Seat swap

[8b]

I have a brand new zero miles stock (regular height) seat I'd like to trade for a stock (low height) seat used is ok, but should be MINT like mine.
If I didnt need the comfort of being close to the ground, i'd surely keep the better padded/taller seat, it likely much more comfortable if you are over 5-6, I am not, so this bike is already very tall for me. Also, if any of those after market seats are available as a low seat, I'd like to hear experiences of info on that (Sargent, Mayer, Russell, etc, etc).
I did the same thing on my last bike, the F650 CS, I needed the low seat like "training wheels", once I got comfortable with the weight and handling of the bike, I went back to the regular seat which was much more comfortable on longer trips.

[Skippy]

If you bought your bike from a dealer(witch I think you did with a seat with 0 miles on it) he should swap it free of charge as the bikes can be ordered with one of the 3 seatheights that are available. I would find it very poor service if he wouldn't help you out(my dealer even offered a different height seat on my '06 R1200R witch I bought from him as a 1,5 month old demo with 1000km on it).

[JGP]

?Greetings,

FYI I'm purchasing an 07 R12R from a guy in Maryland. I think the two of spoke about swapping seats. He and I spoke and he was going to call you and see about swaping before I get up to Maryland to pick up the bike. Did you hear from him? Are you going to swap? If, not I'll be to Florida with the seat (low) around November 5. I would like to swap, no matter what. My seat has 1600 miles on it.

Call me and let me know

Jim Patrick
[email protected]
727.697.3399

[8b]

OK, swap is done, I received the seat. So if anyone is interested, the swap is complete and I am not looking for a low seat anymore. It is possible that BMW of NA may replace my defective original seat, so I may have a seat for sale after all, and may be able to request Low Med or High so if anyone needs a seat, they'd have to get back to me sooner then later. Also, I may start a new string:********* If you take these stock seats (or any seat made out of a stock seat pan), flip it over and take a close look, the plastic these seat pans are made of are quite crappy. They are made in Turkey, and the plastic is overly soft near and around the area where the fixed prongs (2) on the bike slide in those holes.
I suspect if you look closely at it, you'll see that anything but the most carefull take on and off of the seat will eventually crack that plastic.
I hope that thin plastic on this cheaply made seat is the only acchilles heal of the bike. Anyone else notice this, or am I crazy? Even the low seat I got has hairline cracks in that area and they all look like they are glued together with playdough and painted over. Any thoughts? Am I overreacting and all R bikes have always head seats made of this (lack of?) quality. My F650 CS had a different clamping system and I never had a problem. I dont know if my cracked seat was a one off, or will we all eventually have this problem likely AFTER our warrantees run out!!!!

[deilenberger]

I suspect if you look closely at it, you'll see that anything but the most carefull take on and off of the seat will eventually crack that plastic.
I hope that thin plastic on this cheaply made seat is the only acchilles heal of the bike. Anyone else notice this, or am I crazy?

Well... you asked..

Even the low seat I got has hairline cracks in that area and they all look like they are glued together with playdough and painted over. Any thoughts? Am I overreacting and all R bikes have always head seats made of this (lack of?) quality. My F650 CS had a different clamping system and I never had a problem. I dont know if my cracked seat was a one off, or will we all eventually have this problem likely AFTER our warrantees run out!!!!

I won't overuse punctuation replying.. BUT - my seat looks just fine. Your posting raised my curiousity, so I went to the garage and took it off and looked. 9,100 miles - and not a crack, distortion or any flaw to be seen. It slips right into position and latches down securely.

Dunno what's up with your seat.. I'm not a lightweight, so it probably isn't weight related unless you're topping 300lbs. My low seat looks just fine.

[Skippy]

Here's some pics of the problem area by some German R1200R owner.


This is what it should look like:

[flashy_bmw]

I was at Bar yesterday and ordered a new seat for my 12R. While Bar is known more for their Harley seats this will be my third from them in 15 months. I had their police solos on the Chang Jiang that we left China on. A wonderful seat for that bike.

When it died in the Ukraine and I got my R850R in Germany so we could continue the trip, I had Bar replace the stock seat with a new one. Since the BMW dealer really, really wanted the 850R, I upgraded to the 12R.

Once we hit SoCal (we are bunking in with our son until we head off to Mexico, Central and South America) I went to see them to get the seat.

I am off to China early tomorrow for three weeks and have been promised that the seat will be here when I return. Pics and technical info will follow.

[8b]

Thanks a million for that, YOU rock!