would be exchanged so I delivered one part and took home one part. A couple of weeks later we met about 100 miles from my place as his passenger seat had arrived so I picked the passenger part, enjoyed a good meal of BBQ at one of my favorite places in WI, and met a new very happy RS owner. The one thing about this seat is I need to get a water proof cover as the top stitching will take on water. I'm ordering one from King of Fleece tomorrow. I have their covers for my leather seats for the GSA bikes and they work.

Seat 2 - I noticed on Minneapolis Craig's List my BMW dealer listed a RS they took in trade that appeared to have the higher sport seat in the photo. I rode to the dealer to check out the seat. Sure enough a like new BMW sport seat with less than 10,000 miles on it. Asked to take it for a ride and after 50 miles I needed that seat. So exchanged my 50,000 miles stock seat for the sport seat and some cash. Have rode about 600 miles since last Friday on the sport seat and love it. Ray and Bruce both have sport seats and both have told me they preferred that seat to the stock seat.

So I'm one happier seat owner of two different seats yet was very satisfied before.

Darrell

[Grumpy Goat]

Nice. So both the Seth Laam and the BMW Sport seats are higher than the stock, and since you are taller I understand how your legs would be more comfortable.

But how do they feel on the butt, especially the Seth Laam seat? Padding in the right places? Looking at the photos on the Set Laam website (and I could not find a photo of the RS seat) it looks like it is quite different from the BMW seat - more cruiser-like. Any chance of a photo?

[darrell]

There is a photo on the Seth Laam website on an RS. I'm going to email you my photos and maybe you can add them to my post. I'm still not able to get my photos from the Mac sized right so they can be attached. Yes both sit me higher. Seth Laam about ⅜" and BMW sport seat about ¾". I spoke with Seth and he said he would rework his seat if not exactly as I want but it appears to be just fine for me. I've only used the Seth Laam about 500 miles but great support of the butt and top of glute muscles.

[Grumpy Goat]

There is a photo on the Seth Laam website on an RS. I'm going to email you my photos and maybe you can add them to my post. I'm still not able to get my photos from the Mac sized right so they can be attached.

They were sized just fine in your email - 1024 x 768 pixels / well under 500 kB - so whatever you did is great! Here are your photos:

   
   

Here is a link to the photos on the Seth Laam Facebook page you mentioned: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=...078&type=3

Yes both sit me higher. Seth Laam about ⅜" and BMW sport seat about ¾". I spoke with Seth and he said he would rework his seat if not exactly as I want but it appears to be just fine for me. I've only used the Seth Laam about 500 miles but great support of the butt and top of glute muscles.

Great feedback - thanks.

[Mark]

There is a photo on the Seth Laam website on an RS. I'm going to email you my photos and maybe you can add them to my post. I'm still not able to get my photos from the Mac sized right so they can be attached.

They were sized just fine in your email - 1024 x 768 pixels / well under 500 kB - so whatever you did is great! Here are your photos:




Here is a link to the photos on the Seth Laam Facebook page you mentioned: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=...078&type=3

Yes both sit me higher. Seth Laam about ⅜" and BMW sport seat about ¾". I spoke with Seth and he said he would rework his seat if not exactly as I want but it appears to be just fine for me. I've only used the Seth Laam about 500 miles but great support of the butt and top of glute muscles.

Great feedback - thanks.

I'm very happy with my Corbin I think its a little taller and wider.    

[darrell]

I've just rode 3000 miles with the new to me BMW sport seat and while I liked the OEM seat that came with the bike the sport seat is better. Ron and I just finished riding 800 miles together the last 3 days in the Rockies. I'm still here for another few days of riding. Ron headed home today. I forgot to sit on his Corbin seat to see what it felt like.

[Grumpy Goat]

I've just rode 3000 miles with the new to me BMW sport seat and while I liked the OEM seat that came with the bike the sport seat is better.

Better how?

Glad to hear you and Ron had a good time riding. Was it hot?

[darrell]

It was warmer than I prefer as we had some temps in the 90's but really with no humidity was very nice when moving. We stayed at higher altitudes the majority of the time riding many roads Ron had been on and ones I'd not rode in the last 3 - 4 years.

I was concerned about leaving with the sport seat on this 25 day trip when I'd only rode it locally for a couple of hundred miles. Ray and Bruce both have the sport seats and were very happy with the seat. It sits me higher so less angle at the knees plus easier to move around on if I want due to the profile not locking me in. The additional padding is appreciated as well. I need to find a time to meet Lee and Debbie so they can take the seat on a longer ride to see if they might like the higher sitting position as both of them have longer inseams then I do. I'd think anyone with a 30" or longer inseam should consider ordering/buying their bikes with the sport seat. Also others could watch for trade-ins with sport seats and try to make a deal at their dealers trading theirs and some cash for the used sport seat.

[Grumpy Goat]

It was warmer than I prefer as we had some temps in the 90's but really with no humidity was very nice when moving.
...
It sits me higher so less angle at the knees plus easier to move around on if I want due to the profile not locking me in. The additional padding is appreciated as well.
...
I'd think anyone with a 30" or longer inseam should consider ordering/buying their bikes with the sport seat.

Thanks Darrell.

Never been to Colorado but have some friends who seem to think that it's some kind of paradise to visit. So I should go one of these days.

I have a 30" inseam and flat foot very well on my stock seat so I'd like to try the sport seat but in the two up position as will as the one helmet with luggage as these strings rose the bike up. Maybe in both cases a person with a 30" inseam may find it too much of a reach.

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[SauRoN]

I often consider if the higher sport seat would ease some strain on my legs as I find the angle can be a bit too triangular.

But an expensive thing to test and have not found another RS that has done it.


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[Grumpy Goat]

I often consider if the higher sport seat would ease some strain on my legs as I find the angle can be a bit too triangular.

But an expensive thing to test and have not found another RS that has done it.

Same here. Maybe I will wait till I can test one for free then decide.

[JWMcDonald]

"Here is a link to the photos on the Seth Laam Facebook page you mentioned: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=...078&type=3"

..that's my 2016 R1200RS with the Seth Laam seat installed July 2016 during ride-in to his shop in Redding, California.

Have about 12K mileage and very pleased with it.

Had a 2003 R1150RS with Corbin previously. Thought to go with Corbin for the R1200RS, but wanted to keep what little under seat storage there was with the stock seat pan that Seth recovered.

Glad I did...

Jeff McDonald

[Grumpy Goat]

Seats look very comfortable and plush, Jeff. How much (generally) did these two cost?

[JWMcDonald]

Seats look very comfortable and plush, Jeff. How much (generally) did these two cost?

$350 total (cash) to replace the foam, add the wing bolsters, sculpture the front seat with the contour of the "tractor seat" with the wings - included recover of pillion (no change to foam in the pillion).

The seat is relatively firm (not quite as firm as Corbin) - so is not really "plush" (as it is not "soft").

A unique design feature that Seth Laam is proud of is that he inserts a softer foam in the area of the tailbone...

Appointment made for ride-in - took ~ 4 hours from start to finish - an excellent ride back home to Windsor by way of 299 to 1 on the coast.

[Grumpy Goat]

$350 total (cash) to replace the foam, add the wing bolsters, sculpture the front seat with the contour of the "tractor seat" with the wings - included recover of pillion (no change to foam in the pillion)....

Excellent, and quite reasonable a price. Thanks Jeff.

[Duccrazydave]

"So exchanged my 50,000 miles stock seat for the sport seat and some cash." Hey Darrell, considering the same thing, as my (almost) local dealer has one in stock. Would you be willing to share how much cash?

[darrell]

"So exchanged my 50,000 miles stock seat for the sport seat and some cash." Hey Darrell, considering the same thing, as my (almost) local dealer has one in stock. Would you be willing to share how much cash?

$150 if trading down lots of miles as I did. If equal miles on the seats I'd have tried for $100. I figured my used seat would not sell for over $150 plus had the hassle of selling so just used that as my offer for the exchange. New ones must be in the $400 range.

[Duccrazydave]

Thanks Darrell. I saw a couple online listed (new at dealership) for $516 (!). Supposed to talk to my dealer Tuesday. Hopefully come up with something favorable, as my bike hasn't turned 16k yet
Cheers, David

[darrell]

Thanks Darrell. I saw a couple online listed (new at dealership) for $516 (!). Supposed to talk to my dealer Tuesday. Hopefully come up with something favorable, as my bike hasn't turned 16k yet
Cheers, David

I was really happy with the stock seat that came with my bike but once I rode the high sport seat 15 miles borrowed from the used bike at the dealer I knew I'd be happier with. I offered dealer $100 exchange, he said $200, we split the difference. I'm on day 26 of a 38 day ride (took 3 days off from riding while spending time in Key West) right now and never find myself feeling any knee or butt pain from the sport seat. But never did in 50,000 miles with the original seat either. Good luck with your seat trade. Convince them the stock seat will sell their used bike quicker than the sport seat.

[Duccrazydave]

So, I took a ride to the dealer today to try out a sport seat that was on a ‘18 RS demo bike. Swapped the seats and rode around for about an hour. Verdict? Let’s just say as soon as there’s a chance for a swap, I’m in. Perfect blend of extra height for interstate droning. Yet crowned just enough to provide “scootability “ in the twisties. One strange thing I noticed upon returning was how much better my seat fit the ‘18 model, than my ‘16. The gap between the seat/ tank junction has always bothered me a bit. I had attributed it to production variations in the seat foam. But after seeing it on the new bike, there’s definitely something else going on. There’s no adjustability to speak of in the mounting area. So I’m left scratching my head on this one. I’ve included pics of the seat on my bike. Any ideas?


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