Need Low Seat and Ordering from Wunderlich

[Ksbeemer]

Hello,

Well, nearly had a tip over with the new bike. The seat is just too tall. I've read numerous posts on the "seat" subject, here. Can't tell for sure, but one post had pictures of the low seat and I can tell you that I either have the standard or tall seat. There is absolutely no dip in the seat as it approaches the tank. I'd post pic, but haven't figured that out yet. With my 28 inseam (29 on a tall day), it's just too tall with the seat I currently have. Funny, too, cause I visited a BMW dealer and sat on a stock 2010 R1200R and I could nearly flat foot it. A salesman told me the R1150R was lower than the new 1200's. Anyway............

I've thought about just trying the standard BMW low seat, but too many on this forum seem to complain that BMW seats are hard and not all that great. I am curious about the Wunderlich ergo low seat. I know they are expensive, but would spend money, if it would solve the problem, look good and last. Any Advice would be greatly appreciated. I am also curious just where I could order one, if I decide to go that way.

Thanks,

Ksbeemer

[AirForceDirt]

It might have a shorter torque arm, which raises the seat, or the pre-load is jacked way up. Both could raise the back of the bike significantly. Personally, I'd look at the BMW low seat first (find someone that wants to trade a tall seat for a low seat kind thing) because Wunderlich tends to be pricey. REALLY pricey. Just some ideas. Can't really help on the specifics, as I'm a tall guy and have a taller seat than the stock one (Sargent), and have the shorter torque arm so my bike is way tall.

[NoRRmad]

I'm about your size, had a standard seat and replaced it with the BMW low seat. The low seat doesn't have a lot of padding in it, but gravel parking lots became possible, because I could put some weight on my feet. After a while I bought an Airhawk inflatable pad for the seat. Properly inflated (not much air at all,) it makes up for the lack of soft upholstery and doesn't raise you up any.

I can't imagine a lower seat than the BMW; there's practically nothing to it. Some custom seats I hear are narrower than stock, letting your feet drop closer to the bike, but it seems that the width of the frame would make that effect minimal.

As I recall, the BMW seat was way less expensive than any custom seat, but I did pay nearly two hunnert bux for the Airhawk. I think it's a good setup for short people.

[snelson200]

tt

[Ksbeemer]

Thanks for the input. I had been watching the one on ebay (it's ended), but it had a tear (even if a small one) and the bike I was lucky enough to get is near pristine shape and didn't like putting a torn seat on my "new bike".

Anyone ordered a Wunderlich seat or other Wunderlich stuff? Who was the local (USA)dealer? I am having a hard time finding a source for their stuff, especially a seat.

Thanks.

[tlwood28]

I have a low seat I will sell you that I believe is in pristine condition (less than 2000 miles). If you are interested I will check to confirm it is perfect. I wouldn't call it hard or soft. In fact, I thought it was a good around town seat.

My bike came with two seats, the high and the low. I have a 29.5 inch inseam and I could easily flat foot the bike with the low seat, while I felt perched pretty high up on the high seat, with just the ball of my feet on the ground at stops. The low seat was just fine around town and rides of less than 1 hour or so, but on my first long distance trip (5 hrs) I decided I had better go with the more padded tall seat. I also wore padded bike shorts. As it turned out, 5 hrs on the high seat was about 3 hrs to many. It only stood to reason that the low seat would have fared no better and most likely worse.

Thereafter I went to full time Sergeant use. I can't flat foot, but close enough. The Sargent is between the BMW high and low seats, but very comfortable to me.

If being able to flat foot the bike is the priority, I would ask myself what kind of riding I planned to do. If you are just going around town and day rides, I would first try out the BMW low seat because it is both very low, and very cheap. If you need more of a distance seat, I would research Corbin.

[Ksbeemer]

tlwood28,

Thanks for the info and the offer. If you would, please inspect your low seat and let me know if it is in really good shape. One of the things that attracted me to the R-bike is that it is well known as a pretty good jack of all trades. It is so much lighter than my HD low-rider, I envisioned that it would be much easier to manage around town. I do plan on making a few singnificant trips this summer, as well, though.

This forum is a great source of information. I know seat choice is a very personal thing, and the problem with that is that there is quite a bit of conflicting information about seats. It seems the Corbin and the Sargent are the most talked about. The main complaints I've found are that these seat don't always fit the bike real well, and/or the quality control is not consistent, or customer service leaves a something to be desired. Quite a number swear by the Rick Mayers seats. I checked his website out and it seems his emphasis is more on comfort with no particular priority on making a lower seat. I NEED a lower seat. When I looked at the picture of a low seat posted here, I knew mine is quite a bit taller than that. I found one or two very postive remarks on the Wunderlich seat and found it online with a search, but haven't found any US suppliers for the low R1150R seat.

I realize that I will probably end up lowering the foot pegs (it kind of feels like a sport bike riding position even with the seat I have). Right now, I NEED a lower seat....I WANT a nice looking reasonably comfortable seat, too. Any info on where to get a Wunderlich would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks very much.

Ksbeemer

[zeke]

This is the link for wunderlich:

http://www.wunderlichamerica.com/mm5/me ... re_Code=WA

Good luck with your search, and I hope you find something soon. -Zeke

[pebmr]

I purchased my 04 2 years ago, and went through the exact same thing. I'm 5'6" with about 30" inseam. Mine came with the high seat (straight across) and I nearly lost it in the still icy yard trying to drive from the garage to the street on tip toes(first time on the bike). I bought a stock low seat asap and it was lower, but I didn't like it. Kept sliding forward, not that comfortable. It did work though.

I ended up buying a hardly used Wunderlich low seat and it was much different than the stock. It is dished out kinda flat for your seat and I think it's a little lower than the stock seat. Not a lot of padding, but it was the most comfortable option for me, no regrets. I can barely flat foot it. I added an Alaska Sheepskin last fall and it adds a tiny bit of height, but a lot of comfort. I would've gone Sargent if I was an inch taller(or my inseam was), but not much I can do about that. Boots with more sole help also. Good Luck with the seat search, many have been there!

[Ksbeemer]

Where did you get your Wunderlich? That seems to be the problem. Can't find a supplier. Thanks.

Ksbeemer

[TNOutback]

I think I have a low seat, but I can't figure out how to tell. To me the seat is too low, and I would like something higher. I have a 31.5 inch inseam, and I can easily flat-foot. How do I know what seat I have?

[pebmr]

I found one on E-bay. It just popped up so I went for it. A little more than I wanted to pay, but so are all the other options. It was from a private party, but in original packing still and it was from BMW, Santa Cruz. I looked a little online, and not much except huge$$$ from motohansa. Looks like they may be special order in usa now. You may have to do what I did, buy a relatively inexpensive stock low seat to get you around, add a Sheepskin from Alaska Leather(use "Dead Sheep" or "Butt Buy" discount codes-check for latest), and then continually shop for an upgrade. It took me about 6 months to find one...

[Ksbeemer]

Why does riding a motorcycle today have to be so complicated? Back when I first started riding in the late 1960’s, the most important thing was the freedom of the experience that you could find nowhere else. Back then, I didn’t worry about the how the seat felt or how high it was. Nearly all bikes had a seat that any average adult could manage…and I certainly didn’t have the money to even consider getting a custom seat. But lacking a fancy seat, or whatever, certainly didn’t get in the way of experiencing the pure pleasure of just getting out on the open road, or for that matter going off into the woods and discovering new ways to make yourself part of the bike as you rounded a fast sweeping turn, or slid sideways plowing the front wheel through a path hidden in the woods near where you lived.

I must admit that I was taken totally by surprise when I got back into bikes a few years ago. All of the options and new technology….and what things cost today. I am not quite an old foggy, yet…but back then you could buy a really nice ride for less than a $1000.00 and maybe spend a few hundred dollars making it the way you wanted it.

What I like about the R-bike…and it’s really all tied to the naked bike trend...The R-bike looks like a motorcycle is supposed to look and it’s supposed to be pretty darn good at doing what a motorcycle is supposed to do. That’s the way…it used to be…and I like that a lot. I can’t wait for the warming weather to kick in here in the Midwest. I will keep looking for a low seat, but new seat or not, it’s going to be experiencing that elusive freedom that puts that be big fat smile back on my face.

[R1150Rclean]

KsBeemer,
I have a low seat off of a 2003 R1150R in perfect condition, I replaced it with a tall seat. Let me know if your interested.

[Ksbeemer]

R1150Rclean,

Yes, I am interested. Sent you a PM. Thanks.

Ksbeemer