NOW AVAILABLE FROM SARGENT CYCLE PRODUCTS!

[TexasMule]

Anyone else get this email?

BMW 2007+ R 1200 R PREMIUM FOAM CONVERSION!
Because you expressed an interest in the BMW 2007+ R 1200 R World Sport Premium Foam Conversion during the development and production phases, we are pleased to extend this special introductory offer exclusively to you:

SPECIAL INTRODUCTORY PRICES **
Save $75.00
Standard Retail for CarbonFX, Black Upholstery starts at $374.95
With Discount - $299.95

This World Sport Premium Foam Conversion features:

Super Cell Atomic Foam cushion with improved ergonomics and suspension for better long-distance comfort.
A choice of two seat heights - the Regular Height and the Low Verson. Approximate seat heights are:
Regular - 31 7/8"
Low - 30 1/3"
CarbonFX seating insert with black welt and trim. BMW Tri-Color detail is included on all Standard Upholstery Configurations.
(Metallic Silver Welt available for an additional charge).
Optional color-coordinated accent welt and other upholstery accent options
(re-stocking fees apply).
Available Complete Heat Upgrades with electronic Chilli Controller.
Complete professional installation on your OEM seat.

That's Not All.
This service does require that you send your stock seat to us for the conversion. For quicker service and turnaround times, we suggest that you secure your upholstery order in advance with a credit card by phone. Turnaround time should be only a few days once your seat is received. Take advantage of this cost-savings approach during our fall / winter season!
This exclusive offer is made to you at no obligation to purchase. But, don't delay; this offer is good for a limited time only***. And, as always, you have our 30-day money-back guarantee.
(Subject to a $65.00 reinstallation fee. Re-stocking fees apply to non-standard and heated configurations).

So, give us a call at 800 974-7328 (904-354-4531, M-F, 8-5 Eastern), and tell us about your R 1200 R. Thank you for your patience and loyal support.
Sincerely,

Promotion Code does not work on-line.
Please call to order.

Promotion Code:
R12RPFC0908
Please call to order.

[deilenberger]

I got it..

Anyone had Sargent do a seat?

I love how they look (the uncomfortable one they made for my K75S looked wonderful.. just couldn't sit on it..) and I like the optional heat (something I was planning on doing anyway..) and I have a spare seat to send them..

I'm going to call them tomorrow to see how the 30-day money-back guarantee works on a seat they rework. When I had the K75S one done - there was no money back since it was done on my pan. If they are giving a 30 day money back I'll probably go for it.

[Caroanbill]

I pre-registered for the World Sport seat, but have not had any email - guess they're limitiing it to the US ... and actually check the country of registrants.

I gave up a couple of weeks ago and ordered a Corbin - with some reservations, but we'll see whether it lives up to the Corbin hype, or this board's negative experience.

Pity - I like the look of Sargent seats and the ones I've sat on have been preferrable (for my butt) to Corbin seats ..

[lewellen]

I got it..

Anyone had Sargent do a seat?

I love how they look (the uncomfortable one they made for my K75S looked wonderful.. just couldn't sit on it..) and I like the optional heat (something I was planning on doing anyway..) and I have a spare seat to send them..

I'm going to call them tomorrow to see how the 30-day money-back guarantee works on a seat they rework. When I had the K75S one done - there was no money back since it was done on my pan. If they are giving a 30 day money back I'll probably go for it.

I had Sargent redo the seat on my 1993 KLR650, sometime around 2000. (I bought the bike used, in 1998.) The original seat foam was pretty much useless. I had Sargent keep the same profile (a basic bench) but redo the cover and use their super-atomic-nuclear-whatever foam.

They did a great job, and the seat was far more comfortable.

It was also better than either of the Corbins I've had, one on a 1985 Nighthawk 650, the other on a 1994 CB1000.

My question here is, what would you get back if you sent Sargent a "tall" seat pan? I'll ask them....

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[kudzu]

Anyone had Sargent do a seat?

My experience with a Sargent "foam conversion," on an F650GS, was a good one. Having ordered it in advance, I stopped by and they installed the upgrade in less than an hour. Seat comfort was MUCH improved over stock - 13K miles in 39 days (AK) without once thinking of the seat. Since you have already had a bad experience with a Sargent conversion, however, I am reluctant to encourage you to try again.

[BigEasy]

Huh? I preregistered and no e-mail, and Bill I am in the US. Time for a phone call

[AllanCook]

I got the e-mail, too. It looks like a pretty nicely turned-out seat. But it's going to be a while before I get one, since the riding season is really just getting under way here in Texas.

[deilenberger]

Ah - I think people misunderstood my question - which was - has anyone had Sargent do an R1200R seat?

I have experience with Sargent reworking a seat - on my K75S - and the results, while attractive took a 2 hour seat and made it a 20 minute seat. There was no "money back" policy on it. They reworked it twice - with no improvement. It was quite literally very painful to sit on for more than 20 minutes. They finally told me "Sell it on Ebay".. which I did, and some poor soul is probably trying to sit on it today.

The ONLY reason I would consider this seat - is - IF it has the 30 day money back guarantee as they stated in the email.

[lewellen]

Ah - I think people misunderstood my question - which was - has anyone had Sargent do an R1200R seat?

I have experience with Sargent reworking a seat - on my K75S - and the results, while attractive took a 2 hour seat and made it a 20 minute seat. There was no "money back" policy on it. They reworked it twice - with no improvement. It was quite literally very painful to sit on for more than 20 minutes. They finally told me "Sell it on Ebay".. which I did, and some poor soul is probably trying to sit on it today.

The ONLY reason I would consider this seat - is - IF it has the 30 day money back guarantee as they stated in the email.

Sorry ... I missed the fundamental point of your post.

Seats are perhaps like windshields ... what works quite well for one person might work horribly for another, even though the performance characteristics are identical. That being the case, perhaps the only way to tell is to find someone with the rig you're interested in and ask if you can take it for a test spin.

Good roads,

- John L.

[deilenberger]

I talked to them at lunchtime (Bill.. who I guess is sales..)

The story is:

- This is an actual Sargent "Product" vs a custom seat. So it qualifies for the 30 day happiness warranty. If you don't like it - you send it back, along with your cover and foam (that they send back with the new seat) and they reinstall the stock stuff for $65.

- They replace ALL the foam. Apparently the foam isn't fastened that tight to the pan so they can get it off as one piece, and they have a replacement they molded of their supper-dupper-atomic-radioactive-foam that goes in place of it.

- Height - the low seat is the same height as the stock low seat. The medium (aka normal) is a fraction of an inch taller

- Heat - costs $150/butt.

- Cover - basic is $299 which includes the BMW -tri-color thingie and black welting. Vinyl top and sides (has a carbon-fiber effect vinyl - this actually looks quite good - the seat I had them make that didn't work for me had this.)

- Shipping is $19.95 additional.

Turnaround - a few days after receipt - they start making the foam and the cover when they take the order.

So I ordered one. Plain-jane, no fancy welting, no heated seat (I know I'm gonna regret that.. but $150..)

Will be shipping out my spare seat tomorrow, and see what happens..

[lewellen]

A little more information from Jason at Sargent:

Yes, the seat heights listed correspond with the OEM seat heights.
We do not offer the high seat.
Our foam conversion is a better shaped seat which will allow you to sit a little bit further back increasing your legroom.
The height difference between our regular height and BMWs high seat is .9"

I'll say this, they got back to me pretty quickly.

Good roads,

- Lewellen

[celticus]

While you are talking to them, ask them to make a Stealth Back Rest to fit our bike. I asked and they told me they would have to get more requests to make it worth their while.
Mark

[TexasMule]

I talked to them at lunchtime (Bill.. who I guess is sales..)

The story is:

- This is an actual Sargent "Product" vs a custom seat. So it qualifies for the 30 day happiness warranty. If you don't like it - you send it back, along with your cover and foam (that they send back with the new seat) and they reinstall the stock stuff for $65.

- They replace ALL the foam. Apparently the foam isn't fastened that tight to the pan so they can get it off as one piece, and they have a replacement they molded of their supper-dupper-atomic-radioactive-foam that goes in place of it.

- Height - the low seat is the same height as the stock low seat. The medium (aka normal) is a fraction of an inch taller

- Heat - costs $150/butt.

- Cover - basic is $299 which includes the BMW -tri-color thingie and black welting. Vinyl top and sides (has a carbon-fiber effect vinyl - this actually looks quite good - the seat I had them make that didn't work for me had this.)

- Shipping is $19.95 additional.

Turnaround - a few days after receipt - they start making the foam and the cover when they take the order.

So I ordered one. Plain-jane, no fancy welting, no heated seat (I know I'm gonna regret that.. but $150..)

Will be shipping out my spare seat tomorrow, and see what happens..

Have you received your seat yet?

My wife is waiting to hear what your take is on the seat - she wants heat - after having a GT - she is spoiled.

We want pictures and info as soon as you get your seat.

[deilenberger]

Have you received your seat yet?

My wife is waiting to hear what your take is on the seat - she wants heat - after having a GT - she is spoiled.

We want pictures and info as soon as you get your seat.

They shipped it today (I asked them to wait until today since I was going on vacation and didn't want it delivered when I wasn't home..) It should be there around Thursday when I get home - and will be test ridden on Friday. Report will follow - but will need to do some extended riding to break it in - and that prolly won't happen until the weekend.

Report forthcoming..

(Sent from Kingston Ontario, Canada..)

[Skippy]

Have you received your seat yet?

My wife is waiting to hear what your take is on the seat - she wants heat - after having a GT - she is spoiled.

We want pictures and info as soon as you get your seat.

They shipped it today (I asked them to wait until today since I was going on vacation and didn't want it delivered when I wasn't home..) It should be there around Thursday when I get home - and will be test ridden on Friday. Report will follow - but will need to do some extended riding to break it in - and that prolly won't happen until the weekend.

Report forthcoming..

(Sent from Kingston Ontario, Canada..)

Interesting. Can't wait to read your report. At least in the picture the seat looks very good unlike most other aftermarket offerings I saw before. Now hope it also feels good sitting on it.

[deilenberger]

Box was on the porch when I got home today at 4:30PM. By 5PM it was on the bike and I was out riding it. So far - seems good. The butt part is a bit wider and more dished than the stock shape. The pillion is completely different, concave instead of convex (dished - where the original was domed.) Fit and finish look good. One tiny wrinkle at a corner on the nose which looks like it will work itself out - not noticeable unless you're really really looking for a flaw to bitch about (and this isn't big enough or noticeable enough to bitch about.)

Sits a bit higher when I come to a stop - I think there might be 1/2" additional width at the nose - splaying my legs a bit more than the stock one. About 30 minutes of riding (getting dark and cold) gave me no pain at all, so that's a good thing. The vinyl used - the carbon-fiber look stuff is a bit slicker than the stock seat covering, so my butt moved around a bit more on the seat. Disconcerting for about 5 minutes - then I got used to it.

Will have more to report tomorrow. Intend to take a bit longer ride since the day is supposed to be up in the 60's - after a few hundred miles I should be able to give a better impression (and I expect the foam will start conforming to my butt..)

[deilenberger]

A 150 mile - about 3 hours saddle time - report (lots of "doing stuff" - not much direct point to point riding..) and riding was done on crappy NJ roads (I'm amazed that brand new pavement in NJ is bumpy - but it is. It was a real eye-opener when I drove in PA last week - where new pavement is actually SMOOTH.. but I digress..)

My ass wasn't sore when I got off it. It is starting to conform to my butt shape. I can feel it soften a bit as I sit on it and it warms up (it's ~50F here right now..) The shape fits my butt better than the stock seat, giving me wider and more support. It does shorten my legs about 1/4" - which isn't awful. The foam feels firmer than the stock seat foam, but it conforms better as it gets warmed up by my butt. I do feel more bump-shock transfer (road bumps and such) than the stock seat with my FreedomAir cushion - but I haven't tried it with the FreedomAir so I can't do a real comparison there.

So far - happy with it. MUCH happier than I was with the seat they made for my K75S..

[ka5ysy]

Don: How about a seat update?

[deilenberger]

Just a quick one - 230 miles over about 4 hours. Mostly slab, in spots rather rough slab (it's NJ..)

On the "going" trip - no problems at all. Felt comfortable for the entire 2 hours, no hot-spots on my hip-bones. On the return trip - the last 20 miles I started to feel some discomfort, but not severe, and moving around on the seat (easier to do than on the stock seat) relieved most of the discomfort.

This was without wearing my LongDistance Rider (LDR) undies - which are seamless in the butt area. The pain I did feel was from the seams in my shorts.

I tried using my larger FreedomAir cushion on the way home. It only stayed on for about 3 miles. It raised me up too high (back to tippy toes), and felt uncomfortable on the edges on the inside of my thighs. I do have a "sport" seat model that's been sitting at home, and I'm going to try that with this seat.

One warning on the Sargent seat. Although they claim it is roughly the same height as the stock seat (and it actually is) - the shape - in particular a slightly wider nose - makes it effectively a bit taller than the stock seat. BMW uses some very thin high-density foam in the nose area.. the Sargent foam is a bit thicker and softer in that area. It does make your legs shorter, as a WAG - mine are about 1/2" shorter using this seat over the stock low seat, and even the stock low seat with the larger of my FreedomAir cushions. Not enough to be a problem since I'm used to short legs (I've had them all my life..) - but enough that anyone where this is a primary concern should be forewarned. I'm hoping that foam breaks in and compresses a bit alleviating the rise in height, but I wouldn't count on it.

[famousperson]

Don,

Your report is encouraging. Please let us in on your continuing experiences as the foam breaks in. I love the thought of the Russell Day Long but the look on the R just wouldn't cut it for me. From what I've read here, the Sargent seems like the most attractive alternative--and is considerably cheaper.