KonTour seats - 1st impressions

[bob_menton]

Rider and passenger seats rebuilt by Ron @ KonTour seats. We like 'em! Much more comfortable than the stock GT seats, on a 2-up 3/4 day ride. This is one way to rebuild your seats without getting the "tractor seat" look, as other than having a perforated "suede" outer layer, the seat retains its stock look and shape (and color, if you wish).

At a Touring Sport BMW open house, several of us played "touch-y, feel-y" with the KonTour seat. You couldn't keep your hand on the seat of nearby bikes (bright sunny day), while the KonTour seat was only slightly warm to the touch.

High quality, great service - and for us, they work. Thanx, Ron.

- Bob

[grifscoots]

Had 'em on the LT, have 'em on the GT. Great stuff in a hot climate!

[RonKMiller]

Hey - you're welcome Bob, and thanks for putting your trust in our design!

[bob_menton]

Had 'em on the LT, have 'em on the GT. Great stuff in a hot climate!

... and thank you, Mr. Grif - it was your initial recommendation of the KonTour seat that led us to try it. I'm sure you have some "bum steers" in Tejas, but you didn't give us one.:rotf:

- Bob

[GT-1]

KonTour seats rock! My longest day so far is 1,400 miles in 21 hrs. Heat, rain, snow KonTour seat can handle weather better than a postman. The seat material wears like iron and helps keep you from sliding forward in the twisties. Plus you get to keep the stock seat heater.

[idahogt]

Hey - you're welcome Bob, and thanks for putting your trust in our design!
Do you use new foam or just re-cover ???

[grifscoots]

Do you use new foam or just re-cover ???He uses space age, science fiction foam. It's all on his webpage.

[TJD]

Does the seat absorb water in the rain? What was the cost for the K12GT passenger seat? Website said to e-mail for model-specific passenger seat pricing.

T

[grifscoots]

It will absorb a small amount, but not while you're sitting on it (and I've been in some prodigious rains). There is a water barrier that keeps the seat from getting soaked. When it's real hot, I'll pour/rub cold water onto it. It acts like a/c as it evaporates. Unfortunately, the effect isn't long lived, but a thrill while working.

I don't know about the rear seat, I just had mine covered to match as I don't have a regular pillion no mas.

[kmurphy165]

I have had my KonTour seat retain prodigious amounts of water from just a light shower as it sits at work. I keep an oversize plastic bag in the top trunk to protect my pants from becoming sopping wet riding home after work even a couple of hours after the shower has gone by. I've seen it take upwards of 12 hours for the seat to dry out in the garage. Any time there is the threat of rain while out riding I have to stop and either get on the rain pants or cover the seat with the plastic bag rain cover to prevent the water the seat will soak up from soaking my pants. Additionally, the seat hasn't significantly added to the comfort time in riding. The cushioning does help in reducing the pelvic bone and tissue bruising and the perforated cover helps to dry sweat. But once the foam under the seat gets wet, it wants to stay wet for a long time.

Karl

[RonKMiller]

We sell rain covers as an option just like Russell, Mayer and other after market seat manufacturers.

[meese]

We sell rain covers as an option just like Russell, Mayer and other after market seat manufacturers.Yep, except that I've never needed a rain cover for my leather Bill Mayer seat. Just regular conditioning with a good quality leather care product (which Rocky gave me with the seat) and it's been fine, even in the worst of weather. Having no top seams (and therefore no holes) also helps in this respect.

When the bike has been sitting outside the rain I usually throw on a half-cover but if I forget then a quick swipe with a small towel and I'm good to go.

[Big_E]

I have had my KonTour seat retain prodigious amounts of water from just a light shower as it sits at work. I keep an oversize plastic bag in the top trunk to protect my pants from becoming sopping wet riding home after work even a couple of hours after the shower has gone by. I've seen it take upwards of 12 hours for the seat to dry out in the garage. Any time there is the threat of rain while out riding I have to stop and either get on the rain pants or cover the seat with the plastic bag rain cover to prevent the water the seat will soak up from soaking my pants. Additionally, the seat hasn't significantly added to the comfort time in riding. The cushioning does help in reducing the pelvic bone and tissue bruising and the perforated cover helps to dry sweat. But once the foam under the seat gets wet, it wants to stay wet for a long time.

Karl

The foam in the seat doesn't get wet, only the outer cover gets wet. There is a waterproof cover over the foam.

[Big_E]

Yep, except that I've never needed a rain cover for my leather Bill Mayer seat. Just regular conditioning with a good quality leather care product (which Rocky gave me with the seat) and it's been fine, even in the worst of weather. Having no top seams (and therefore no holes) also helps in this respect.

When the bike has been sitting outside the rain I usually throw on a half-cover but if I forget then a quick swipe with a small towel and I'm good to go.

Treat the KonTour seat about once a year with Scotchguard & water will bead up & run off. I use the same method with my mess jacket. I never use rain gear, the water beads up & doesn't come through the mess. Also the KonTour seat doesn't pool water like a tractor seat.

[grifscoots]

Karl,

#1. None of my Kontour seats has ever held water for 12 hours. Even soaking wet, it dries out extremely quick. You are hallucinating if your GT seat even holds enough water to get your pants wet.

#2. You are hallucinating for riding a GT in pants. Get some gear some gear and wear it son.

[amarider]

You got something against "hallucinating" ???? :crazy:

[grifscoots]

You got something against "hallucinating" ???? :crazy:Only if it's not me doing it.

[meese]

Only if it's not me doing it.What if we're hallucinating about you, Grif? :D

[grifscoots]

What if we're hallucinating about you, Grif? :DAs long as I'm in there somewhere.

[idahogt]

After spending close to $1500.00 in seats, I'm hallucinating that the perfect seat exsists !!!
And I'm not sure I'm done yet.
All this talk of getting wet.

[grifscoots]

All this talk of getting wet.I rode about 60k on the Kontour with the LT (40k with a Corbin before that) and have almost 14k on the Kontour with the GT with absolutely no water concerns. None. Nada. Zip.

[RonKMiller]

After spending close to $1500.00 in seats, I'm hallucinating that the perfect seat exsists !!!
And I'm not sure I'm done yet.
All this talk of getting wet.

Hey Dave:

If you'll go over to my forum:

http://www.bmwlt.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=71

and scroll down to the third item I think you'll get a much better idea of how our seats work in different temperatures/conditions.

Pleased to continue the discussion with you there or PM me. ;)

[idahogt]

Ron-
After re-reading my post; please don't infer that I was talking about your seats, I am not. I had custom seats made by 2 different makers, and now own the newest low seat option by BMW. This seems to fit the best so far.
Gees, three sets of seats tring to get my ass just right.
I would seriously consider your product if my wallet didn't melt down.

[grifscoots]

I would seriously consider your product if my wallet didn't melt down, or my butt, whichever comes first.


Fixed it for you!

[RonKMiller]

Ron-
After re-reading my post; please don't infer that I was talking about your seats, I am not. I had custom seats made by 2 different makers, and now own the newest low seat option by BMW. This seems to fit the best so far.
Gees, three sets of seats tring to get my ass just right.
I would seriously consider your product if my wallet didn't melt down.

Nah, I figured you had been lining the vinyl wallets of the competition. ;)

Just remember what BMW stands for: Bring More Wampum!

(Guess I'll hear from Meese - the surfer dude - on this one how I am culturally insensitive, don't respect indigenous people's rights and stereotype everyone... :p )

[meese]

(Guess I'll hear from Meese - the surfer dude - on this one how I am culturally insensitive, don't respect indigenous people's rights and stereotype everyone... :p )I keep telling you Ron, I'm not the surfer dude. That's my brother. I'm the outspoken liberal who thinks riding 20+ hours a day is fun. :)

[jayjacobson]

....I'm the outspoken liberal....
Hey Ken, we won't hold that against you, however! I'm the outspoken libertarian....

[RonKMiller]

I keep telling you Ron, I'm not the surfer dude. That's my brother. I'm the outspoken liberal who thinks riding 20+ hours a day is fun. :)

Then we must be twin sons of different mothers! :yeah:

[kmurphy165]

Karl,

#1. None of my Kontour seats has ever held water for 12 hours. Even soaking wet, it dries out extremely quick. You are hallucinating if your GT seat even holds enough water to get your pants wet.

#2. You are hallucinating for riding a GT in pants. Get some gear some gear and wear it son.Howdy, Griff. Having not participated in recreational chemicals growing up in the 60s and 70s I've not ever been hallucinating. I'm reporting exactly what my KonTour seat performance has been when wet on more than one occasion. Just the facts and only the facts. Further, I don't have a GT as you know. For the record, as you would have noticed when you saw me riding in at Brazelton that even in that extreme humidity and temperature I wear ATGATT. That does not mean I wear water proof pants. I lost the need to wear a diaper at the age of 18 months Lastly, the KonTour seat was sold to me with the assurance it would not retain water. While it's true the cover sheds water, the padding underneath will retain the water and that water will migrate back through the cover when weight is put on the seat.

Karl

[messenger13]

Having spent some time with Karl, I find it hard to believe that he's making up some fairy-tale. His experience is just that; "his" experience...


* messenger13 heads back to the bleachers. http://s3.amazonaws.com/advrider/lurker.gif

[kmurphy165]

Having spent some time with Karl, I find it hard to believe that he's making up some fairy-tale. His experience is just that; "his" experience...


* messenger13 heads back to the bleachers. http://s3.amazonaws.com/advrider/lurker.gifHowdy, Joe. Thanks. As you're aware, I'm not a fan of the KonTour business practices. **HOWEVER** I will not allow that to influence the facts of my experiences with the seat. Just for the record, the workmanship of the seat is top quality and the ventilation properties has greatly reduced the accumuation of sweat in the seat of the pants in hot weather. Being objective in reporting is of the highest importance to me and I make sure to make plain the separation between factual reporting and opinion. It is most aggravating to be ridiculed in an ad hominem disparagement.

Karl

[kmurphy165]

The foam in the seat doesn't get wet, only the outer cover gets wet. There is a waterproof cover over the foam.Howdy, Big_E I wasn't aware of that barrier. I'm just tryint to describe how the water accumulation would happen. Thanks for the clarification. It's possible that the waterproof barrier was not included in my seat as it was made several years ago.

Karl

[jayjacobson]

Then we must be twin sons of different mothers! :yeah:
I STILL like your seats, Ron.
Howdy, Joe. Thanks. As you're aware, I'm not a fan of the KonTour business practices. **HOWEVER** I will not allow that to influence the facts of my experiences with the seat....
So Karl if you had it to do over again......what would you buy?

[dmatson]

Maybe the waterproof barrier was not put on your seat when it was built. My LT's seat will get wet but will dry out very fast, just makes me think something was left out during the build.

[grifscoots]

Howdy, Griff. Having not participated in recreational chemicals growing up in the 60s and 70s I've not ever been hallucinating. I'm reporting exactly what my KonTour seat performance has been when wet on more than one occasion. Just the facts and only the facts. Further, I don't have a GT as you know. For the record, as you would have noticed when you saw me riding in at Brazelton that even in that extreme humidity and temperature I wear ATGATT. That does not mean I wear water proof pants. I lost the need to wear a diaper at the age of 18 months Lastly, the KonTour seat was sold to me with the assurance it would not retain water. While it's true the cover sheds water, the padding underneath will retain the water and that water will migrate back through the cover when weight is put on the seat.

KarlAnd I was kind of off handedly, and with much tongue of cheek, pointing out that this is the GT Forum and we're talking Kontour seats on the GT.

Now I can speak of the Kontour seat in an LT Forum as I've had about 60k of experience with them, and I can speak of the Kontour seat in the GT Forum as I've had over 14k of experience with them. You pointing out your LT experience of a seat in a GT Forum is..... uh, moot?

That was, and might be is, the point, Obleo.

[cccpastorjack]

"...I lost the need to wear a diaper at the age of 18 months..." Karl


Don't worry, with time, it'll come back! :histerica :rotf: :histerica

[jayjacobson]

Don't worry, with time, it'll come back! :histerica :rotf: :histerica
Jack, I don't want to confuse the issue--whatever that is--BUT, do you have to wait to wear a diaper on your Kontour seat?!
And I was kind of off handedly, and with much tongue of cheek, pointing out that this is the GT Forum and we're talking Kontour seats on the GT.

Now I can speak of the Kontour seat in an LT Forum as I've had about 60k of experience with them, and I can speak of the Kontour seat in the GT Forum as I've had over 14k of experience with them. You pointing out your LT experience of a seat in a GT Forum is..... uh, moot?

That was, and might be is, the point, Obleo.
LT forum, GT forum, seat forum, Kontour seats....it's all so confusing....

[cccpastorjack]

Jack, I don't want to confuse the issue--whatever that is--BUT, do you have to wait to wear a diaper on your Kontour seat?!


Jay...when I read your question and then looked at the "tag" under your name, I just about wet myself! :histerica

[jayjacobson]

Jay...when I read your question and then looked at the "tag" under your name, I just about wet myself! :histerica
Exactly! Why that's how I keep dry myself!! :D

[kmurphy165]

So Karl if you had it to do over again......what would you buy?Howdy, Jay. Quite honestly I don't know. I wouldn't buy a KonTour because Lynn would have guts for garters if I did. I don't have money to just willy nilly buy seats one after the other. I hear the Russel Day Long comes closest to what I think a motorcycle seat should do, but I have no way to know ahead of time. So, until there comes a plethora of these different seats in this part of the country willing to let my sorry ass to perch on it for a considerable amount of time I'll just have to live with what I have.

Karl

[kmurphy165]

Don't worry, with time, it'll come back! :histerica :rotf: :histericaNow, Jack, this is supposed to make me feel better??? I watch what age and infirmaty does do people every day walking into and out of WalMart. That's a Future I'm not finding real amusing this morning as my aches and pains talk to me.

Karl

[jayjacobson]

Howdy, Jay. Quite honestly I don't know. I wouldn't buy a KonTour because Lynn would have guts for garters if I did. I don't have money to just willy nilly buy seats one after the other. I hear the Russel Day Long comes closest to what I think a motorcycle seat should do, but I have no way to know ahead of time. So, until there comes a plethora of these different seats in this part of the country willing to let my sorry ass to perch on it for a considerable amount of time I'll just have to live with what I have.
Yes, I understand, Karl. You're talking big bucks that add up fast. Frustrating, I know. Thanks for the info!
....I watch what age and infirmaty does do people every day walking into and out of WalMart....
Oh man, Karl....wow! The thought of walking in/out of WalMart EVERY DAY?!....Where are the happy pills?